Fumonisin B1 induces apoptosis in sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase-null F9 cells through increase of sphingolipids levels

Apoptosis is essential for a variety of pathophysiological progress. Apoptosis induction by various agents changes cellular morphology, DNA content and lipid membrane composition. Recently, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is avidly released from not only platelets and erythrocytes but vascular endothelium. Here we established S1P releasing cells by deleting S1P lyase (F9-12 cells). We observed apoptosis induction by the treatment of fumonisin B1 (FB1) in F9-12 cells but not in F9 wild-type cells. We measured high amounts of accumulated S1P and dihydroS1P (DHS1P) in FB1-induced apoptotic F9-12 cells. We also showed DHS1P release in an early stage of the apoptosis induction by FB1 but not by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-induced apoptosis, suggesting differential apoptotic processes.