title: Induction of apoptotic cell death by a ceramide analog in PC-3 prostate cancer cells.
abstract: Ceramide analogs are potential chemotherapeutic agents. We report that a ceramide analog induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer cells. The ceramide analog induced cell death through an apoptotic mechanism, which was demonstrated by DNA fragmentation, the cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), and a loss of membrane asymmetry. Treating the cells with ceramide analog resulted in the release of various proapoptotic mitochondrial proteins including cytochrome c and Smac/DIBLO into the cytosol, and a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, the ceramide analog decreased the phospho-Akt and phospho-Bad levels. The expression of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 decreased slightly with increasing Bax to Bcl-2 ratio. These results suggest that the ceramide analog induces apoptosis by regulating multiple signaling pathways that involve the mitochondrial pathway.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 156-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Kwang Sup
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: So
authors.forename: Se Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Mie Young
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002518:Ceramides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D045304:Cytochromes c / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000502:physiology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases / Q000378:metabolism; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D045304:Cytochromes c; D011065:Poly(ADP-ribose) Polymerases