22(S)-hydroxy Cholesterol is a synthetic oxysterol and a modulator of the liver X receptor (LXR). [1] t prevents monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) expression induced by the LXRagonist GW 3965 in primary hepatocytes and downregulates mRNA expression of the LXR target genes CD36, ACSL1, and SCD-1 in human myotubes. It decreases triacylglycerol and diacylglycerol synthesis from labeled palmitate and acetate, respectively, in human myoblasts by 50% when used at a concentration of 10 uM. 22(S)-hydroxy Cholesterol also reduces fatty acid synthase (FAS) reporter activity through an LXR response element in the promoter region in COS-1 cells transfected with RXRα and LXRα and decreases the expression of MCP-1 and CCR2 in a mouse model of chronic ethanol consumption.[1] [2] Dietary supplementation of 22(S)-hydroxy cholesterol (30 mg kg per day) leads to less body weight gain and lower liver triacylglycerol levels in rats when fed either a regular chow or high-fat diet as well as prevents an increase in plasma triacylglycerol levels resulting from a high-fat diet.[3]
AZ-2 is an inducer of ABCA1 and apoE. It enhances ABCA1 activity and decreases P2X7 receptor activity. AZ-2 activates endogenous LXR signaling but shows no direct LXRα or LXRβ agonist activity.