U-18666A #68998

U-18666A is a cell permeable drug that inhibits cholesterol transport. This small molecule inhibits low density lipoprotein (LDL)-derived cholesterol transport, blocking cholesterol esterification, and suppressing LDL receptor activities (1). Studies have shown that impaired cholesterol trafficking is associated with neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC), and atherosclerosis (2,3). The mechanisms of neurodegeneration for these diseases are mostly unknown so studies using U-18666A to simulate intracellular cholesterol accumulation may provide greater insight into these pathologies (2). Cholesterol levels play a role in the body’s response to viral infection and the ability of a virus to enter and replicate within a host cell, making U-18666A an important compound when studying different viral diseases (4).