Arachidonic acid metabolites and modulation of mitosis and apoptosis of cells

摘要

The invention concerns a new and hereto unknown characteristic of an isolated or recombinant arachidonic acid metabolite, or a functional equivalent thereof, extractable in the organic phase of a supernatant of SPI alpha cells and capable of increasing the survival time of 60 % of isolated human neutrophilic granulocytes to at least 48 hours, capable of increasing mitotic activity of quiescent NIH3T3 cells and capable of protecting quiescent NIH3T3 and SPI beta cells against induced apoptosis. The anti-apoptotic and mitotic activity is claimed for its use in medicaments and pharmaceutical compositions inhibiting apoptosis. Blocking said anti-apoptotic and mitotic activity is claimed for use in medicaments and pharmaceutical compositions in the treatment of cancer.