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. 2002 Feb;11(1):39–45. doi: 10.1080/09629350210313

IL-1 stimulates ceramide accumulation without inducing apoptosis in intestinal epithelial cells.

Fadia R Homaidan 1, Marwan E El-Sabban 1, Iman Chakroun 1, Mirvat El-Sibai 1, Ghassan S Dbaibo 1
PMCID: PMC1781644  PMID: 11926594

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), cytokine levels (such as interleukin-1 (IL-1)) are elevated. We have shown previously that IL-1 activates phospholipid signaling pathways in intestinal epithelial cells (EEC), leading to increased ceramide levels. AIM: To determine whether ceramide induces apoptosis in IEC. METHODS: Apoptosis was evaluated by annexin-V binding or Hoechst nuclear staining. Levels of bcl-2, bcl-x, bax, p53 and p21 were determined by Western blotting, and celi cycle analysis was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: IL-1 increased ceramide accumulation in a time-dependent and concentration-dependent manner with a peak response at 4 h, with [IL-1] = 30 ng/ml. Neither IL-1 nor ceramide induced apoptosis in EEC, but they increased bcl-2 levels and decreased bax and p21 levels without affecting bcl-x and p53 levels. They also caused a slight but significant increase in the G2/M phase. These data suggest a role for ceramide in IBD and suggest a possible mechanism for the enhanced tumorigenic activity in IBD patients.

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