25-hydroxycholesterol

**25-Hydroxycholesterol** is an oxysterol and a hydroxylated derivative of cholesterol. It is produced endogenously in humans by the enzyme cholesterol 25-hydroxylase (CH25H), often as part of the innate immune response. Mechanistically, it acts as a regulator of intracellular cholesterol metabolism by suppressing sterol regulatory element binding proteins (SREBPs), thereby inhibiting cholesterol synthesis and uptake[8][4][6]. It also modulates autophagy and inflammation through various signaling pathways. Notably, it has broad antiviral activity against several viruses by restricting viral entry and replication via modulation of cellular lipid metabolism[4][6]. Additionally, it can induce apoptosis in certain cell types and influence immune cell migration. While not approved as a pharmaceutical drug or dietary supplement, it is widely used experimentally to study lipid metabolism, immunology, virology, and related fields[1][6].

Other names

5-cholestene-3beta,25-diolcholest-5-en-3β,25-diolcholest-5-en-3,25-diolcholesterol 25-hydroxycholesterol25-hydroxycholesterol-25-hydroxy25-OH cholesterol