Phytosphingosine is a phospholipid structurally similar to Sphingosine (Cat. No. 2425). The physiological roles of phytosphingosine are largely unknown. Phytosphingosine induces apoptosis in human T-cell lymphoma and non-small cell lung cancer cells, and induces caspase-independent cytochrome c release from mitochondria. In the presence of caspase inhibitors, phytosphingosine-induced apoptosis is almost completely suppressed, suggesting that phytosphingosine-induced apoptosis is largely dependent on caspase activities.