Purified intestinal alkaline sphingomyelinase inhibits proliferation without inducing apoptosis in HT-29 colon carcinoma cells

摘要

Sphingomyelin (SM) hydrolysis by sphingomyelinase (SMase) has become an important signalling pathway, with the product ceramide implicated in regulation of cell growth, differentiation and apoptosis. Alkaline SMase is specifically located in the intestinal tract. Marked reductions of the enzyme activity have been found in sporadic colorectal carcinomas and in both adenomas and flat mucosa of patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, indicating an anti-proliferative role in colonic cell growth.