Study on mechanism of endothelial cell apoptosis induced by ceramide

AIM To explore the role of p53 and Fas in human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVECs) apoptosis induced by ceramide. METHODS HUVECs were treated with different doses of C2-ceramide. The endothelial cells were cultured in vitro and treated with C2-ceramide alone or in combination with Fas-associated phosphalase-1 (FAP-1, an inhibitor of Fas) and PFT-α (an inhibitor of p53), respectively. The expression of Fas mRNA was measured by RT-PCR and the apoptosis of endothelial cells was detected by TUNEL staining. RESULTS C2-ceramide induces HUVEC apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. FAP-1 (not PFT-α) inhibits the endothelial apoptosis by way of C2-ceramide. CONCLUSION It is via Fas, and not p53 that ceramide induces apoptosis of the endothelial cells.