Eurons from the 223488-57-1 biological activity lysosome-dependent cell death induced by MSDH (Figure 4D and E). As oxidative stress 
is a common feature of many diseases affecting the brain, the sensitivity of neurons to H2O2-induced apoptosis was also investigated. Cholesterol-loaded neurons were less sensitive to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis as well (Figure 4D and E).Lysosomal Stability Is Regulated by CholesterolFigure 3. Cholesterol, and not accumulating sphingolipids, is responsible for the apoptosis protection. Human wt fibroblasts, with or without U18666A treatment, and NPC1-mutant PD 168393 fibroblasts were treated with vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide; DMSO) or myriocin to inhibit sphingolipid biosynthesis. A) Sphingomyelin (n = 3), B) cholesterol content (n = 4) and C) filipin staining (scale bar 10 mm) of human fibroblasts. D) Phase contrast images of human fibroblasts exposed to O-methyl-serine dodecylamide hydrochloride (MSDH; 24 h). Scale bar 20 1326631 mm. E) Viability of cultures in D, assessed by the MTT assay (n = 3). Viability is expressed as percentage of MSDH-untreated cultures. Data are presented as the mean 6 SD, * p#0.05, ns; non-significant. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050262.gLysosomal Stability Is Regulated by CholesterolFigure 4. Cholesterol Accumulation in Cortical Neurons Rescues Cells from Apoptosis Induced by MSDH and Oxidative Stress. Cortical neurons were treated with U18666A. A) Filipin staining and differential interference contrast microscopy (DIC) images (scale bar 10 mm) and B) a higher magnification of filipin staining (scale bar 10 mM). C) Viability analysis and caspase-3-like activity (n = 3) after 72 h. D) Phase contrast images (scale bar 20 mm) and E) viability analysis (MTT assay; n = 3) of cultures exposed to O-methyl-serine dodecylamide hydrochloride (MSDH) or H2O2, generated by glucose oxidase, with or without pretreatment with U18666A (48 h). Viability is expressed as percentage of untreated control. Data are 15755315 presented as the mean 6 SD, * p#0.05, ns; non-significant. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050262.gCholesterol protects MEFs from apoptosis independent of LAMP expressionNPC1-mutant cells have an increased expression of LAMP-2 compared to wt fibroblasts (Figure 5A and B), and LAMP proteins have recently been suggested to regulate the stability of the lysosomal membrane [23]. Therefore, we decided to investigate the importance of LAMP proteins and took advantage of MEFs deficient foreither LAMP-1 (LAMP-12/2) or 22 (LAMP-22/2). Cultures were exposed to oxidative stress induced by H2O2 addition, and a viability analysis demonstrated that none of the MEF variants displayed any significant difference in sensitivity to cell death compared to wt MEFs (Figure 5C and D). In concordance, LAMP expression did not influence lysosomal stability in MEFs, as there were no significant differences in the lag times until lysosomal destabilization afterLysosomal Stability Is Regulated by Cholesterolphoto-oxidation of the different cell types (data not shown). U18666A treatment rescued wt, LAMP-12/2 and LAMP-22/2 cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis (Figure 5C and D), indicating that LAMP expression is not required for the protective effect of U18666A treatment. Filipin staining verified that untreated wt, LAMP-12/2 and LAMP-22/2 cells had relatively weak and diffuse staining, whereas cells treated with U18666A exhibited increased perinuclear vesicular filipin staining (Figure 5E). In contrast to MEFs deficient for either LAMP-1 or LAMP-2, MEFs defici.Eurons from the lysosome-dependent cell death induced by MSDH (Figure 4D and E). As oxidative stress is a common feature of many diseases affecting the brain, the sensitivity of neurons to H2O2-induced apoptosis was also investigated. Cholesterol-loaded neurons were less sensitive to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis as well (Figure 4D and E).Lysosomal Stability Is Regulated by CholesterolFigure 3. Cholesterol, and not accumulating sphingolipids, is responsible for the apoptosis protection. Human wt fibroblasts, with or without U18666A treatment, and NPC1-mutant fibroblasts were treated with vehicle (dimethyl sulfoxide; DMSO) or myriocin to inhibit sphingolipid biosynthesis. A) Sphingomyelin (n = 3), B) cholesterol content (n = 4) and C) filipin staining (scale bar 10 mm) of human fibroblasts. D) Phase contrast images of human fibroblasts exposed to O-methyl-serine dodecylamide hydrochloride (MSDH; 24 h). Scale bar 20 1326631 mm. E) Viability of cultures in D, assessed by the MTT assay (n = 3). Viability is expressed as percentage of MSDH-untreated cultures. Data are presented as the mean 6 SD, * p#0.05, ns; non-significant. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050262.gLysosomal Stability Is Regulated by CholesterolFigure 4. Cholesterol Accumulation in Cortical Neurons Rescues Cells from Apoptosis Induced by MSDH and Oxidative Stress. Cortical neurons were treated with U18666A. A) Filipin staining and differential interference contrast microscopy (DIC) images (scale bar 10 mm) and B) a higher magnification of filipin staining (scale bar 10 mM). C) Viability analysis and caspase-3-like activity (n = 3) after 72 h. D) Phase contrast images (scale bar 20 mm) and E) viability analysis (MTT assay; n = 3) of cultures exposed to O-methyl-serine dodecylamide hydrochloride (MSDH) or H2O2, generated by glucose oxidase, with or without pretreatment with U18666A (48 h). Viability is expressed as percentage of untreated control. Data are 15755315 presented as the mean 6 SD, * p#0.05, ns; non-significant. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0050262.gCholesterol protects MEFs from apoptosis independent of LAMP expressionNPC1-mutant cells have an increased expression of LAMP-2 compared to wt fibroblasts (Figure 5A and B), and LAMP proteins have recently been suggested to regulate the stability of the lysosomal membrane [23]. Therefore, we decided to investigate the importance of LAMP proteins and took advantage of MEFs deficient foreither LAMP-1 (LAMP-12/2) or 22 (LAMP-22/2). Cultures were exposed to oxidative stress induced by H2O2 addition, and a viability analysis demonstrated that none of the MEF variants displayed any significant difference in sensitivity to cell death compared to wt MEFs (Figure 5C and D). In concordance, LAMP expression did not influence lysosomal stability in MEFs, as there were no significant differences in the lag times until lysosomal destabilization afterLysosomal Stability Is Regulated by Cholesterolphoto-oxidation of the different cell types (data not shown). U18666A treatment rescued wt, LAMP-12/2 and LAMP-22/2 cells from oxidative stress-induced apoptosis (Figure 5C 
and D), indicating that LAMP expression is not required for the protective effect of U18666A treatment. Filipin staining verified that untreated wt, LAMP-12/2 and LAMP-22/2 cells had relatively weak and diffuse staining, whereas cells treated with U18666A exhibited increased perinuclear vesicular filipin staining (Figure 5E). In contrast to MEFs deficient for either LAMP-1 or LAMP-2, MEFs defici.