Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026

Lung Tumor Cell Recruitment Assay
Published on: February 26, 2019
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha activates the sphingomyelin signal transduction pathway in a cell-free system
K A Dressler1, S Mathias, R N Kolesnick
1Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10021.
Abstract:
The mechanism of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha signaling is unknown. TNF-alpha signaling may involve sphingomyelin hydrolysis to ceramide by a sphingomyelinase and stimulation of a ceramide-activated protein kinase. In a cell-free system, TNF-alpha induced a rapid reduction in membrane sphingomyelin content and a quantitative elevation in ceramide concentrations. Ceramide-activated protein kinase activity also increased. Kinase activation was mimicked by addition of sphingomyelinase but not by phospholipases A2, C, or D. Reconstitution of this cascade in a cell-free system demonstrates tight coupling to the receptor, suggesting this is a signal transduction pathway for TNF-alpha.
Related Concept Videos
The Tumor Microenvironment
Metastasis
Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition
The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT is a developmental process commonly observed in wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer metastasis. EMT is induced by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) or receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) ligands, which further...
mTOR Signaling and Cancer Progression
The mTOR pathway or the...
The Intrinsic Apoptotic Pathway
TGF - β Signaling Pathway
Intracellular Signaling Affects Focal Adhesions
Some...

