Desmosterol

Desmosterol is the immediate unsaturated precursor of cholesterol and the final biosynthetic intermediate in the Bloch pathway and a key activator of liver X receptors (LXR) while inhibiting SREBP to regulate lipid homeostasis. Its reduction promotes mitochondrial ROS production in macrophages and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome exhibiting potential for research in inflammation, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases.