Desmosterol is a cholesterol-like molecule. In the Bloch pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis, Desmosterol is a direct precursor of cholesterol. As an endogenous metabolite, Desmosterol is used to study cholesterol metabolism [1]. Desmosterol is an LXR activator and SREBP inhibitor, which can suppress macrophage inflammasome activation and prevent vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis. A reduction in Desmosterol promotes the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) in macrophages and pyrin domain-dependent inflammasome activation of NLRP3. Desmosterol holds potential for research in inflammation, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases [1][2][3].
