Inhibitory effect of sphingosine on human colon HT-29 cells

  Objective   To study the influence of sphingosine on the growth of human colon HT-29 cells in vitro.

  Methods   Using cell culture tests (MTT test, index of cellular mitosis, and ³H-TdR incorporation test), to examine the growth of HT-29 cells at five concentrations (0, 0.82, 1.63, 3.125, 6.25, 12.5μmol/L)with a negative control (DMSO v/v).

  Results   Sphingosine can inhibited the growth of HT-29 cells. After treatment with various sophingosine concentrations mentioned above for 7 days, the inhibition rates were 18%, 45%, 72%, 87% and 89% respectively. With the increase of sphingosine concentrations, ³H-TdR incorporation was decreased in HT-29 cells and the quantity of ³H-TdR incorporation was significantly decreased as compared with the negative control (P < 0.05).

  Conclusion   Sphingosine can significantly inhibit the growth of HT-29 cells, which was probably one of the preventive mechanisms of sphingomyelin for colon cancer.