Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured in the presence of several oxygenated cholesterol derivatives that are known to affect the viability of other cell lines. 5-Cholestene-3 beta,7 beta-diol (7 beta-hydroxycholesterol) caused a time- and concentration-dependent perturbation of the endothelial cells. Exposure to 50 mumol/l of this compound for 18 hours resulted in marked contract...
