24-Hydroxycholesterol Suppresses Steroid 5α-Reductase-Catalyzed Conversion in Human Glioblastoma Cell Lines: A Novel Link Between Brain Cholesterol Homeostasis and Androgen Metabolism

    January 2026 in “ Neurochemistry International ”
    Kjell Wikvall, Frida Olsson, Erik Wåhlén … Maria Norlin
    Studysummary This study reports that in human glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cell lines, 24-hydroxycholesterol significantly suppressed the conversion of testosterone to growth-inducing androgens via the 5α-reductase pathway, revealing a new connection between cholesterol homeostasis and androgen metabolism.
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    Research cited in this study 4

    1. Glioblastoma Cells Express Crucial Enzymes Involved in Androgen Synthesis: 3β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase, 17-20α-Hydroxylase, 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase, and 5α-Reductase Endocrinology, diabetes & metabolism · 2021
    2. Dihydrotestosterone Induces Proliferation, Migration, and Invasion of Human Glioblastoma Cell Lines OncoTargets and Therapy · 2020
    3. The Effect of Finasteride and Dutasteride on the Synthesis of Neurosteroids by Glioblastoma Cells Steroids · 2019
    4. Androgen Biosynthetic Pathways in the Human Prostate Baillière's best practice and research in clinical endocrinology and metabolism/Baillière's best practice & research. Clinical endocrinology & metabolism · 2008