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Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death
08:26

Saturated Fatty Acids Induce Ceramide-associated Macrophage Cell Death

Published on: October 31, 2017

Importance of C16 ceramide accumulation during apoptosis in prostate cancer cells

Masatoshi Eto1, Jaafar Bennouna, Oriana C Hunter

  • 1Department of Surgery/Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, USA.

International Journal of Urology : Official Journal of the Japanese Urological Association
|March 28, 2006
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Increasing intracellular ceramide levels promotes apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. This effect is observed in both androgen-dependent cells treated with N-oleoylethanolamine and androgen-independent cells undergoing serum deprivation.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Cell Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Prostate adenocarcinoma is a prevalent cancer in men, often linked to androgen signaling.
  • Understanding apoptosis mechanisms is crucial for developing targeted cancer therapies.
  • Ceramides play a role in cellular signaling, including apoptosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of intracellular ceramide in apoptosis induced by androgen ablation in prostate cancer.
  • To determine if modulating ceramide levels affects apoptosis in androgen-dependent and independent prostate cancer cell lines.

Main Methods:

  • Prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, DU145, PC-3) were treated with N-oleoylethanolamine (NOE), sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), or subjected to serum deprivation.
  • Intracellular ceramide levels were manipulated pharmacologically and via serum withdrawal.
  • Apoptosis was assessed using nonyl acridine orange staining, propidium iodide staining, and cell cycle analysis.

Main Results:

  • Inhibition of acid ceramidase by NOE increased intracellular ceramide and apoptosis in androgen-dependent LNCaP cells.
  • Sphingosine-1-phosphate did not prevent apoptosis in LNCaP cells during androgen ablation.
  • Serum deprivation led to ceramide accumulation and apoptosis in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.

Conclusions:

  • The accumulation of intracellular ceramide, rather than the ceramide/S1P balance, dictates apoptosis in LNCaP cells.
  • Elevated intracellular ceramide levels correlate strongly with apoptosis induced by serum deprivation in both androgen-dependent and independent prostate cancer cells.

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