Cholesterol content and heat sensitivity of nine mammalian cell lines.
The cholesterol, phospholipid and protein contents of nine mammalian cell lines, three lymphoid and six attached cell lines, were measured, along with the sensitivity of the cells to hyperthermia at 42 degrees and 44 degrees C. The free cholesterol content and the protein content per cell correlated positively with the time required to kill 99 per cent of the cells at 44 degrees C. The phospholipid content showed a less significant positive correlation whilst the cholesterol ester content and the cholesterol:phospholipid molar ratio did not correlate with heat sensitivity. There were no correlations observed when the levels of these cell components were compared to heat survival at 42 degrees C. As the three lymphoid lines are small, very heat sensitive cells, the six monolayer lines were analysed separately. In this case, only the protein and the free cholesterol content maintained a significant correlation (at the 5 per cent level). It is concluded that the levels of cholesterol or phospholipid cannot be used as reliable indicators of the heat sensitivity of a cell.
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival; D002477:Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis*; D006367:HeLa Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007739:L Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D007940:Leukemia L5178 / Q000378:metabolism; D008322:Mammals; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D010743:Phospholipids; D011506:Proteins; D002784:Cholesterol