Stereospecific induction of apoptosis in tumor cells via endogenous C16-ceramide and distinct transcripts.

ABSTRACT: Concentration and distribution of individual endogenous ceramide species is crucial for apoptosis induction in response to various stimuli. Exogenous ceramide analogs induce apoptosis and can in turn modify the composition/concentrations of endogenous ceramide species and associated signaling. In this study, we show here that the elevation of endogenous C16-ceramide levels is a common feature of several known apoptosis-inducing triggers like mmLDL, TNF-alpha, H2O2 and exogenous C6-ceramide. Vice versa apoptosis requires elevation of endogenous C16-ceramide levels in cells. Enantiomers of a synthetic ceramide analog HPL-1RS36N have been developed as probes and vary in their capacity to inducing apoptosis in macrophages and HT-29 cells. Apoptosis induction by the two synthetic ceramide analogs HPL-39N and HPL-1R36N correlates with generation of cellular C16-ceramide concentration. In contrast to the S-enantiomer HPL-1S36N, the R-enantiomer HPL-1R36N shows significant effects on the expression of distinct genes known to be involved in cell cycle, cell growth and cell death (CXCL10, CCL5 and TNF-alpha), similarly on apoptosis induction. Enantioselective effects on transcription induced by metabolically stable synthetic probes provide clues on molecular mechanisms of ceramide-induced signaling, as well as leads for future anti-cancer agents.

SUBMITTER: Blaess M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4979478 | biostudies-other | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other