Programmed cell death in response to alkyllysophospholipids in endothelial cells

Addition of the alkyllysophospholipid ET16-OMe, a putative antitumor drug, to the culture medium of human vascular endothelial cells resulted in apoptotic cell death. The death was characterized as programmed cell death since the process was inhibited by the addition of an inhibitor of protein synthesis. The mechanism responsible for apoptosis induced by alkyllysophospholipid has unique characteristics, as compared to those of apoptosis induced by other antitumor drugs, since the drug caused fragmentation of dying cells and its effect could be overcome by the presence of a survival factor, namely, fibroblast growth factor.