Preventive Effect of Fibroblast Growth Factor and Hepatocyte Growth Factor on Ceramide‐Induced Dysfunction Human Small Intestinal Cells

Abstract

Purpose: Gastrointestinal (GI) damages associated with multiple organ failure is a fatal complication. The injured function of GI tract causes malnutrition and the bacterial translocation. So the functional recovery of GI tract is quite important for treating such cases. In the present study, we investigated whether basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) could recover the injured functions of cultured intestinal cells.Method: Human small intestinal cells were cultured in a 10% FCS added DMEM. The cellular damages were induced by the treatment with various concentrations of cell permeable C6‐ceramide (0–20 M). Growth factors (10 ng/ml bFGF or 50 ng/ml HGF) were added to the medium simultaneously or 2 days after the beginning of the ceramide treatment. After 4 days of the treatment, cell growth and apoptosis induction were investigated.Result and Conclusion: Ceramide inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in a dose‐dependent manner. Both growth factors significantly improved the cell growth and reduced apoptosis. These effects were also observed when the growth factor treatment was delayed 2 days after the ceramide treatment. It was found that bFGF was more significant than HGF on these protective effects. It is suggested that growth factor treatment may be a useful therapeutic option to improve GI tract dysfunction.