Ceramide inhibits CCN2 expression in fibroblasts

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF, CCN2) is induced in response to TGFβ in fibroblasts. In this report, we show that C2 ceramide reduced the ability of TGFβ to induce CCN2 protein, mRNA and promoter activity in fibroblasts. C2 ceramide reduced the ability of TGFβ to induce the generic Smad responsive promoter/reporter construct SBE-luciferase. These results suggest that C2 ceramide reduces the action of TGFβ in fibroblasts via Smad antagonism.