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, A. Roy, S.J.Kumari A. Ubhayasekera, Jonas Bergquist, Maria Norlin

24-hydroxycholesterol steroid 5α-reductase testosterone dihydrotestosterone DHT finasteride androstenedione androgen metabolism Propecia

TLDR 24-Hydroxycholesterol reduces DHT formation in brain cancer cells, linking cholesterol and hormone metabolism.

The study explores the impact of 24-hydroxycholesterol on androgen metabolism in human glioblastoma cell lines, focusing on the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) via the 5α-reductase pathway. It was found that 24-hydroxycholesterol significantly suppresses DHT formation by 30-60% in T98G glioblastoma cells, similar to the effects of the synthetic inhibitor finasteride, and increases the conversion of testosterone to androstenedione. This effect was consistent across other glioblastoma and neuroblastoma cell lines, suggesting a novel link between brain cholesterol homeostasis and androgen metabolism. The findings indicate a potential therapeutic target for influencing glioblastoma growth by modulating cholesterol and androgen pathways.

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Research cited in this study

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