Endocrine Abstracts

7-Oxysterols modulate lipid transport and promote oxidative stress and apoptosis in the vascular wall. 7-Ketocholesterol (7KC) and 7β-hydroxycholesterol (7βOHC) are inter-converted by 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase-1 (11βHSD1), better known for metabolising glucocorticoids. Pharmacological inhibition of 11βHSD1 protects against atherosclerosis and these beneficial effects may be mediated through changes in glucocorticoids or oxysterols. To establish ...