title: Ceramide inhibits CCN2 expression in fibroblasts.
abstract: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF, CCN2) is induced in response to TGFbeta in fibroblasts. In this report, we show that C2 ceramide reduced the ability of TGFbeta to induce CCN2 protein, mRNA and promoter activity in fibroblasts. C2 ceramide reduced the ability of TGFbeta to induce the generic Smad responsive promoter/reporter construct SBE-luciferase. These results suggest that C2 ceramide reduces the action of TGFbeta in fibroblasts via Smad antagonism.
authors.affiliation: CIHR Group in Skeletal Development and Remodeling, Division of Oral Biology and Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Dental Sciences Building, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parapuram
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Greenspoon
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leask