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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2009 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2008 Sep 4;28(11):2056–2062. doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.108.172478

LYSOSOMAL TARGETING AND TRAFFICKING OF ACID SPHINGOMYELINASE TO LIPID RAFT PLATFORMS IN CORONARY ENDOTHELIAL CELLS

Si Jin 1, Fan Yi 1, Fan Zhang 1, Justin L Poklis 1, Pin-Lan Li 1
PMCID: PMC2668813  NIHMSID: NIHMS97547  PMID: 18772496

Abstract

Objective

To determine whether lysosome trafficking and targeting of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) to this organelle contribute to the formation of lipid raft (LR) signaling platforms in the membrane of coronary arterial endothelial cells (CAECs).

Methods and Results

By measurement of fluorescent resonance energy transfer (FRET), it was found that in FasL-stimulated CAECs, membrane lamp1 (a lysosome marker protein) or Fas and GM1 (a LR marker) were trafficking together. Cofocal colocalization assay showed that ceramide was enriched in these LR platforms. Further studies demonstrated that these ceramide molecules in LR platforms were colocalized with ASMase, a ceramide producing enzyme. Fluorescence imaging of living CAECs loaded with lysosomal specific dyes demonstrated that lysosomes fused with membrane upon FasL stimulation. In the presence of lysosome function inhibitors, bafilomycin (Baf) or glycyl-L-phenylalanine-β-naphthylamide (GPN), these FasL-induced changes were abolished. Moreover, this FasL-induced formation of LR platforms was also blocked in ECs transfected with siRNA of sortilin, an intracellular transporter for targeting of ASMase to lysosomes. Functionally, FasL-induced impairment of vasodilator response was reversed by lysosomal inhibitors or sortilin gene silencing.

Conclusions

Lysosomal trafficking and targeting of ASMase are importantly involved in LRs clustering in ECs membrane, leading to the formation of signaling platforms or signalosomes.

Keywords: Fas ligand, lysosome, coronary circulation, vascular endothelium, sphingolipid

Lipid rafts (LRs) consist of dynamic assemblies of cholesterol, lipids with saturated acyl chains, such as sphingolipids and glycosphingolipids, in the exoplasmic leaflet of the membrane bilayer, and cholesterol in the inner leaflet 1. It has been demonstrated that the most important role of LRs in plasma membrane of cells is their function in signal transduction2–7 These membrane LRs can be clustered to form relatively large macrodomains upon activation of individual receptors by ligand binding. These macrodomains recruit or aggregate various signaling molecules to form signaling platforms for transmembrane signal transduction 1–3. These signaling platforms have been reported for different signaling pathways in a variety of cell types such as ion channels activation in cardiac cells8, 9, apoptotic signaling in T-cells10–12, death receptor activation in endothelial cells 2, neurotransmitter signaling in neurons4, insulin signaling in beta cells13–16, and several carcinogenic signaling in tumor cells17–21.

Recent studies in our laboratory have indicated that LRs clustering in response to activation of death receptor activation mediates the formation of signaling platforms in coronary arterial endothelial cells (CAECs). One of such signaling platforms in these cells was named as LR redox signaling platforms 22, 23, which were commented as a possible missing link between death receptor domains and NAD(P)H oxidase in endothelial cells24. It was demonstrated that the formation of LR signaling platforms is associated with ceramide production by hydrolysis of sphingomyelin via acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) 25, 26. The production of ceramide in the cell membrane forms ceramide-enriched microdomains, which are able to spontaneously fuse to large macrodomains, namely, clusters or platforms 1. It is known that ASMase gene gives rise to one common precursor protein, namely SMase precursor-mannose. This gene product can be shuttled into either a lysosomal trafficking pathway mediated by sortilin 27 or a secretory pathway 28. By using lysosome function inhibitors, we demonstrated that lysosomal vesicles have an important impact on the formation of these ceramide-enriched signaling platforms in CAECs 29. However, it remains unknown how lysosomal vesicles participate in the formation of these LR platforms and whether lysosomes could fuse into LRs and release ASMase to mediate the production of ceramide. It is also unclear where lysosomal ASMase is derived from and how these ASMases are trafficking through lysosomes to LR to form ceramide, ultimately leading to the formation of ceramide-enriched raft signaling platforms. The present study was designed to address these questions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell Culture

The primary cultures of bovine CAECs were obtained as we described previously 22, 23, 25, 29. All studies were performed by using CAECs of 2–4 passages.

Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) Analysis

CAECs were stained with TRITC-labeled CTXB and FITC-labeled anti-lamp1 (a lysosomal marker protein), anti-CD95 (Fas) antibodies as we described previously and then visualized by confocal microscope 22, 23, 29. To accurately observe the staining on the cell membrane, these cells were not permeabilized by excluding detergent in the washing and incubation buffer (PBS). Basically, the fusion of lysosomes or secretory vesicles into the plasma membrane results in exposure of lysosomal proteins onto the outer leaflet of the cell membrane when cells were stimulated. It is a general phenomenon that lysosomal proteins can be detected on the outer leaflet of the cell membrane when lysosome-membrane fusion happens. An acceptor bleaching protocol was employed to measure the FRET efficiency as described previously 30–33. The FRET efficiency was calculated through the following formula: E = (FITCpost − FITCpre)/FITCpost × 100%, as described previously 31.

Confocal Analysis of LR Clusters and Its Co-localization with Ceramide or ASMase in CAECs

Detection of LR clusters were performed as we described previously 22, 25, 29. Doses of compounds used in these experiments were based on our previous studies 29 and some preliminary data showing that they could effectively inhibit corresponding cell responses. Colocalization was analyzed by Image Pro Plus software.

RNA Interference of Sortilin

The siRNAs of sortilin gene were purchased from INVITROEN (CAT#HSS109429), which were confirmed to be effective in silencing sortilin gene in different cells by the company. The scrambled small RNA was confirmed as non-silencing double-stranded RNA and used as control in the present study. Transfection of siRNA was performed using the QIAGEN TransMessengerTM transfection kit according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

RNA Isolation and Real-time RT-PCR Analysis

The mRNA levels for Sortilin were analyzed by real-time quantitative RT-PCR. The mRNA levels were presented as Tn as calculated by using 18S mRNA as the reference system as we presented previously2, 34.

Western Blot Analysis

The procedures for Western Blot analysis were described in details in our previous publications22, 23, 25.

Quenching and De-quenching of FM1-43 in BCAECs

As described previously35, 36, BCAECs were loaded with 8 μM FM1–43 in 1640 medium with 10% FBS for more than 2 h at 37°C. After washed with FBS free medium, a low laser power (λ excitation = 488 nm) was used to avoid possible fluorescent bleaching. For quenching experiments, after cells were loaded with 8 μM FM1–43 for 2 hours, 1 mM BPB was added in the extracellular medium. For de-quenching experiments, cells were loaded simultaneously with 8 μM FM1–43 and 1 mM BPB for 2 hours.

Coronary Arterial Preparation and Microperfusion

Fresh bovine hearts were obtained from a local abattoir. Coronary arteries were prepared for microperfusion to evaluate the endothelium-dependent vasodilator response as we described previously22, 29, 37. For some vessels, a novel ultrasound microbubble technology was used to transfect the intact endothelium with scrambled small RNA or sortilin-siRNA as we and others described previously38–41.

Statistics

Data are presented as means ± SE. Significant differences between and within multiple groups were examined using ANOVA for repeated measures, followed by Duncan’s multiple-range test. A Students’ t-test was used to detect significant differences between two groups. P< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

FasL-induced FRET between Lamp1 and LR component

As shown in Fig. 1A, FRET was detected by confocal microscopy between a fluorophore pair, FITC as donor and TRITC as acceptor, which shares the character to allow fluorescence resonance energy transfer. Acceptor (TRITC) bleaching protocol was applied to calculate the FRET efficiency. The left group of images shows a control cell co-stained with FITC-lamp1 and TRITC-CTXB that underwent an acceptor bleaching protocol. Both the pre- and post-bleaching images were presented on the top and middle panels. FRET image (in blue) was generated by subtraction of fluorescent intensity in the pre-bleaching image from that in the post-bleaching image of FITC-lamp1 labeling. The overlaid images show the colocalization of both lamp1 and CTXB detected under different protocols. As shown in FRET image (blue in the bottom image), there was very low FRET detected under control condition. The right group of images shows a FasL–stimulated cell that underwent the same FRET protocol. In addition to detected patch formation of green fluorescence and colocalization of both molecules seen in the overlaid images (top panel) in response to FasL, a more intense FRET image (blue one the bottom) was detected in this FasL-treated CAEC, demonstrating that energy transfer occurs between a lysosomal marker-lamp1, and LR component-GM1 ganglioside. This close relationship between lysosome and membrane components may be due to a fusion of lysosome to the cell membrane under this condition.

Fig. 1.

Fig. 1

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A. Representative images of FRET analysis between FITC-lamp1 and TRITC-CTXB in CAECs. The left group of images obtained from control CAECs and the right group of images from FasL–stimulated (10ng/mL for 15 min) cells. B. Summarized results of detected FRET efficiency between CTXB and lamp1, Fas in CAECs with or without treatment of lysosome function inhibitors. Baf means bafilomycin and GPN indicates glycyl-L-phenylalanine- β -naphthylamide. n = 6 batches of cells, * P < 0.05 vs. control; # P < 0.05 vs. vehicle+FasL group.

FRET between LR molecules

As summarized in Fig. 1B, the FRET efficiency between GM1 and lamp1 or Fas were significantly increased upon FasL stimulation (n=6). Three pairs of molecules including GM1 vs. lamp1 or Fas exhibited similar FRET efficiency with a maximum of 23.8% compared to control (5.2%). In the presence of lysosome inhibitors, Baf or GPN, FasL-induced increase in FRET efficiency was significantly attenuated for all three pairs of molecules.

Lysosome-derived ceramide production in LR platforms

As shown in Fig. 2A, CAECs were stained by an Al488-labeled CTXB (as lipid raft marker) and an anti-ceramide antibody with Cy3 IIO antibody. Under control conditions, both Al488 and Cy3 stainings were diffuse and their co-localization in overlaid images was in tiny yellow spots. When the cells were stimulated by FasL, a number of large patches or spots with colocalization of both components (yellow in overlaid image) on the cell membrane were detected. However, when these CAECs were pretreated with lysosome function inhibitors, Baf or GPN, for 20 min, fluorescent patch formation in response to FasL was abolished as shown in the lower panels of images.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 2

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A. Representative confocal microscopic images of LR clusters in CAECs. Alexa488-CTX was shown as a pseudo green color on the left; Cy3-conjugated anti-ceramide shown as red color in the middle; and overlaid images shown on the right. Yellow spots or patches in overlaid images were defined as LRs clusters. B. ASMase and ceramide colocalization detected by confocal microscopy in CAECs. FITC-anti-ASMase was shown as green fluorescence on the left; Cy3-conjugated anti-ceramide red in the middle; and overlaid images on the right. Yellow spots or patches in overlaid images indicated colocalization of ASMase and ceramide in LRs.

Association of ceramide with local ASMase

As shown in Fig. 2B, CAECs stained with Cy3-conjugated ceramide and FITC-labeled ASMase were stimulated with FasL in the presence or absence of lysosome inhibitors, Baf or GPN. The overlay of the two images resulted in yellow areas, which indicated clustering or colocalization of ceramide with local ASMase. It was shown that FasL increased colocalization of ASMase and ceramide, which was blocked by both lysosome function inhibitors, Baf and GPN.

Sortilin siRNA blocked FasL-induced ceramide production in LR platforms

As shown in supplemental figure 2 (SFig. 2A, B, C), by real time PCR and Western blot analysis, the silencing effect of sortilin siRNA were verified. Both the mRNA and protein level can be knocked down by over 80%. Fig. 3A presents the results obtained from experiments with sortilin gene silencing, depicting the confocal microscopic analysis of Cy3-conjugated ceramide and Al488-CTXB labeled LR clusters in CAECs stimulated with FasL. Similar to Fig. 3, under control condition both CTXB and ceramide stainings were diffuse. When these cells were stimulated by FasL, LR patches were detected with colocalization of ceramide. After these CAECs were transfected with sortilin siRNA, FasL-induced formation of LR platforms with ceramide colocalized was almost completely blocked. However, in scrambled sRNA transfected cells, FasL-induced formation of LR platforms remained unchanged.

Fig. 3.

Fig. 3

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Representative confocal microscopic images of LR clusters and FRET efficiency between CTXB and lamp1or Fas in CAECs with sortilin gene silencing. A. Alexa488-CTX was shown as a pseudo green color on the left; Cy3-conjugated anti-ceramide shown as red color in the middle; and overlaid images shown on the right. Yellow spots or patches in overlaid images were defined as LRs clusters. B. FRET efficiency between CTXB and lamp1 or Fas in CAECs with sortilin gene silencing. n = 6, * P < 0.05 vs. control; # P < 0.05 vs. vehicle+FasL group.

Sortilin siRNA blocked FasL-induced FRET in LR platforms

As summarized in Fig. 3B, FasL significantly increased the FRET efficiency between GM1-gangliosides and lamp1 or CD95, in CAECs without transfection of sortilin siRNA (vehicle and scrambled sRNA-treated cells). In sortilin siRNA transfected CAECs, however, FasL-induced increase in FRET efficiency was significantly decreased to a level close to that obtained in control cells.

Ceramide from ASMase pathway, but not de novo synthesis pathway contributed to the LR platform formation

As shown in Fig. 4A, the ASMase inducer, phosphatidylinositol (PI, 5 μg/mL)42 significantly increased the FRET efficiency between FITC-lamp1 and TRITC-CTXB. However, the de novo ceramide synthesis inducer, Arsenic (As2O3, 1 μM)43, had no significant effect on the FRET efficiency.

Fig. 4.

Fig. 4

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A. Effects of ceramide-dependent agonists, phosphatidylinositol (PI) and Arsenic (As2O3) on the FRET efficiency between FITC-lamp1 and TRITC-CTXB. * P < 0.05 vs. control; # P > 0.05 vs. control, n = 4. B. FasL induced partial colocalization of LAMP1 with caveolin-1. * P < 0.05 vs. control; # P < 0.05 vs. FasL group, n = 4. C. Caveolin-1 siRNA failed to block the FasL-induced lipid raft clustering. * P < 0.05 vs. control; # P > 0.05 vs. FasL group, n = 4.

Caveolin-1 siRNA failed to block the formation of LR platforms

As shown in Fig. 4B and 4C, after BCAECs were stimulated by FasL, some colocalization of caveolin-1 with lamp1 were observed, but not strong compared to staining with CTXB. When BCAECS were knocked down their caveolin-1 gene by a specific siRNA, the FasL-induced colocalization of lamp1 with CTXB on the membrane was still present.

FasL induced lysosome fusion into GM1 ganglioside-enriched microdomains

As shown in Fig. 5A, representative images of control and FasL-stimulated BCAECs loaded with LysoTracker and Alexa488-labeled CTXB, respectively. Compared to control, FasL caused GM1 clustering on the cell membrane and colocalized with lysosomes.

Fig. 5.

Fig. 5

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A. Representative images of control and FasL-stimulated (10ng/mL for 15 min) BCAECs loaded with LysoTracker and Alexa488-labeled CTXB respectively B. Upper, Representative traces of FasL-induced changes of FM1-43 fluorescence. normalized by that obtained before FasL application. Middle, Representative traces of FasL-induced changes of FM1-43 fluorescence in the presence of 1 mM BPB. Lower, Representative traces of FasL-induced changes of FM1-43 fluorescence in BCAECs loaded simultaneously with FM1-43 and BPB. n = 4 separate experiments, respectively.

FasL caused pre-loaded FM1-43 quenched or de-quenched by BPB

As shown in Fig. 5B, upper panel, without application of BPB, there are no significant changes in the FM1-43 fluorescence upon FasL stimulation, because FM1-43 is not easily out of the cells. In quenching experiments, after BCAECs were loaded with 8 μM FM1-43 for 2 hours, 1 mM BPB were added in the extracellular solution. As shown in middle panel, FasL caused a decrease in FM1-43 fluorescence. In de-quenching experiments, BCAECs were loaded simultaneously with 8 μM FM1-43 and 1 mM BPB for 2 hours. As shown in the lower panel, FasL caused an increase in the FM1-43 fluorescence. SFig. 4 showed the colocalization of Lamp1 with AM1-43 after a prolonged incubation (2 h).

Inhibition of lysosome function and knocking down sortilin gene reversed FasL-induced impairment of vasodilator response

As shown in Fig. 6, compared to control, FasL significantly attenuated the BK-induced vasodilator responses in small coronary arteries. Pre-incubation of the arteries with Baf or GPN significantly reversed FasL-induced impairment of the vasodilator response. Pre-transfection of sortilin siRNA reversed this FasL-induced action. The transfection efficiency were confirmed by FITC-labeled small RNA (SFig. 2D)

Fig. 6.

Fig. 6

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A. Lysosome function inhibitors and sortilin siRNA blocked the FasL-induced (10 ng/mL for 15 min) damage of vasodilator response. n = 5, * P<0.05, vs. control, Sortilin siRNA+FasL, DPI+FasL group; #, P > 0.05, vs. Scramble+FasL group.

DISCUSSION

Since FRET can only occur between molecules in a distance within a 10-nm range 30–33, increased FRET between lysosomal lamp1 and LRs component GM1 should indicate that some lysosomes are indeed fused into cell membrane within LR clusters. This lysosomal trafficking or fusion to the cell membrane of CAECs was dependent on the functional integrity of lysosomes in that inhibition of lysosomal function by Baf or GPN blocked FRET production between lamp1 and GM1. Besides FRET between lamp1 and GM1, we also found that between LR components GM1 and other key molecules in LR platforms, there was strong FRET production in response to Fas activation. It seems that in LR platforms or clusters may constitute a membrane complex and thus transmit and amplify signals. Although there are reports about the lysosomal fusion to the cell plasma membrane for extocytosis of different molecules 44, to our knowledge the present results provide the first direct evidence indicating that lysosome fusion relates or contributes to the formation of LR signaling platforms, thereby participating in transmembrane signaling.

To address whether trafficking and fusion of lysosomes into the cell membrane are attributed to the formation of LR signaling platforms in CAECs, we determined the functionality of translocated or fused lysosomes in producing ceramide through a lysosome-containing enzyme ASMase in the LR platforms. Given the important role of ceramide in the formation of LR signaling platforms in various cells including CAECs 45, demonstration of local ceramide production would indicate the formation of LR clusters, because ceramide can spontaneously aggregate to generate large macrodomains or platforms in the cell membrane1. By confocal microscopy, we found that FasL-induced LR platforms were indeed abundant of ceramide and that ceramide accumulation there was associated with lysosome function or fusion because inhibition of lysosomal function by Baf or GPN blocked ceramide production or accumulation in LR platforms. In additional groups of experiments, we demonstrated that local ceramide in LR platforms are colocalized with ASMase, indicating that ASMase could be the enzyme producing this sphingolipid for LR clustering. In CAECs pre-treated with lysosome function inhibitors, Baf or GPN, however, there were no ceramide and ASMase clusters detected even during FasL stimulation. Taken together, all these results indicate that ASMase may be trafficking and fused into the cell membrane along with lysosomes, where ceramide is produced and LR signaling platforms or signalosome are formed in CAECs.

To further demonstrate that ASMase accumulation in the formation of LR signaling platforms is derived from lysosomes, we examined whether targeting of this enzyme to lysosomes is involved. Previous studies have shown that ASMase targeting to lysosomes is via a sortilin-mediated process 27. Sortilin belongs to a family of multiligand type-1 receptors with homology to the yeast receptor Vps10p, which is able to transport lysosomal proteins from the Golgi body to lysosomes 46. In the present study, we used validated siRNA to knock down sortilin gene expression in CAECs and found that the ASMase translocation to the cell membrane and the formation of LR platforms were abolished in these CAECs with deficient gene expression of sortilin. By FRET analysis of lamp1 and LRs components, we demonstrated that silencing of sortilin gene almost completely blocked the generation of FRET between various molecular pairs in LR platforms, indicating that sortilin-mediated targeting of ASMase to lysosomes is of importance in LRs clustering. These results also further support the view that ASMase in LR platforms are derived from lysosomes. In addition, this lysosomal ASMase seems to be a driving force to activate LR clustering in CAECs, thereby leading to the formation of signaling platforms. The findings that the ASMase inducer, phosphatidylinositol (PI), but not the ceramide de novo synthesis inducer, As2O3, stimulated the LR platform formation indicate that only the ceramide generated through ASMase activation contributes to FasL-stimulated LR platform formation. As discussed above, lysosomal fusion process with externalization and activation of the acid sphingomyelinase occurs very rapidly after stimulation, which could be within 5 seconds 45, 47. This suggests that ASMase activation is almost simultaneously happening with lysosome fusion. If that is the case, we believe two processes are very closely coupled, where any stimuli may trigger each other almost at the same time. In our experiments, it is possible that FasL stimulation leads to lysosome trafficking and at the same time activates ASMase, resulting in lipid raft clustering. At the fusion site, activated ASMase and ceramide were brought into the membrane when fusion occurs. However, when we treated cells with ASMase activator, lysosome trafficking also happened because activation is coupled with such molecular trafficking. This supports the view that two processes are coupled well.

Next, we addressed a question whether FasL induced LR clustering is associated with caveolar behavior. We found that after stimulated by FasL, there were indeed a few colocalization of caveolin-1 with lamp1 observed, but not very strong as those with CTXB. When caveolin-1 was silenced in these cells by its specific siRNA, although the colocalization of caveolin-1 and Lamp1 was abolished, a strong CTXB-lamp1 clustering was still detected. It appears that FasL may to some extent stimulate translocation of lysosomal proteins to caveolar area, but this FasL-induced action is much weaker than that occurred in non-caveolar raft areas.

In addition, we performed more experiments to directly confirm the fusion of lysosomes to plasma membrane upon FasL stimulation in BCAECs. Compared to control cells, FasL caused CTXB clustering on the cell membrane, which was very close to the lysosomes stained by LysoTracker. This further confirmed the results obtained by using lamp1 staining. We also provided direct evidence that lysosome fusion can be recorded in these cells when they were stimulated by FasL. In these experiments, FM1-43, a proved lysosome specific fluorescence dye when incubated for prolonged period (>1h)35, was used to load lysosomes. This dye can be reversibly quenched by bromide phenol blue (BPB)35, which is easier to enter or come out of the lysosomes than FM1-43. In quenching experiments, FasL was found to cause a decrease in the FM1-43 fluorescence. This was due to the FasL-stimulated lysosome fusion with the plasma membrane, allowing BPB to enter the lysosomes to quench FM1-43 fluorescence. In de-quenching experiments, in contrast, FasL caused an increase in the FM1-43 fluorescence when lysosomes were fused to cell membrane since BPB was moved out of cells. Together, all these direct or indirect evidences strongly suggest that the fusion of lysosomes into the cell plasma membrane occurs in these BCAECs upon FasL stimulation.

In our previous studies, it has been demonstrated that FasL at the dose used in the present study significantly impaired the bradykinin-induced vasodilator response22, 25, 29. The present study further found that inhibition of the lysosome function by two inhibitors or blockade of the ASMase targeting to lysosome by silencing sortilin expression with its specific siRNA significantly abolished the damaging effects of FasL. These results provide direct evidence that inhibition of lysosome function or prevention of targeting of ASMase to lysosomes may block the formation of LR platforms and thereby produce beneficial action in protecting the arterial endothelium from detrimental effects of FasL. However, it should be noted that in the present study we found that FasL stimulated translocation of lysosomal markers is also located at where the blebbing phenomenon normally took place during apoptosis (SFig. 3). It could be a very early functional change or signaling event during death receptors activation toward cell apoptosis. Therefore, further studies still need to be done to address some questions whether this translocation is specific for transmembrane signaling or whether this translocation is also related to apoptosis, despite that endothelial cells are relatively resistant to apoptotic stimuli.

In summary, the present study demonstrated a critical role of lysosomal trafficking and targeting of ASMase in the formation of LR signaling platforms in CAECs, which was dependent on ceramide production via lysosomal ASMase translocated into the cell membrane via a direct fusion of lysosomes to the plasma membrane. In addition, ASMase targeted to lysosomes through sortilin was the resource of this enzyme for LR signling, and failure of ASMase targeting interfered with the formation of LR signaling platforms and abolished the action of FasL as injury factor on endothelium-dependent vasodilation. It is concluded that a molecular complex in LR platforms containing both lysosomal and membrane LR molecules such as lamp1, Fas, ASMase, ceramide, and GM1 may constitute a signalosome to carry out transmembrane signal transduction during activation of Fas in CAECs.

Supplementary Material

suppl fig
suppl legends

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by grants from the National Institute of Health (HL-57244, HL-75316, and DK54927).

Footnotes

Publisher's Disclaimer: This is an un-copyedited author manuscript that was accepted for publication in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology, copyright The American Heart Association. This may not be duplicated or reproduced, other than for personal use or within the "Fair Use of Copyrighted Materials" (section 107, title 17, U.S. Code) without prior permission of the copyright owner, The American Heart Association. The final copyedited article, which is the version of record, can be found at Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. The American Heart Association disclaims any responsibility or liability for errors or omissions in this version of the manuscript or in any version derived from it by the National Institutes of Health or other parties.

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