Figure 5. SMase activity impairs TNF-α-induced cell death in endothelial cells.

(A) TNF-α is a major trigger of endothelial apoptosis. (B) SMase activity leads to cell membrane changes and PS externalization from the inner to the outer cell membrane leaflet. PS-interaction enables ADAM17 to release its substrate TNFR1 thus impairing TNF-α-induced cell death.