Role of mitochondrial Bax, caspases, and MAPKs for ceramide-induced apoptosis in renal proximal tubular cells

It remains elusive whether crosstalk exists among mitochondrial Bax, caspases, and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and whether epidermal growth factor (EGF), which may activate MAPKs, affects ceramide-induced apoptosis through the crosstalk in renal proximal tubular cells (RPTCs). Effect of ceramide on expression of mitochondrial Bax and phosphorylated (p)-ERK, p38MAPK and JNK, that of MAPKs inhibition, and of EGF in the presence or absence of MAPKs inhibition on ceramide-induced apoptosis were examined in HK-2 cells. Apoptosis and expression of mitochondrial Bax and p-MAPKs were measured by Hoechst 33258 staining and Western blotting. C2-ceramide, but not dihydroC2-ceramide, inactive C2-ceramide, induced apoptosis at 24 h. C2-ceramide enhanced the mitochondrial Bax expression at 1 h, which was peaked at 3–6 h and decreased at 24 h, but remained increased, compared to control. An inhibitor of caspases, zVAD-fmk, ameliorated ceramide-induced apoptosis, suggesting a role of caspases for ceramide-induced apoptosis. C2-ceramide enhanced the expression of p-ERK and p-p38MAPK, but not p-JNK, at 1 h, which was increased till 24 h. An inhibitor of ERK, PD98059, or of p38MAPK, SB202190, failed to affect C2-ceramide-induced apoptosis. EGF, which enhanced the expression of p-ERK and p-p38MAPK but not p-JNK, ameliorated C2-ceramide-induced apoptosis without affecting mitochondrial Bax. Inhibition of ERK or p38MAPK failed to abolish the protective effect of EGF on C2-ceramide-induced apoptosis. Mitochondrial Bax and caspases, but not MAPKs, play a role for ceramide-induced apoptosis in RPTCs. EGF ameliorates ceramide-induced apoptosis in Bax- and MAPKs-independent pathways. The mechanism of ceramide-induced apoptosis and anti-apoptotic effect of EGF deserves further investigations.