Vejux, A.; Malvitte, L.; Lizard, G. Side effects of oxysterols: cytotoxicity, oxidation, inflammation, and phospholipidosis. Braz J Med Biol Res 2008; 41: 545-556.

Figure 3. Effects of vitamin-E on 7-ketocholesterol-, and 7β-hydroxycholesterol-induced cell death. When U937, THP-1, or vascular cells are cultured in the presence of 7-ketocholesterol or 7β-hydroxycholesterol, cell death is associated with nuclear morphological changes. Some cells with swollen nuclei (oncotic cells), as well as with condensed and/or fragmented nuclei, are simultaneously detected. Moreover, under treatment with 7-ketocholesterol and 7β-hydroxycholesterol, myelin figures and polar lipid accumulation are observed as well as an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In vivo, these events could give foam cells (lipid-laden macrophages) known to contribute to the early steps of the development of atherosclerotic lesions (formation of the fatty streak) and probably also to the formation of the lipid core in more advanced lesions. Vitamin E (Vit-E), which is able to counteract 7-ketocholesterol- and 7β-hydroxycholesterol-induced apoptosis, overproduction of ROS, myelin figure formation and phospholipidosis, could consequently contribute to reducing the release of some cellular components from dying cells (phospholipids, cholesterol, oxysterols) in the arterial wall, and therefore inhibit the formation of the lipid core and reduce plaque instability. (Copyright Dr. Gérard Lizard, Inserm, France).