A growing bulk of evidence suggests that cholesterol oxidation products, known as oxysterols, are potentially involved in the pathogenesis of major chronic diseases, including atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. Oxysterols are involved in various key steps of these complex processes, mainly thanks to their ability to act through up-regulation of oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell toxicity.

This review summarizes the current knowledge of the effects induced by these compounds on cells, after their accumulation in the arterial wall, brain, and intestine. This evidence might help to develop innovative strategies to counteract the progression of these chronic inflammatory human diseases.

越来越多的证据表明，胆固醇氧化产物（称为氧固醇）可能与主要的慢性疾病（包括动脉粥样硬化，阿尔茨海默氏病和炎症性肠病）的发病机制有关。氧固醇参与了这些复杂过程的各个关键步骤，这主要归功于其通过上调氧化应激，炎症和细胞毒性而发挥作用的能力。

这篇综述总结了这些化合物在动脉壁，大脑和肠中积累后对细胞诱导的作用的最新知识。该证据可能有助于开发创新的策略，以抵消这些慢性炎症性人类疾病的发展。