H₂O₂-induced ox-stress does not deplete cellular cholesterol.

<p>Serum-starved A549 cells were treated, or not, with 100 ng/ml EGF for 15 min. or 1 U/ml GO for 30 min. or 2% (w/v) MβCD for 1 h or 2 mM MβCD-cholesterol complexes (CC) for 30 min. <b>A</b>. Total cell cholesterol levels were measured after lipid extractions and normalized per protein unit, as described in “<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0023240#s4" target="_blank">Material and Methods</a>”; the values in the histogram are reported as % over non treated (NT) cells; St-Devs are indicated and “*” means p<0.05 in respect to control (NT); n = 3. <b>B</b>. Cells were fixed with paraformaldehyde (see “<a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0023240#s4" target="_blank">Material and Methods</a>”) and stained for cholesterol using the sterol-binding probe filipin (50 µg/ml for 30 min.).