1-O-Alkylglycerols reduce the stimulating effects of bFGF on endothelial cell proliferation in vitro

O-Alkylglycerols (alkyl-Gro) are natural etherlipids with multiple biological activities. We previously demonstrated that alkyl-Gro reduce endothelial permeability. Here we showed that alkyl-Gro reduced the basic Fibroblast Growth Fac- tor (bFGF)-stimulated endothelial cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. The effects of 0.5 and 5 ng/ml bFGF on growth were completely suppressed after 72 h-treatment by 50 lM alkyl-Gro. Since bFGF greatly increased (+56% ± 15) the production of 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl-sn-glycerophosphate in alkyl-Gro-treated endothelial cells, our data sug- gest that the observed effects of alkyl-Gro could be mediated through PLD activation. Inhibition of bFGF-stimulated endothelial proliferation could support anti-angiogenic activity of alkyl-Gro. 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.