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Planta Med 2007; 73(8): 725-730
DOI: 10.1055/s-2007-981540
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Curcumin Decreases Acid Sphingomyelinase Activity in Colon Cancer Caco-2 Cells

Yajun Cheng1 , Agnieszka Kozubek1 , Lena Ohlsson1 , Berit Sternby1 , Rui-Dong Duan1
  • 1Biomedical Centre, B11, Institution of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
Further Information

Publication History

Received: February 12, 2007 Revised: April 18, 2007

Accepted: May 10, 2007

Publication Date:
22 June 2007 (online)

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Abstract

Curcumin has been shown to inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in colon cancer cells. The metabolism of sphingomyelin has implications in the development of colon cancert. We examined whether curcumin affects the enzymes that hydrolyse sphingomyelin in Caco-2 cells. The cells were cultured in both monolayer and polarized conditions and stimulated with curcumin. The activities of sphingomyelinases were determined. Sphingomyelin and its hydrolytic products were analysed by thin layer chromatography. The changes of acid sphingomyelinase protein were examined by Western blotting. We found that curcumin reduced the hydrolytic capacity of the cells against choline-labelled sphingomyelin, associated with a mild increase of cellular sphingomyelin in the cells. Analysis of the hydrolytic products revealed that the activity was derived from acid sphingomyelinase not from phospholipase D. The curcumin-induced reduction of acid SMase required more than 8 h stimulation. Western blotting showed reduced acid sphingomyelinase protein after curcumin stimulation. The inhibitory effect was more potent in monolayer cells than in polarised cells. No changes of other sphingomyelinases were identified. In the concentrations inhibiting acid sphingomyelinase, curcumin inhibited DNA synthesis and induced cell death. In conclusion, curcumin inhibits acid sphingomyelinase and the effect might be involved in its antiproliferative property against colon cancer cells.

Key words

Curcumin - sphingomyelinase - cell proliferation - colon cancer

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Rui-Dong Duan, MD, PhD

Gastroenterology Lab

Biomedical Centre B11

Institution of Clinical Sciences

Lund University

22184, Lund

Sweden

Phone: +46-46-222-0709

Fax: +46-46-137-277

Email: rui-dong.duan@med.lu.se

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