Unknown

Dataset Information

0

Evidence against an early signalling role for ceramide in Fas-mediated apoptosis.


ABSTRACT: We have investigated whether the increases in ceramide levels that occur during apoptosis in SKW 6.4 cells induced by anti-Fas antibody depend on the activation of caspases. Using cells prelabelled to equilibrium with [14C]acetate, it was shown that the amount of ceramide approximately doubled after 24 h incubation with anti-Fas, but the time course of ceramide changes was slower than that of anti-Fas-induced cell death. Complete inhibition of the effects of anti-Fas on cell death and on ceramide production was observed when the caspase inhibitor N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-(O-methyl)fluoromethane (zVAD.fmk) was added together with anti-Fas, but N-benzyloxycarbonyl-Phe-Ala-fluoromethane (a structurally similar cathepsin B inhibitor) had no effect. Treatment of cells with the Ca2+-ionophore A23187 also doubled ceramide levels, but in this case the effect was complete within 2 h, was not blocked by zVAD.fmk and was not associated with increases in nuclear fragmentation. These results suggest that ceramide is not an upstream messenger in Fas-mediated apoptosis and may instead be produced as a consequence of processes downstream of the activation of caspases and increases in cytosolic calcium concentration.

SUBMITTER: Sillence DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC1218397 | biostudies-other | 1997 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

Similar Datasets

| S-EPMC2213006 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6993143 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC40509 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC2488311 | biostudies-other
| S-EPMC3348385 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC4618070 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC6178348 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3408167 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC3674671 | biostudies-literature
| S-EPMC2192163 | biostudies-other