Arachidonic acid induces the mitochondrial permeability transition, cytochrome c release and apoptosis

We show that arachidonic acid (which is generated by cytosolic phospholipase A2 in response to TNFα) is an inducer of the mitochondrial permeability transition in intact cells. Treatment with arachidonic acid induces cytochrome c release and exposure of phosphatidyl serine on the cell surface in a cyclosporin A-inhibitable manner, suggesting that the permeability transition could be involved in TNF-dependent apoptosis