Effect of 25-hydroxycholesterol on cytotoxicity and prostacyclin production in cultured human umbilical arterial endothelial cells.

The effect of cholesterol or 25-hydroxycholesterol on DNA synthesis and prostacyclin synthesis by cultured human umbilical arterial endothelial cells was investigated. Cells incubated with 25-hydroxycholesterol showed an increased rate of cell death, decreased [3H]-thymidine incorporation and increased prostacyclin production as compared to either the control or the pure cholesterol group. 25-hydroxycholesterol caused a concentration- and time-dependent increase in prostacyclin synthesis. The intracellular free calcium concentration of endothelial cells incubated with 25-hydroxycholesterol was markedly increased in a time-dependent manner. Calcium uptake by endothelial cells incubated with 25-hydroxycholesterol for 24 h was markedly increased. It is suggested that 25-hydroxycholesterol may depress DNA synthesis and increase prostacyclin synthesis via an elevation in the intracellular free calcium concentration of endothelial cells.