過去的研究中,本實驗室探討戊乙醯去羥梔子苷(penta-acetyl geniposide, (Ac)5GP)這項中草藥的抗癌效用與其可能機轉。之前已證實,(Ac)5GP可透過活化PKCδ/ JNK/ Fas/ caspases路徑,來誘導C6神經膠瘤細胞凋謝死亡。然而,有關(Ac)5GP於PKCδ之上的訊息傳導路徑仍不明瞭。研究成果顯示,(Ac)5GP在作用15分鐘左右,即可活化C6細胞內的中性鞘磷脂酵素(neutral sphingomyelin, N-SMase)至最大效應。在處理N-SMase抑制劑(GW4869)之下,發現NGF和p75的蛋白表現都受到抑制,顯示出NGF/ p75為N-SMase/ ceramide之下游。為了研究N-SMase是否參與(Ac)5GP引發C6細胞凋亡的訊息路徑中,細胞在處理GW4869抑制劑後,發現GW4869抑制了Fas-L和caspases 3蛋白表現。同樣地,p75拮抗胜肽也阻斷了Fas-L和caspases 3蛋白表現。而(Ac)5GP所誘導的PKCδ轉位現象也被GW4869和p75拮抗胜肽所消除。為了再確認N-SMase的活化,是否在(Ac)5GP引發C6細胞凋亡中扮演很重要的角色,利用DAPI staining實驗方法來分析細胞凋亡,發現10 μM 和20 μM 的GW4869,分別降低40 % 和80 % 由(Ac)5GP引發C6細胞凋亡。因此推論,(Ac)5GP藉由N-SMase/ ceramide增加NGF/ p75的表現,進而引發PKCδ轉位與下游Fas-L/ caspase cascades等訊息的活化而導致C6細胞死亡。
In our previous studies, we demonstrated the apoptotic cascades PKCδ/ JNK/ Fas/ caspases induced by penta-acetyl geniposide ((Ac)5GP). However, the upstream signals mediating PKCδ activation have not yet been clarified. In the present study, (Ac)5GP showed to activate neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) immediately with its maximum at 15 min. The NGF and p75 enhanced by (Ac)5GP was inhibited while added with GW4869, the N-SMase inhibitor, indicating NGF/ p75 as the downstream signals of N-SMase/ ceramide. To investigate whether N-SMase is involved in (Ac)5GP-transduced apoptotic pathway, cells were treated with (Ac)5GP added with or without GW4869. It showed that N-SMase inhibition blocked Fas-L expression and caspase 3 activation. Similarly, p75 antagonist peptide attenuated the Fas-L/ caspase 3 expression. The PKCδ translocation induced by (Ac)5GP was also eliminated by GW4869 and p75 antagonist peptide. To further confirm if N-SMase activation plays an important role in (Ac)5GP-induced apoptosis, cells were analyzed the apoptotic rate by DAPI staining. (Ac)5GP-induced apoptosis was reduced 40 % and 80 % by 10 μM and 20 μM GW4869 respectively. It indicated that N-SMase activation is pivotal in (Ac)5GP-mediated apoptosis. In conclusion, N-SMase and NGF/ p75 are suggested to mediate upstream above PKCδ, thus transducing Fas-L/ caspase cascades in (Ac)5GP-induced apoptosis.