[Mitochondrial changes in apoptosis of HT-29 cells induced by C2-ceramide].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the mitochondrial changes in apoptosis of HT-29 cells induced by exogenous C2-ceramide. METHODS: Human colon carcinoma HT-29 cells were treated with C2-ceramide. Transmission electron microscope was used to observe the the changes of mitochondrial ultramicrostucture. Mitochondrial Apoptosis Detection Kit and flow cytometry were used to observe the mitochondrial damage and the change of mitochondrial membrane potential. RESULTS: There were the morphological changes of mitochondria, such as vacuolization, degeneration and cristae swelling or disappearance in HT-29 cells treated by C2-ceramide for 24 hours. At the same time, under the fluorescence microscope, mitochondria of apoptotic cells aggregated and emitted red fluorescence, however, mitochondria of normal cells emitted green fluorescence. The mitochondrial membrane potential began the decrease after 6 hours in HT-29 cells treated with C2-ceramide in time and dose dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Mitochondria could participate in the apoptosis of HT-29 cells induced by C2-ceramide.