Phospholipase A2 activity is not involved in the tumor necrosis factor-triggered apoptotic DNA fragmentation in bovine aortic endothelial cells.

Using the arachidonic acid release as a probe of phospholipase A2 activity, we tested the involvement of this enzyme in the TNF-triggered apoptotic cell death in the bovine aortic endothelial cells. We observed that TNF induced a liberation of arachidonic acid from these cells which was comparable to that obtained from the L929 cells. An augmentation of the amount of released arachidonic acid or the reduction of the TNF-stimulated phospholipase A2 activity did not modify the TNF-induced DNA fragmentation in the endothelial cells. We suggest that these events are not required for TNF apoptotic cytotoxicity in the endothelial cells.