7-Ketocholesterol (7KC) has been suggested to induce a complex mode of cell death on monocytic cells: oxiapoptophagy (OXIdation, APOPTOsis, and autoPHAGY) (Monier et al. (2003) [12]). The aim of the present study, realized on 158N murine oligodendrocytes, was to bring new evidence on this mixed form of cell death. On 158N cells, 7KC induces an overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) revealed by dihydroethidium staining, a loss of transmembrane mitochondrial potential measured with DiOC(6)(3), caspase-3 activation, and condensation and/or fragmentation of the nuclei which are typical criteria of oxidative stress and apoptosis. Moreover, 71(C enhances cytoplamic membrane permeability to propidium iodide, and induces acidic vesicular organelle formation evaluated with acridine orange. In addition, 7KC promotes conversion of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3-I) to LC3-II which is characteristic of autophagy. These different side effects were impaired by alpha-tocopherol. Altogether, our data demonstrate that oxiapoptophagy including ROS overproduction, apoptosis and autophagy could be a particular type of cell death activated by 7KC which can be inhibited by alpha-tocopherol. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.