Cyclopentenone prostaglandins (CP-PG), such as prostaglandin A 1 (PGA 1 ) or 15-deoxy-¿ 12,14 -prostaglandin J 2 (PGJ 2 ), induce apoptosis in different cell types. PGJ 2 is also a potent activator of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-+ (PPAR + ). We investigated whether PPAR + regulates CP-PG-induced apoptosis in endothelial cells (EC). We show that CP-PG induce apoptosis in human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC). Incubation with PGA 1 or PGJ 2 for 24 h reduced HUVEC number and viability, while the synthetic activators Wy14643 or rosiglitazone had no effect. Flow cytometry and cell cycle analysis revealed externalized phosphatidylserine, caspase-3 activation, and an increased percentage of cells with a reduced DNA content by CP-PG treatment. EMSA demonstrated an activation of PPAR + by PGJ 2 and rosiglitazone. Immunohistochemistry of HUVEC and immunoblot analyses of protein extracts showed that PPAR + was localized in the nuclei of HUVEC, and that CP-PG treatment decreased the amount of PPAR + protein. This degradation was prevented by a pan-caspase inhibitor. Treatment of differentiated, endothelial-like PPAR + -deficient stem cells, or of HUVEC transfected with dominant-negative PPAR + with CP-PG, induced cell death and apoptosis. Our findings show that PGA 1 and PGJ 2 induce apoptosis in endothelial cells independent of PPAR + . As the synthesis of PGJ 2 is increased at sites of inflammation, our results may suggest a possible mechanism for endothelial damage.