Biological activities of the LXRα and β agonist, 4β-hydroxycholesterol, and of its isomer, 4α-hydroxycholesterol, on oligodendrocytes: Effects on cell growth and viability, oxidative and inflammatory status

► 4β-hydroxycholesterol, but not 4α-hydroxycholesterol, activates LXRα and LXRβ. ► On oligodendrocytes, no marked cytotoxic effects were found with 4β- and 4α-hydroxycholesterol. ► Comparatively, to 7-ketocholesterol and 25-hydroxycholesterol, the cytotoxic effects of 4β- and 4α-hydroxycholesterol were very weak.