26-Hydroxycholesterol--Therapy for Ctx and Restenosis

26-Hydroxycholesterol is a naturally occurring metabolic product derived from cholesterol. Recent isuggest that this metabolite plays a role as a feedback inhibitor of cholesterol synthesis and may bregulation of LDL receptors. The absence of 26-hydroxycholesterol has been postulated to be the molegenetic disease cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. The discovery that this compound is produced in vascsuggests that 26-hydroxycholesterol may have use for the prevention of restenosis following balloonHydroxycholesterol prepared by current procedures may be contaminated with significant quantities ofimpurities. Furthermore, engineering difficulties make the scale up of current syntheses unlikely. Bin developing this potential drug. In order to develop this compound as a therapeutic agent, additiobiological efforts are required. In Phase I, the development of a synthesis which provides the natursuitable for pharmaceutical development is proposed. This chemistry will also be used to prepare thediastereomer. HPLC studies will be conducted to develop a method for the determination of pharmaceutThese efforts will set the stage for advanced biological testing and chemical development targeted f