20 (S) -Hydroxycholesterol

20- (S) -Hydroxycholesterol is an endogenous ligand for the LXR receptor.1 It has anti-adipogenic and pro-osteogenic effects in mesenchymal stem cells mediated via a non-LXR dependent pathway.2 The osteogenic effects of 20- (S) -hydroxycholesterol have been shown to be mediated by activation of hedgehog signaling and expression of genes associated with Notch signaling.3 Activation of Hedgehog is mediated via binding of 20 (S) -hydroxycholesterol to Smoothened at a site distinct from the cyclopamine binding site.4,5