Effects of sphingosine-1-phosphate and sphingosylphosphorylcholine on intracellular Ca2+ and cell death in prostate cancer cell lines

The sphingolipid metabolites sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) can be involved in cellular growth and apoptosis, by both receptor-dependent and -independent mechanisms. We investigated the role of S1P and SPC in intracellular Ca2+ elevation, cell proliferation and cell death in DU 145 and PC3 hormone-refractory prostate cancer cell lines. S1P and SPC increased intracellular Ca2+ levels, most likely in a receptor-independent manner. Surprisingly, both S1P and SPC did not stimulate but rather reduced cell growth through induction of apoptosis. Therefore, antagonists targeted against S1P, SPC and their receptors do not appear to be promising new approaches in the treatment of hormone-refractory prostate cancer.