TNF-alpha increases ceramide without inducing apoptosis in alveolar type II epithelial cells

Research was conducted to examine the hypothesis that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha increases ceramide without inducing apoptosis in alveolar type II epithelial cells. The objective was to see if endogenous ceramide enhances apoptosis in primary rat alveolar type II epithelial cells. Results indicate that ceramide arising from TNF-alpha activation of sphingomyelin hydrolysis may activate the nuclear factor kappa-B pathways and the mitogen-activated protein kinase without increasing programmed cell death in type II cells.