Cytotoxicity and suppression of immunoglobulin production against human namalwa cells caused by oxidized cholesterol

The effects of oxidized cholesterols on proliferation and IgM production of human lymphoblastoid Namalwa cells were examined. An oxidized cholesterol mixture, in contrast to cholesterol, was a potent cytotoxin to Namalwa cells. Among oxidized cholesterols examined, 25-hydroxycholesterol was the most cytotoxic. However, no oxidized cholesterol examined suppressed IgM production, although cholestanetriol and 7-ketocholesterol did suppress it. Thus, oxidized cholesterols are cytotoxic to lymphocytes, while the influence on the immunoglobulin production may be marginal.