title: Induction of apoptosis by sphingosine-1-phosphate in human hepatoma cells is associated with enhanced expression of bax gene product.
abstract: Sphingolipid metabolites are important regulators of cell growth and differentiation. Recent studies have suggested that sphingosine-1-phosphate, a biologically active sphingolipid metabolite, acts as a crucial messenger in apoptosis. In the present work, we examined the expression levels of the members of the bcl-2-related gene family to determine their roles in sphingosine-1-phosphate-induced apoptosis is human hepatoma cells. Our results indicate that sphinogosine-1-phosphate-induced apoptosis is associated with enhanced expression of Bax protein. Moreover, the regulation of bax gene expression by sphingosine-1-phosphate is independent of the p53 tumor suppressor.
authors.affiliation: School of Technology for Medical Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical College, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chuang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013107:Sphingolipids; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; C494811:BCL2L1 protein, human; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D013107:Sphingolipids; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D051020:bcl-X Protein; C060506:sphingosine 1-phosphate; D013110:Sphingosine