Involvement of sphingosine in dexamethasone-induced thymocyte apoptosis

Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2002 Nov:973:190-3. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.2002.tb04631.x.

Abstract

It is generally accepted that ceramide plays an essential role in apoptosis. In this study we suggest that in thymocytes, dexamethasone-induced apoptosis is mediated by sphingosine rather than ceramide, through the activation of an aSMase and a cerase in a caspase-dependent manner.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Ceramides / metabolism
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology*
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / metabolism
  • Sphingosine / metabolism*
  • T-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • T-Lymphocytes / drug effects*
  • T-Lymphocytes / physiology*

Substances

  • Ceramides
  • Dexamethasone
  • Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase
  • Sphingosine