The neurotoxic effect of 24-hydroxycholesterol on SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells.

Abstract

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by a massive loss of nerve cells. The neuronal cell death is accompanied by an increased cholesterol release and conversion of cholesterol into the polar metabolite, 24-hydroxycholesterol (24-OH-Chol), appears to be an important mechanism in the central nervous system for eliminating cholesterol from the brain. We tested the influence of 24-OH-Chol on SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells by recording cell morphology, Trypan blue exclusion, LDH-release into the culture medium, intracellular calcium and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The exposure of SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells to 50 microM 24-OH-Chol led to a 90% loss in cell viability within 30 h, the LDH-release into the medium increased rapidly after 24 h, and after 24 to 30 h we found an elevation in intracellular calcium. These results show that, in a physiological concentration range, 24-OH-Chol damages neuronal cells, thus we speculate that this oxysterol may be involved in the etiology of neurodegenerative disease.

• Authors: H Kölsch, D Lütjohann, A Tulke, I Björkhem, M L Rao
• Journal: Brain research (Brain Res) Vol. 818 Issue 1 Pg. 171-5 (Feb 06 1999) ISSN: 0006-8993 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 9914453 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright 1999 Elsevier Science B.V.

Chemical References

• Hydroxycholesterols
• Neurotoxins
• 24-hydroxycholesterol

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Humans
• Hydroxycholesterols (toxicity)
• Nerve Degeneration
• Neuroblastoma (pathology)
• Neurons (drug effects, pathology)
• Neurotoxins (toxicity)