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

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