Effects and mechanisms of ceramide signaling pathway in gastrin-inhibited cell apoptosis of large intestinal cancer

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effects and mechanisms of ceramide signaling pathway in gastrin-inhibited cell apoptosis of large intestinal cancer.Methods Gastrin group and proglumide group were divided into five different densities with concentration gradient of gastrin and proglumide being 6.25,12.50,25.00,50.00,100.00 mg/L and 8.00,16.00,32.00,64.00,128.00 mg/L,respectively.The changes of proliferation of the HT-29 cells were detected by methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) assay,and the optimal concentrations of gastrin and proglumide were determined.The changes of apoptosis rate of HT-29 cells were detected by using flow cytometry.The mRNA expression levels of gastrin receptor/cholecystokinin-B receptor (CCK-BR),ceramide,p38,B lymphocytes/leukemia-2 (bcl-2) and bcl-2 associated X protein (bax) were detected by using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).The protein expression levels of bcl-2,bax and ceramide,and p38 phosphorylation levels were detected by using Western blotting.Results Gastrin could promote the proliferation of HT-29 cells,and the optimal concentration was 25 mg/L (F =31.36,P ＜ 0.05).Proglumide could significantly inhibit the proliferation of HT-29 cells stimulated by gastrin,and the optimal concentration was 32 mg/L (F =24.31,P ＜ 0.05).The apoptosis rate of the gastrin group was significantly lower than in the control group and the gastrin + proglumid group (q =4.23,4.06,P ＜0.05).The mRNA and protein expression of bax and the levels of phosphorylated ceramide protein and phosphorylated p38 protein in the gastrin group were significantly lower than in the control group,the proglumid group,and the gastrin + proglumid group (q =5.50,6.00,7.50; 6.50,7.00,8.50; 8.00,8.50,10.00; 4.60,4.90,6.53,P＜0.05).On the contrary,the mRNA and protein expression of bcl-2 in the gastrin group was significantly higher than in the control group,the proglumid group,and the gastrin + proglumid group (q =4.95,4.24,7.07; 7.07,6.36,7.78,P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion Gastrin could inhibit the apoptosis of HT-29 cells by down-regulate the phosphorylation levels of ceramide and p38 protein,thus up-regulate bcl-2 and down-regulate bax through the ceramide signaling transduction pathway,while the effect can be restrained by gastrin receptor antagonist proglumide. Key words: Colorectal cancer; Gastrin ; Ceramide ; p38 ; B lymphocytes/leukemia-2 ; Bcl-2 associated X protein