Desmosterol

Desmosterol is a C27 sterol intermediate in cholesterol synthesis generated during the metabolic pathway that transforms lanosterol into cholesterol. It may be associated with the pathogenesis of Alzheimer′s disease (AD). It has also been used to suppress nigericin-induced sterol regulatory element-binding proteins 2 (SREBP2) maturation. Desmosterol has been reported to activate liver X receptor-target genes in both the liver of cholesterol-free mice and in cholesterol-starved macrophage foam cells in atherosclerotic lesions.