Abstract:

Objective In this research,the effects of exogenous C2-ceramide on the induction of apoptosis of mesothelioma cells in vitro and related important proteins are investigated.Methods Mesothelioma cells were treated with various doses of C2-ceramide for different duration.Cell viability were analyzed by cell counting kit-8 assay.Morphological changes of apoptosis of mesothelioma cells were observed by Diff Quik staining.Apoptosis of mesothelioma cells was also detected by Caspase-3 assay and lactate dehydrogenase(LDH)assay.Related important proteins involved in the signal transduction of apoptosis were detected by western blot.Results In vitro,C2-ceramide demonstrated a dose-and time-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation.Apoptotic bodies were observed by Diff Quik staining.The antiproliferative effect of 80μm C2-ceramide was paralleled with an increase in Caspase-3 activity.LDH assay showed that C2-ceramide at a concentration of 80μm significantly promoted cells death.After treated by C2-ceramide,the expressions of Bax and the phosphorylated JNK in mesothelioma cells were increased,however,the expression of phosphorylated ERK1/2 kinase was decreased.Conclusion Our results indicate that C2-ceramide induced apoptosis of malignant mesothelioma cells in vitro.This anti-tumor affect is achieved by adjusting related important proteins.

Key words: Ceramide, Mesothelioma, Apoptosis