About the structure and biological function of Desm
Structure. Desmosterol (cholest-5,24-dien-3β-ol, or Desm) belongs to the group of cholesterol lipids within the sterol lipids category. Its structure consists of the steroid structure, four linked hydrocarbon rings, to which a hydrocarbon tail containing a double bond is linked at one end of the steroid and a hydroxyl group is linked to the other end.
Function. Desmosterol is a key intermediate in the Bloch pathway biosynthesis of cholesterol. Desm impacts diverse immunological processes such as inflammatory stress response, macrophage activation, or B cell differentiation. Accumulation of desmosterol can activate the liver X receptor and therefore affect lipid metabolism regulation. This strategy is currently being explored for treating cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and other disorders.
