Ceramide induces apoptosis via a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma-dependent pathway.

Both of ceramide and PPARgamma ligand can trigger cancer cell apoptosis. We here show that C2-ceramide can modulate PPARgamma expression level and its transcriptional activity and results in apoptosis in HT29 cells. Administration of PPARgamma specific antagonist GW9662 partially prevents HT29 cells from apoptosis. Furthermore, MAP kinase pathway provided a potential modulation mechanism for PPARgamma pathway related with ceramide. Our results are the first to demonstrate that C2-ceramide induces apoptosis via a PPARgamma-dependent pathway.