Detection and localization of autofluorescent substances in thymus tissue of sheep

Oxysterols: modulators of cholesterol metabolism and other processes

Oxygenated derivatives of cholesterol (oxysterols) present a remarkably diverse profile of biological activities, including effects on sphingolipid metabolism, platelet aggregation, apoptosis, and protein prenylation. The most notable oxysterol activities center around the regulation of cholesterol homeostasis, which appears to be controlled in part by a complex series of interactions of oxysterol ligands with various receptors, such as the oxysterol binding protein, the cellular nucleic acid binding protein, the sterol regulatory element binding protein, the LXR nuclear orphan receptors, and the low-density lipoprotein receptor. Identification of the endogenous oxysterol ligands and elucidation of their enzymatic origins are topics of active investigation. Except for 24, 25-epoxysterols, most oxysterols arise from cholesterol by autoxidation or by specific microsomal or mitochondrial oxidations, usually involving cytochrome P-450 species. Oxysterols are variously metabolized to esters, bile acids, steroid hormones, cholesterol, or other sterols through pathways that may differ according to the type of cell and mode of experimentation (in vitro, in vivo, cell culture). Reliable measurements of oxysterol levels and activities are hampered by low physiological concentrations (approximately 0.01-0.1 microM plasma) relative to cholesterol (approximately 5,000 microM) and by the susceptibility of cholesterol to autoxidation, which produces artifactual oxysterols that may also have potent activities. Reports describing the occurrence and levels of oxysterols in plasma, low-density lipoproteins, various tissues, and food products include many unrealistic data resulting from inattention to autoxidation and to limitations of the analytical methodology. Because of the widespread lack of appreciation for the technical difficulties involved in oxysterol research, a rigorous evaluation of the chromatographic and spectroscopic methods used in the isolation, characterization, and quantitation of oxysterols has been included. This review comprises a detailed and critical assessment of current knowledge regarding the formation, occurrence, metabolism, regulatory properties, and other activities of oxysterols in mammalian systems.

Oyxsterols induce membrane procoagulant activity in monocytic THP-1 cells

Oxidized cholesterol compounds or oxysterols are thought to be potent membrane-destabilizing agents. Anionic phospholipids, chiefly phosphatidylserine, have a procoagulant potential due to their ability to favour the membrane assembly of the characteristic clotting enzyme complexes including the tissue factor-dependent initiating complex. However, in resting cells, phosphatidylserine is sequestered in the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. When THP-1 monocytic cells were cultured in the presence of 7beta-hydroxycholesterol (7beta-OH) or 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OH), prothrombinase, which reflects anionic phospholipid exposure and tissue factor (TF) procoagulant activities, increased in a time- and dose-dependent manner. 7beta-OH appeared 1.5- to 2-fold more potent than 25-OH. Interestingly, no effect of cholesterol itself could be detected on procoagulant activities. Nevertheless, no difference in TF activity could be detected between oxysterol-treated and control cells after disruption. TF antigen expression was the same in oxysterol-treated and control cells as shown by flow cytometry. In contrast, the use of labelled annexin V, a protein probe of anionic phospholipids, revealed an elevated number of cells with exposed phosphatidylserine. Because the latter also constitutes a signal for phagocyte recognition of apoptotic cells and fragments, and a proportion of cells displayed altered morphology with condensed chromatin and membrane blebs, analysis of DNA was performed and indicated apoptosis in oxysterol-treated cells. Hence, oxysterol-induced phosphatidylserine exposure and enhanced TF activity may results from apoptosis. These results suggest relationships between oxysterol and the amplification of coagulation reactions by monocytic cells resulting from induced phosphatidylserine exposure.

Oxysterol-induced apoptosis in human monocytic cell lines

Oxysterols constitute a large family of natural compounds, endowed with various biological activities including cholesterol regulation, immunosuppression and antitumoral potency. In the present study, we examine and compare the cytotoxic effects of two representative members of this family: 7 beta-hydroxycholesterol (7 beta-OH) and 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-OH), in two human monocytic cell lines, U-937 and HL-60. In both cell lines 7 beta-OH at 30 mu M induces cell death by apoptosis within the first hours of treatment. Under the same conditions and in contrast with results previously obtained with lymphoma cells, 25-OH is cytostatic only. It is interesting to note that the simultaneous treatment of U-937 cells by equimolar concentrations of 7 beta-OH and 25-OH leads to a considerably decreased induction of apoptosis. Such an effect is not observed with HL-60 cells. Taken together, these results indicate for the first time that: 1) oxysterols hydroxylated on the sterol nucleus are also able to induce apoptosis, 2) apoptosis can be induced by these substances in cells belonging to the myeloid lineage and 3) as far as apoptosis is concerned, a combined treatment with 7 beta-OH and 25-OH can lead to opposite effects depending on the cell type.