The oxysterols, 7beta-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol, are involved in the cytotoxicity of oxidized LDL. To elucidate their molecular mechanisms, the human promonocytic leukemia cells U937 and U4 were used. U4 cells overexpressing Bcl-2 were obtained by transfection of U937 cells. 7Beta-hydroxycholesterol and 7-ketocholesterol induced nuclear condensation and/or fragmentation, internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, and IL-1beta secretion, which were partially inhibited by Bcl-2 overexpression. These findings underline that these oxysterols could constitute major risk factors in atherosclerosis by their cytotoxicity and their ability to induce IL-1beta release which might favor the recruitment of immunocompetent cells in the atherosclerotic plaque.