15th Meeting
15th SLC MeetingErlangen, GermanySeptember 3-7, 2024
ABOUT
The XV Sphingolipid Club Meeting has been held in Erlangen, Germany, from Sept 3 to 7, 2024, proficiently organized and chaired by Christian Müller, Liubov Kalinichenko and Johannes Kornhuber, from the University of Erlangen.
The Meeting provided to young PhD students and post-docs trainees the opportunity to share their researches with more senior experienced scientists and pioneers in the Sphingolipid field, in a friendly atmosphere and a top-level science.
About 110 researchers of 20 different countries, from Europe, near and far Asia, North, Central and South America, participated at the event, which hosted more than 90 presentations and posters. Among them the eminent keynote lectures by Thierry Levade, University of Toulouse, France, and Jae-sung Bae, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, South Korea. All the sessions have been passionately participated and the discussions intense and fruitful.
A symposium, supported by the International Society of Neurochemistry and titled “Brain sphingolipids driving psychiatric and neurological disorders: mechanisms and therapeutic targets”, was a remarkable and successfull part of the program.
A primary mission of the Sphingolipid Club is to promote the career of PhD students and early postdocs working in the Sphingolipid field. To this, all young trainees presenting their results as a talk or as a poster have been supported with travel grants. Moreover, thanks to the generous contribution of some of our sponsors, we have been able to offer three 500 € best oral talk awards, to Linda Montavoci, University of Milan, Italy, to Angel Gaudioso, Centro Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa, Madrid, Spain, and to Susana Mesén-Porras, University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica, and one 300 € best poster award to Shruti Naik, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
The social events consisted of the visit to Bamberg, a historic town in Bavaria, with a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a rich cultural historical center. The visit to Bamberg and the Gala Dinner, in a cozy and typical restaurant, were the occasion to widen personal contacts and favour reciprocal knowledge.
This Meeting celebrated the 22th anniversary of our Club, and layed the foundations for further activities, aiming to enlarge our association, and improve the interest of the scientific community in the fascinating issue of Sphingolipids.
After the success of the XV Sphingolipid Club Meeting, we are since now encouraged to work for the organization of the 2026 Sphingolipid Club Meeting !
14th Meeting
14th SLC MeetingPozzilli, ItalySeptember 7-11, 2022
ABOUT
The XIV Sphingolipid Club Meeting has been held at Pozzilli, Italy, from Sept 7 to 11, 2022, chaired by Vittorio Maglione and Alba Di Pardo, from Neuromed, a private research and clinical institution, that provided a substantial support, in both the Meeting organization and financing.
The Meeting has been a great opportunity for young PhD students and post-docs scientists to share their researches with more senior experienced scientists, in a friendly athmosphere and a top-level science.
Approximately 100 researchers from 15 different countries, from all Europe, North and South America and Australia, participated at the event, which hosted more than 70 presentations and posters. Among them the eminent keynote lecture by Prof. Timothy Cox, from the University of Cambridge, titled “Sphingolipids – classical matters in the ancient and modern world”.
All the sessions have been passionately participated, and the discussions intense and fruitful. A minisimposium, supported by the International Society of Neurochemistry and titled “Sphingolipids and brain: pathophysiology and therapeutics”, was a basic part of the program.
All young participants, who gave a talk or presented a poster, have been supported with travel grants, just to remark and confirm a primary mission of the Sphingolipid Club, namely that to promote the career of young trainees and acknowledge their interest in the Sphingolipid field.
The social events, including the amazing visit to Agnone, the city of artistic bells, and the gala dinner, were the occasion to widen personal contacts, promote reciprocal knowledge and open fruitful collaborations.
This Meeting celebrated the 20th anniversary of our Club, and posed the basis for further activities, aimed to enlarge our association, and grow the interest of the scientific community in the fascinating issue of sphingolipids.
We are now already at work to organize the 2024 Sphingolipid Club Meeting !
13th Meeting
13th Meeting
Cascais, Portugal, May 6-10 2019
The 2019 FEBS Special Meeting in Sphingolipid Biology, joint with the Sphingolipid Club and the International Ceramide Conference, has covered interdisciplinary topics associated with Sphingolipid Biology, ranging from emerging tools to study sphingolipid structure and function, to their roles in membrane organization, dynamics, signalling and metabolism. Emphasis has been placed in the role of sphingolipids in several human diseases, including, cancer, metabolic syndrome, genetic disorders and neurodegenerative diseases, both as players in the aetiology and as targets and/or therapeutic entities of those diseases.
Scientific sessions and round-table discussions moderated by recognized leaders of the field, together with poster and oral communications from established, early-stage career scientists and students, has provided the ideal setting for networking and close interaction between speakers and participants.
EMBO Keynote Lecture
“Novel tools and aspects of sphingolipid metabolism and function”
Howard Riezman, University of Geneva
Chair: Myles Cabot, East Carolina University
Session 1 > Innovative Tools to study Sphingolipid Structure and Function
Overview of the Field by the Chair:
Hot Topics and Open Questions
Thorsten Hornemann, University Hospital Zurich
Ceramidases: Chemical Sensors and Inhibitor
Gemma Fabrias, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia
Novel applications of Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) in sphingolipid enzymology
Christoph Arenz, Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin
Short and facile synthesis of a combinatorial library of the CERT inhibitor HPA12
Essa M. Saied, Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin
In-situ single cell lipidomics by imaging mass spectrometry
Laura Capolupo, Ecole Polytechnique federale de Lausanne
The structure and function of alkaline ceramidase 3 are related to adiponectin receptors
Sebastien Granier, Institut de Genomique Fonctionnelle
Temporal and tissue specific requirements of CerS Schlank and the consequences of its inactivation with respect to the complete protein and the two distinct functional domains of the protein
Reinhard Bauer, University of Bonn
Tango for promiscuity: Role of SPTLC3 in generating sphingolipid heterogeneity
Museer Lone
University Hospital Zurich
General Discussion of Session 1
Thorsten Hornemann
Introduction to FEBS activities
Zrinka Kovarik
Session 2: Sphingolipids in Membrane Structure and Dynamics
Overview of the Field by the Chair: Hot Topics and Open Questions
Alicia Alonso
Instituto Biofisika
Sphingolipids: from lipid domain pattern to functioning in Alzheimer’s disease
Galya Staneva
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Profound changes in the dynamic properties of the cell membrane due to sphingolipid accumulation in a cellular model of Gaucher’s disease
Peter Nagy
University of Debrecen
The effect of canonical and 1-deoxy(methyl) sphingoid bases in membrane fluidity and lateral organization
Tania Santos
Universidade de Lisboa
GLTP’s emerging role within the lipid synthesis and transport machinery
Anders Backman
Abo Akademi University
Sphingolipid-enriched Domains in Yeast Plasma Membrane: a Biophysical Perspective
Rodrigo F.M. de Almeida
Universidade de Lisboa
Impact of glycosphingolipids on membrane organization: focus on lipid nanodomains and their influence on peptide-membrane interactions
Maria J. Sarmento
J. Heyrovský Institute of Physical Chemistry
Sphingolipid headgroup impact on gel domains in Saccharomyces cerevisiae plasma membrane
Joaquim Trigo Marques
Universidade de Lisboa
How to get sphingolipids to the plasma membrane a lipid sorting story
Joanna Podkalicka
Institut Curie
General Discussion of Session 2
Alicia Alonso
Session 3: Sphingolipids in Cell Physiology: Signaling, Trafficking, and Metabolism Part 1
Overview of the Field by the Chair: Hot Topics and Open Questions
Sarah Spiegel
Virginia Commonwealth University
Yasuyuki Igarashi
Hokkaido University
Membrane lipids and the activity of sphingolipid-cleaving hydrolases
Konrad Sandhoff
University of Bonn
0 Molecular dissection of ceramide-induced apoptosis using photo-actuated lipid probes
Joost Holthius
University of Osnabruck
The role of acid sphingomyelinase activity in the regulation of CREB Signaling
Cosima Rhein
FAU Erlangen-Nurnberg
The Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) activator ATF6 responds to proteotoxic and lipotoxic stress by distinct mechanisms
Maho Niwa-Rosen
University of California San Diego
Sphingolipid de novo biosynthesis: Regulation and pathological impact
Anna Rita Di Lorenzo
Weill Cornell Medical College
Sphingolipids and Flaviviruses: an intimate union
Fikadu Tafesse
Oregon Health and Science University
The glycosphingolipid metabolic switch controls neural differentiation
Domenico Russo
Institute of Protein Biochemistry – Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche
Ceramide nanoliposomes and autophagic inhibitors synergize in resistant Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Jeremy Shaw
University of Virginia
Session 3: Sphingolipids in Cell Physiology: Signaling, Trafficking, and Metabolism Part 2
Systematic development of natural ligand-nonmimetic inhibitors to the ceramide transport protein CERT
Kentaro Hanada
National Institute of Infectious Diseases
Sphingolipid synthesis inhibition by Myriocin post conditioning enhances lipid consume and ameliorates response to myocardial I/R injury
Paola Signorelli
University of Milan
The juxtamembrane linker functions as an intramolecular allosteric switch to activate neutral sphingomyelinase-2
Prajna Shanbhogue
Stony Brook University
The neutral sphingomyelinase 2 is required for endoplasmic reticulum-plasma membrane communication and cholesterol turnover in T cell Activation
Elita Avota
University Wuerzburg
Ceramide regulates interaction of Hsd17b4 with Pex5 and function of peroxisomes.
Erhard Bieberich
University of Kentucky
Differential roles of ceramide synthases in pancreatic beta cell demise
Kerstin Grieß
German Diabetes Center DDZ
Lipid patterning and interplay during protein sorting at transGolgi network
Yohann Boutte
CNRS
Sphingosine kinase 1: An enigmatic regulator of the adipocyte circadian transcription complex
Andrea Anderson
Virginia Commonwealth University
S1P1 receptor activity in rodent brain
Jonatan Martinez-Gardeazabal
University of the Basque Country
General Discussion of Session 3
Sarah Spiegel, Yasuyuki Igarashi
Session 4: Sphingolipids in Health and Disease Part 1
Overview of the Field by the Chair: Hot Topics and Open Questions
Thierry Levade, Paul Sabatier
University of Toulouse
Antonio Gomez-Munoz
University of the Basque Country
Membrane sphingolipid synthesis and metabolic regulation: a novel function of GPRC5B
Yoshio Hirabayashi
RIKEN
Ceramide acyl chain length affects hepatic triglycerides via regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress
Joo-Won Park
Ewha Womans University
Dissecting the role of sphingolipids in the phagocytic clearance of pathogens
Patrick Niekamp
University of Osnabrueck
Targeting dihydroceramide desaturase (DEGS1) to overcome anoikis resistance in HER2-positive breast cancer
Christopher J. Clarke
Stony Brook University
Homeostatic and pathogenic roles of GM3 ganglioside molecular species in TLR4 signaling
Jin-Ichi Inokuchi
Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University
Cancer Associated Glycosphingolipids as Targets for Immunotherapy
Alice Yu
Chang Gung University
Protumorigenic activity of Betagalactosylceramidase: A novel player in cutaneous melanoma
Mirella Belleri
University of Brescia
SMPDL3B is a Major Regulator of Proteinuria in Experimental Alport Syndrome
Alla Mitrofanova
University of Miami
Session 4: Sphingolipids in Health and Disease Part 2
Ceramide metabolism alterations in melanoma: from basic mechanisms to immunotherapy in advanced melanoma patients
Bruno Segui
Cancer Research Center of Toulose
Regulation of Sphingomyelin Synthase 1 in Leukemia: an Interesting “Start”
Chiara Luberto
Stony Brook University
Sphingolipid modulation activates autophagy and proteostasis programs to govern human hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal
Stephanie Xie
Princess Margaret Cancer Centre
Sphingosine kinases are key effectors of IL7R-mediated signaling, viability, growth and proliferation in T-cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Marta B. Fernandes
Universidade de Lisboa
Targeting sphingosine kinases in disease
Susan Pyne
University of Strathclyde
The Apolipoprotein M/S1P axis controls triglyceride metabolism and brown fat activity
Christina Christofferson
Rigshospitalet
Non-canonical sphingolipids mediate cardiomyocyte death in models of ischemia
Anna Kovilakath
Virginia Commonwealth University
Glycosphingolipid Dynamics in Human Embryonic Stem Cell and Cancer
John Yu
Chang Gung University
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: 1-deoxysphingolipids in anoxic death, viral infections and anthrax intoxication
J. Thomas Hannich
University of Geneva
General Discussion of Session 4
Thierry Levade, Antonio Gomez-Munoz
Session 5: ISN Symposium on Sphingolipids in Neural Pathologies
Overview of the Field by the Chair: Hot Topics and Open Questions
Elisabetta Albi
University of Perugia
The role of host Glycosphingolipids in viral infection of the CNS
Einat Vitner
Israel Institute of Biological Research
The role of the non-lysosomal glucosylceramidase GBA2 in regulation locomotion
Dagmar Wachten
University of Bonn
Chronic stress causes neurodegeneration through AMPA receptor and Gd1a ganglioside in age and sex specific manner in rats
Marta Balog
University of Osijek
Regulation of major depression by lysosomal sphingolipids
Erich Gulbins
University Hospital Essen
Sphingolipid metabolism: new perspectives for treating Huntington’s disease
Vittorio Maglione
Neuromed
General Discussion of Session 5
Elisabetta Albi
Keynote Lecture
“ER-Golgi Contact Sites”
Maria De Matteis
TIGEM
Chair: Tony Futerman
Weizmann Institute
Concluding Remarks
Liana Silva & Giovanni D’Angelo
POSTER SESSION 1
1. “The lipid status in patients with ulcerative colitis: inhibition of the sphingolipid de novo synthesis might be an important trigger for UC”
Sabine Groesch
Goethe-University
2. “A new mouse model exploring chronic neuronopathic Gaucher Disease”
Yael Pewzner-Jung
Weizmann Institute of Science
3. “Role of sphingolipids and their metabolites in mycobacteria engulfment and escape of pathogenic mycobacteria from human phagocytes”
Kazuhisa Iwabuchi
Junteno University
4. “In vivo validation of two novel S1P1-selective compounds, ST-1893 and ST-1894, in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis model in mice”
Bisera Stepanovska
University of Bern
5. “Characterization of ARC39, a new inhibitor of acid sphingomyelinase”
Eyad Naser
University Hospital Essen
6. “Alleviation of Alzheimer’s disease pathology by ceramide-modulated extracellular vesicles”
Yasuyuki Igarashi
Hokkaido University
7. “Gaucher disease neuronal cell models under biophysical investigation: changes in membrane fluidity”
Sarka Pokorna
Weizmann Institute of Science
8. “CerS6 and GCS regulate not only multiple drug resistance, but also estrogen receptor expression”
WooJae Park
Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute
9. “Downregulation of the S1P transporter spinster homology protein 2 (Spns2) exerts an antifibrotic and antiinflammatory effect in human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells”
Andrea Huwiler
University of Bern
10. “The glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor PDMP inhibits lysosomal sphingolipid degradation”
Pia Hartwig
Heidelberg University
11. “Lead Optimization of Sphingosine Kinase 1 Inhibitor”
Bernandie Jean
Stony Brook University
12. “Tackling a possible relationship between fungal plasma membrane biophysical properties and antifungal sensitivity”
Filipa C. Santos
Universidade de Lisboa
13. “Dynamics of glucosylceramide metabolism in the endocytic pathway”
Lya Holland
Danish Cancer Society
14. “Development of inhibitors of neutral ceramidase with cytotoxic activity on colon cancer cells “
Nuria Bielsa
Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia
15. “LAPTM4B is sorted in multivesicular endosomes and regulates the exosomal sphingolipid content”
Tomas Blom
University of Helsinki
16. “Modulation of lipid metabolism in human neuroblastoma cells infected with tick borne encephalitis virus “
Pavlina Simeckoba
Veterinary Research Institute
17. “A transcriptomic approach to identify the sphingolipid metabolic pathway in gut-associated Bacteroides”
Stacey Heaver
Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology
18. “Searching for candidates for novel lipidomic biomarkers in colon cancer-derived tissue samples”
Miroslav Machala
Veterinary Research Institute
19. “Molecular mechanisms regulating Nogo-B interaction with SPT in health and disease states”
Linda Sasset
Weill-Cornell Medical College
20. “Myriocin potential as a phenotype-modifying therapeutical in Cystic Fibrosis”
Alessadra Mingione
University of Milan
21. “Sphingosine kinase 1 as a therapeutic target in mutant or null p53 thymic lymphoma.”
Fabiola Velazquez
Stony Brook University
22. “The linoleic acid content of the stratum corneum of ichthyotic Golden retriever dogs is reduced as compared to healthy dogs and a significant part is oxidized in both free and esterified forms”
Iuliana Popa
Paris-Sud University
23. “Inflammatory role of extracellular lipids in Cystic Fibrosis”
Anna Caretti
University of Milan
24. “Roles of ceramide in necroptosis regulation”
Kazayuki Kitatani
Setsunan University
25. “Modulation of ceramide levels in rabbit’s eyes by eye-drop myriocin administration”
Michele Dei Cas
University of Milan
26. “Therapeutic Efficacy of Ceramide NanoLiposomes in Androgen-Receptor Negative Prostate Cancer“
Pedro Costa-Pinheiro
University of Virginia
27. “Endogenous ceramide species generated from C2-ceramide inhibit insulin signal in muscle cells”
Eric Hajduch
Centre De Recherche Des Cordeliers
28. “Sphingolipid levels in ischemic stroke – effects on stroke size and post-stroke immunosuppression”
Robert Brunkhorst
University Clinic Frankfurt Am Main
29. “Aberrant DEGS1 activity alters sphingolipid metabolism and causes leukodystrophy and axonal degeneration”
Thorsten Hornemann
Zurich University
30. “Blood ceramides as markers for renal impairment in SLE”
Alexander Koch
University Hospital and Goethe University
31. Pre-clinical models for testing L-serine supplementation for preventing taxane-induced neuropathy”
Stefanka Spassieva
University of Kentucky
32. “General polarization and AFM study of sphingolipid-deficient cell membranes”
Bingen G. Monasterio
Instituto Biofisika
33. “Selective disruption of sphingosine kinase 1 in pancreatic β cell impairs insulin secretion but increases β cell mass during obesity”
Herve Le Stunff
Universite Paris-Sud
34. “Alterations in membrane biophysical properties caused by cell culture conditions“
Ana Ester Ventura
iMed-Universidade de Lisboa
35. “Plasma sphingolipids and risks of atrial fibrillation sudden cardiac death in older adults: the Cardiovascular Health Study”
Rozenn Lemaitre
University of Washington
36. “Investigation of lysosomal dysfunction and potential novel therapeutic targets in lysosomal storage diseases”
Kamilla Meyer
Orphazyme
37. “Protective effects of S1P signaling and metabolism on experimental sepsis”
Anke Ziegler
University Hospital Jena
38. “Sphingolipid inventory and variability in human platelets and plasma”
Jeongah Oh
National University of Singapore
39. “Are Nanodomains Enriched with Sphingomyelin Inter-Leaflet Coupled?”
Radek Sachl
J. Hevrosky Institute of Physical Chemistry
40. “Mechanisms of sphingolipid processing revealed by a SapA-GALC complex”
Janet Deane
University of Cambridge
41. “Targeting sphingolipid metabolism as a novel Osteosarcoma treatment”
Sofia Avnet
Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute
42. “RVT-801, an investigational enzyme replacement therapy for Farber disease, reduces ceramide levels and ameliorates the pro-inflammatory phenotype in a Farber mouse model”
Alexander Solyom
Enzyvant
43. “The UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) impacts breast cancer cell energy metabolism”
Nina Schoemel
University Clinic Frankfurt Am Main
44. “Regulation of the sphingolipid pattern in Andean Children born and living at high altitude”
Pietro Barbacini
University of Milan
45. “Mass spectrometric tracking of the sphingolipid de novo pathway via isotope labeled substrates in rat microsomes”
Dominik Wigger
Universitat Potsdam
46. “Probing sphingolipid flux in response to chemotherapeutics.”
Justin Snider
Stony Brook University
47. “Niemann-Pick Type C disease: At the Crossroads of Cholesterol and Sphingolipid Metabolism”
Jason Newton
Virginia Commonwealth University
POSTER SESSION 2
1. “Acylceramide production and skin barrier formation by the fatty acid ω-hydroxylase CYP4F22/Cyp4f39”
Akio Kihara
Hokkaido University
2. “Biophysical impact of lipid abnormal accumulation in NPC 1 cell models”
Liana Silva
Universidade de Lisboa
3. “The impact of the UDP-glucose ceramide glucosyltransferase (UGCG) on the energy metabolism of breast cancer cells”
Marthe-Susanna Wegner
University Clinic Frankfurt Am Main
4. “How to detect the unknown knowns: low abundant intermediates of plant sphingolipid metabolism”
Cornelia Herrfurth
Georg-August-University Goettingen
5. “Role of acid sphingomyelinase in mycobacterial infection”
Yuqing Wu
University Hospital Essen
6. “Sphingomyelin in intranuclear environment”
Elisabetta Albi
University of Perugia
7. “Saturated fatty acid-induced inflammation: roles for sphingolipid metabolism”
Songhwa Choi
Stony Brook University
8. “Could changes in sphingolipid metabolism/transcriptome reflect neurotoxicity of environmental pollutants?”
Jirina Prochazkova
Veterinary Research Institute
9. “Multipolar approach to decipher Glycosyl Inositol Phosphoryl Ceramides’ (GIPCs) properties in plasma membrane nanodomain formation using biophysical tools”
Adillah Mamode Cassim
CNRS-Bordeaux University
10. “Post translational regulation of Glycosphingolipid Synthesizing Enzymes (GSE’s) in neurogenesis.”
Jaipreet Loomba
Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne
11. “Interactions between Ceramides and Lysophospholipids in Fluid Phosphatidylcholine Bilayers”
Md Abdullah Sazzad
Abo Akademi University
12. “Design and Synthesis of Different FRET Probes for The Functional Analysis of The Acid Sphingomyelinase”
Zainelabdeen Ahmed
Humboldt Universitat zu Berlin
13. “GOLPH3 promotes oncogenesis by controlling the intra-Golgi trafficking of glycosphingolipid synthases”
Riccardo Rizzo
Institute of Protein Biochemistry
14. “The protective effect of inhibiting sphingosine kinase 2 in a psoriasis-like mouse model”
Younghay Lee
Ewha Womans University
15. “Probing the interaction of GOLPH3 with glycosphingolipid synthesizing enzymes”
Anthony Vocat
Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
16. “New fluorogenic probes for neutral and alkaline ceramidases”
Mireia Casasampe
Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia
17. “Sphingolipids are privileged players in polyphenol-membrane interactions”
Carla Sousa
Universidade de Lisboa
18. “Induction of isometamidium resistance in Trypanosoma brucei is associated with alterations in the parasites’ sphingolipid complement”
Emily Dickie
University of Glasgow
19. “LXR protects from Fumonisin B1 toxicity”
Nicolas Loiseau
INRA-Toxalim
20. “Activity-Based Imaging of Acid Ceramidase in Living Cells”
Mazen Aseeri
Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia
21. “Role of Sphingosine kinase 1 and 2 in skeletal muscle cells”
Federica Pierucci
University of Florence
22. “Targeting SK1 to enhance oncogene-induced senescence”
Magali Trayssac
Stony Brook University
23. “Gaining optical control over sphingolipid metabolism and signaling with photoswitchable lipid probes“
Tolulope Sokoya
University of Osnabruck
24. “Pro-inflammatory role of Spns2/S1P in microglia”
Guanghu Wang
University of Kentucky
25. “The role of ceramide synthases in human colorectal cancer progression”
Sebastien Brachtendorf
University Clinic Frankfurt Am Main
26. “An HPLC method using NBD C6-Ceramide to measure flux of sphingolipids in the Golgi”
Allen H. Lee
Stony Brook University
27. “Role of a novel C-terminal motif in the regulation of ceramide synthases”
Jiyoon Kim
Weizmann Institute of Science
28. “Implication of ceramide 1-phosphate in pre-adipocyte proliferation. Possible role in obesity.”
Asier Dominguez-Herrera
University of the Basque Country
29. “Clostridium perfringens phospholipase C, the main virulence factor in gas gangrene, causes Cer production on ganglioside deficient cells”
Laura Monturiol
Universidade de Costa Rica
30. “Pazopanib Radio-sensitization of Human Sarcoma Tumors via aSMase Activation”
Adriana Haimovitz-Friedman
Memorial Sloan Kettering Institute
31. “Implication of sphingolipid metabolites in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyltransferase deficient mice. Role of vitamin E”
Natalia Presa
University of the Basque Country
32. “Race disparity in blood sphingolipidomics associated with accelerated lupus vascular comorbidity”
Samar Hammad
Medical University of South Carolina
33. “Atypical and canonical sphingoid bases affect the permeability of model membranes”
Beatriz Mestre
Universidade de Lisboa
34. “Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors in renal diseases”
Timon Eckes
University Hospital and Goethe University Frankfurt
35. “Role of NSM-2 in early TCR metabolic signaling”
Maria de Lira
University Wuerzberg
36. “A study of the fatty acid compositions of ceramides and sphingomyelins in mammalian tissues and cultured cells”
Alicia Alonso
Instituto Biofisika
37. “1-deoxy-dihydroceramides inhibit the migration of NIH-3T3 cells”
Gergely Karsai
University Hospital Zurich
38. “Sphingolipid biosynthesis and function in bacteria”
Jonathan Padilla-Gomez
Center for Genome Sciences
39. “A Role for 1-O-acylceramide synthase (lysosomal phospholipase A2) in Drug Induced Phospholipidosis”
Vania Hinkovska-Galcheva
University of Michigan
40. “Hepatocyte-Expressed Sphingosine-Kinase-1 is Implicated in a Female-Specific Repression of Fibrosis”
David Montefusco
Virginia Commonwealth University
41. “Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) was ameliorated by phytoceramide in mice”
Seikwan Oh
Ewha Womans University
42. “Influence of serum albumin (SA) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) on the signal transduction of sphingosine 1- phosphate (S1P) and its receptors”
Susann Hofmann
Jena University Hospital
43. “Unfolding the mechanism of NLP interactions with plant lipid membranes”
Katja Pirc
National Institute of Chemistry
44. “Sphingolipids required for survival of Caulobacter crescentus”
Roberto J. Olea-Ozuna
Center for Genome Sciences
45. “Ormdls are crucial for normal myelination”
Richard Proia
NIDDK, National Institutes of Health
46. “Host defense mechanisms against pathogens mediated by sphingolipids”
Tina Muller
University Hospital Jena
47. “CSF sphingolipids for the diagnosis of iNPH and AD pathologies”
Enrica Torretta
University of Milan
48. “The role of sialidase NEU3 in the cardiac response to Ischemia and Reperfusion injury”
Maria E. Canali
IRCCS Policlinico San Donato
49. “Synthesis and application of multifunctional sphingolipid derivatives”
Emma Farley
Oregon Health and Science University
12th Meeting
12th Meeting
Trabia, Italy, Sept 6-10 2017
KEYNOTE LECTURE
NEW ASPECTS OF SPHINGOSINE-1-PHOSPHATE IN INFLAMMATION AND CANCER
Sarah Spiegel and Sheldon Milstien
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine and the Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA, USA.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a pleiotropic bioactive sphingolipid metabolite that regulates numerous processes important for inflammation and cancer. S1P is generated intracellularly by two sphingosine kinases (SphK1, SphK2) and is exported out of cells by Spinster 2 (Spns2) to exert its effects through activation of five specific cell surface S1PRs in autocrine or paracrine manners. In this lecture, I will focus on several new roles of SphKs and Spns2 in regulation of immune cell trafficking, cancer progression, and pulmonary metastasis. I will highlight critical roles for circulating S1P produced by tumors and the SphKs/S1P/S1PR axis in obesity-promoted inflammation, metastatic niche formation and breast cancer metastasis. I will also summarize the role of Spns2 in autoimmune diseases and metastatic pulmonary colonization. In addition, I will discuss recent studies demonstrating that SphK1 is recruited to sphingosine-enriched endocytic vesicles and that phosphorylation of sphingosine to S1P by SphK1 is involved in endocytic membrane trafficking and autophagy and in the crosstalk between endocytosis and autophagy. Collectively, our work suggests that targeting Spns2 and/or SphKs/S1P/S1PR axis would be a useful therapeutic for several human diseases including metastatic cancers. Supported by the DOD BCRP program award W81XWH-14-1- 0086 and NIH grant 2R01GM043880.
TALKS
INDUCTION OF “ENDOMITOSIS” BY PSYCHOSINE IS CONTROLLED BY MEMBRANE GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS AND CLUSTER OF SPHINGOMYELIN
Hiroshi Watanabe, Yuki Itani, Toshihide Kobayashi*, Shogo Oka, Hiromu Takematsu
Kyoto Univ, Japan and * Strasbourg Univ, France
Background
Psychosine (Galactosyl-sphingosine) is a lyso-form of galactosyl-ceramide (GalCer), accumulated in the genetic disorder of galactosylceramidase, Krabbe’s disease. In Krabbe’s disease patient cells, GalCer is the primary lipid species accumulated, its de-N-acylated psychosine is also accumulated and psychosine was suggested as a cause of toxicity. To date, however, it is still elusive how psychosine could cause disease-related biological effect(s).
Results
When psychosine was supplied to proliferating cells, cells underwent special type of mitosis, endomitosis, which sustains cellular content duplication without segregation, resulted in the giant and multiploid cell formation. Endomitosis seemed to be achieved by the defect in the cytokinesis, a final step of mitosis. Here, psychosine’s effect was cell-type specific. Psychosine susceptibility to produce multiploid cells was thus further explored. Membrane glycosphingolipid (GSL) expression positively and sphingomyelin (SM) negatively correlated with multiploid cell formation, indicating the importance of lipid environment in the psychosine-mediated endomitosis. It was reported that SM could form cluster in outer leaflet of the membrane, where juxtapose inner leaflet region could recruit phosphatidylinositol-5-kinase to form PIP2. Psychosine disrupted SM cluster, visualized with lysenin probe, which could be inhibitory for the cleavage furrow maintenance, required for the proper mitosis. Psychosine therefore shifted mitotic cells into endomitotic cells.
Conclusion
These data indicated that membrane lipid environment could be important for the proper mitotic event(s). Moreover, endomitotic cell cycles could be modulated by the lipid composition of the membrane among GSL, SM and phosphoinositides.
IDENTIFICATION OF A FUNCTIONAL SPHINGOLIPID BINDING MOTIF IN LAPTM4B (LYSOSOME ASSOCIATED PROTEIN TRANSMEMBRANE 4B)
Kecheng Zhou1,2, Andrea Dichlberger1,2, Hector Martinez-Seara3, Thomas Nyholm4, Shiqian Li1,2, Young Ah Kim5, Ilpo Vattulainen1, Elina Ikonen1,2, Tomas Blom1,2
1Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland;2 Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Helsinki, Finland; 3 Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague, Czech Republic; 4 Biochemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; 5 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY 11367, USA.
Background
Membrane embedded proteins are functionally regulated by the lipid composition of the surrounding bilayer. Ceramide generated in late endosomal compartments is recognized as a potent regulator of cell signaling, but its molecular interactions with late endosomal transmembrane proteins have not been studied in depth. Here we uncover structural motifs required for ceramide interaction with the four membrane spanning Lysosome Associated Protein Transmembrane 4B (LAPTM4B).
Results
By using a combination of in vitro lipid transfer assays and cell biological methods we find that the third transmembrane domain of LAPTM4B is critical for its interaction with ceramide. Atomistic simulations suggest that a centrally located aspartate residue (D202) in combination with an adjacent sphingolipid binding motif (SLB) are essential for the ceramide interaction. The aspartate residue confers flexibility to the transmembrane helix, while the sphingolipid binding motif are the preferred points of contact for ceramide. LAPTM4B proteins with mutated D202 or SLB display reduced interaction with a crosslinkable ceramide, suggesting that the sphingolipid interaction motif is functional in cells. Ceramide facilitates the heterodimerization of LAPTM4B and its protein interaction partner 4F2hc (Leucine transporter heavy chain) in late endosomes. Mutating either D202 or the sphingolipid binding motif leads to dysregulated heterodimerization of LAPTM4B and 4F2hc and altered downstream mTORC1 signaling. This suggests a role for ceramide binding to LAPTM4B in regulating nutrient sensing.
Conclusions
We identify a ceramide interaction motif in LAPTM4B necessary for promoting its interaction with the leucine transporter heavy chain 4F2hc. The findings give key insight into the mechanisms of ceramide-protein interaction and establishes LAPTM4B as a novel late endosomal sphingolipid sensor.
A NOVEL SPHINGOMYELIN/CHOLESTEROL DOMAIN-SPECIFIC PROBE REVEALS THE DYNAMICS OF THE MEMBRANE DOMAINS DURING VIRUS RELEASE AND IN NIEMANN-PICK TYPE C
Makino A1, Abe M1, Ishitsuka R1, Murate M1, Kishimoto T1, Sakai S1, Hullin-Matsuda F1, Inaba T1, Greimel P1 and Kobayashi T1,2
1RIKEN, Wako Saitama, Japan; 2UMR7213 CNRS, Univ Strasbourg, France
(Background) Plasma membrane lipid domains enriched with sphingolipids and cholesterol (Chol) are known as lipid rafts and have been proposed to play crucial roles in various physiologic events as diverse as signal transduction and viral and bacterial infection. However, the molecular organization and dynamics of sphingolipid/Chol domains are not well understood, mainly because of the lack of appropriate probes.
(Results) We identified a novel, nontoxicmushroomprotein that specifically binds to a complex of sphingomyelin (SM), a major sphingolipid in mammalian cells, and cholesterol (Chol). The purified protein, termed nakanori, labeled cell surface domains in an SM- and Chol-dependent manner and decorated specific lipid domains that colocalized with inner leaflet small GTPase H-Ras, but not K- Ras. The use of nakanori as a lipid-domain–specific probe revealed altered distribution and dynamics of SM/Chol on the cell surface of Niemann-Pick type C fibroblasts, possibly explaining some of the disease phenotype. In addition, that nakanori treatment of epithelial cells after influenza virus infection potently inhibited virus release demonstrates the therapeutic value of targeting specific lipid domains for anti-viral treatment.
(Conclusion) We showed that nakanori is a novel, nontoxic protein that specifically binds to SM/Chol lipid domains and thus is a unique probe for SM/Chol-rich lipid raft microdomains.
Makino A et al. FASEB J 31.1301-1322 (2017)
DEVELOPMENT OF LYSOSOME-MIMICKING VESICLES TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF ABNORMAL ACCUMULATION OF SPHINGOSINE ON MEMBRANE PROPERTIES
Ana C. Carreira, §,‡ Rodrigo F. M. de Almeida,‡ and Liana C. Silva§,†,*
§Med.ULisboa –Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa,1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
‡Centro de Química e Bioquímica, DQB, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
†Centro de Química-Física Molecular and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal.
Synthetic systems are widely used to unveil the molecular mechanisms of complex cellular events. Artificial membranes are key examples of models employed to address lipid-lipid and lipid-protein interactions. In this work, we developed a new synthetic system that more closely resembles the lysosome – the lysosome-mimicking vesicles (LMVs) – displaying stable acid-to-neutral pH gradient across the membrane. To evaluate the advantages of this synthetic system, we assessed the distinct effects of sphingosine (Sph) accumulation in membrane structure and biophysical properties of standard liposomes (no pH gradient) and in LMVs with lipid composition tuned to mimic physiological- or NPC1-like lysosomes. Ternary 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)/Sphingomyelin (SM)/Cholesterol (Chol) mixtures with, respectively, low and high Chol/SM levels were prepared. The effect of Sph on membrane permeability and biophysical properties was evaluated by fluorescence spectroscopy, electrophoretic and dynamic light scattering. The results showed that overall Sph has the ability to cause a shift in vesicle surface charge, increase membrane order and promote a rapid increase in membrane permeability. These effects are enhanced in NPC1- LMVs. The results suggest that lysosomal accumulation of these lipids, as observed under pathological conditions, might significantly affect lysosomal membrane structure and integrity, and therefore contribute to the impairment of cell function.
Funding: Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal: PTDC/BBB-BQB/0506/2012, PTDC/BBB-BQB/3710/2014, UID/00612/2013, SFRH/BD/88194/2012 to ACC and Investigador FCT to RFMA (IF/00317/2012) and LCS (IF/00437/2014).
A FLUORESCENT PROBE FOR MONITORING ACTIVITY OF ACID SPHINGOMYELINASE IN VITRO AND IN LIFE CELLS
Thomas Pinkert, Zain Ahmed, Christoph Arenz
Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Chemie, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany
Background
The analysis of membrane lipid dynamics usually requires destruction of membranes, which is at the cost of spatial and temporal resolution. FRET probes allow for investigating individual enzyme activities in a non-destructive manner in real-time. The design of FRET probes, encompassing two individually addressable fluorescent dyes allows for ratio-imaging and thus quantification of their cleavage rate in situ.
Results
In order to monitor acid sphingomyelinase activities in vitro and in life cells, we synthesized a first generation FRET probe consisting of a NBD donor and a Nile red acceptor fluorophore. Upon cleavage of the probe, the expected increase in NBD fluorescence was elusive, due to quenching of the latter dye upon its liberation into the aqueous phase. In a second generation FRET probe, we decided to make use of the NBD quenching in aqueous environment and turned NBD into a FRET acceptor, which was excited by a coumarine as the new FRET donor. Upon cleavage of the probe, the NBD fluorescence decreased strongly, while the coumarine fluorescence significantly increased, leading to a total ratio change of about 80fold. The probe was selective for acid sphingomyelinase in vitro. In life cells, the probe indicated cleavage by acid sphingomyelinase and allowed differentiation between normal cells and acid sphingomyelinase overexpressing cells.
Conclusion
Our second generation FRET probe allows for the first time life cell investigation of acid sphingomyelinase activity. As the dyes of the probe require the use of a microscope capable of 2 photon excitation (2PE), we are currently investigating a third generation probe that should display higher sensitivity to 2PE and thus higher brightness and better signal to noise ratios.
NOVEL DOUBLY-LABELLED FLUORESCENT (FRET) CERAMIDE ANALOGUES FOR THE REAL- TIME DETERMINATION OF THE CERAMIDASE ACTIVITY
Essa M. Saied, Linh-Stella Le, Stephanie Diederich, Christoph Arenz
Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Institute for Chemistry, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany.
The topic of ceramidases has experienced an enormous boost during the last few years. Ceramidases catalyze the degradation of ceramide to sphingosine and fatty acids. Ceramide is not only the central hub of sphingolipid biosynthesis and degradation, it is also a key molecule in sphingolipid signaling, promoting differentiation or apoptosis. The different ceramidases play key roles in cell fate and might offer attractive targets for pharmacological intervention. The quest for novel ceramidase inhibitors with improved potency and selectivity requires a powerful activity-screenebing assay, which allows the simultaneous testing of large number of compounds. In the present study, we have synthesized novel doubly-labelled fluorogenic ceramide analogues as substrates for the real-time determination of ceramidase activity in vitro.
SEMIQUANTITATIVE DISCOVERY OF CERAMIDES BY ISOENERGETIC PRECURSOR ION SCAN IN THE TRIPLE QUADRUPOLE MASS SPECTROMETER: FUNDAMENTAL ISSUES AND PROOF- OF-PRINCIPLE APPLICATION
Federico Maria Rubino, Giuseppe Matteo Campisi, Rita Paroni
Università degli Studi di Milano, Dipartimento di Scienze della Salute.
The triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (TSQ) has boosted discovery and quantification of trace components in biological samples using class-selective scan modes. The use of suitable molecular precursors and of characteristic fragment ions allows identifying and measuring ceramides with micro- heterogeneous fatty acid or sphingosine. Collision energy in the TSQ is a key parameter to extract information from MS-MS experiments for compounds of which authentic standards are not available.
We describe the theoretical basis and proof-of-principle application of a novel scan mode of a commercial TSQ by which the molecular precursor ions of all ceramides in a sample experiment the same Center-of-Mass Collision Energy (CoM-CE), irrespective of their different m/z values over a range of homologous or chemical analogs. At this value of CoM-CE, the different precursor ions have, for the same fragmentation channel, essentially the same fragment ion cross section, thus the same response factor for quantification. This scan mode can be applied to Precursor and Neutral Loss scans, and is performed by modulating the voltage drop of a scanning mass filter according to a specific linear function of precursor ion mass. Under this instrumental condition, all precursor ions collide under the same conditions and fragment to a common charged (in Precursor Ion scan) or neutral (in Neutral Loss scan) sub-structure, and response factors are thus intrinsically homogeneous, especially for first-generation fragments. As a proof-of-principle application in the sphingolipid field, isoenergetic fast scanning during LC separation of lipid extracts highlights the presence of unanticipated ceramides that can be quantified as equivalents of known analogs without resorting to the construction of individual calibration curves. The use of a scan mode coupled to the LC separation allows improving the amount of information on the sphingolipidome that can be extracted from complex samples, and discovering components with unusual or modified fatty acids. Among displayed proof-of principle examples are the sphingolipid fractions of organs and tissues of experimental animals, and of edible seeds and nuts.
NOVEL ACTIVITY-BASED PROBES FOR DETECTION OF ACID CERAMIDASE IN PROTEIN EXTRACTS AND INTACT CELLS
José Luís Abad,a Yadira F. Ordóñez,a Josefina Casas,a Alexandre Garcia,a Jordi Guasch,a Mazen Aseeri,a Virginie Garcia,b Thierry Levade,b Antonio Delgado,a,c Edward Schuchman,d Gemma Triolae and Gemma Fabriasa
aResearch Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain; bLaboratoire de Biochimie Métabolique, Institut Fédératif de Biologie, CHU Purpan, and INSERM UMR1037 CRCT, Toulouse, France; cUnit of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB), Spain; dDepartment of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA; eChemical Biology group, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Modelling, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
A few irreversible inhibitors of acid ceramidase (AC) have been reported. SABRAC was designed and synthesized by our group as an AC irreversible inhibitor able to react with the catalytic cysteine-143 (human protein). Irreversibility of inhibition was demonstrated, which opened the door to using SABRAC for the development of activity-based probes (ABP) for AC. These probes will allow the detection of the enzymatically active protein, in contrast to antibodies, which detect both active and mutated inactive forms.
Different α-haloacetamides of long chain bases, containing either a fluorophore or an azide unit for further introduction of the fluorophore via click chemistry, have been synthesized and tested as AC irreversible inhibitors. Incubation of recombinant human AC with the probes and further trypsin digestion allowed the identification of the expected lipid modified-CTSIVAEDK peptide by mass spectrometry. Both the fluorescent and the azido-containing probes were able to label AC in cell lysates, the latter after a click reaction with a suitably functionalized fluorophore, Thus, in-gel fluorescence analysis showed the presence of a band with the same mobility than that detected by Western blot using an antibody against AC. Importantly, this band was absent in lysates from cells lacking AC or containing mutated inactive AC (Farber cells). The fluorescent probe was also found to label AC in intact cells, showing the expected co-localization with lysotracker. Of note, lysosomes were labeled only in cells with active AC, but not in cells not expressing AC or expressing an inactive mutated enzyme (Farber cells).
These probes should be useful to discover AC small-molecule chaperones, by monitoring the capacity of the compounds found to increase the activity of mutant AC at promoting its trafficking to the lysosome. This endeavor might lead to treatments for Farber disease.
ROLE OF ACID SPHINGOMYELINASE IN DRUG-INDUCED LIVER INJURY AND STEATOHEPATITIS
Carmen Garcia-Ruiz1, 2, 3, Sandra Torres1, 2, Anna Baulies1, 2, Jose C. Fernandez-Checa1, 2, 3
1 Department of Cell Death and Proliferation, Instituto Investigaciones Biomedicas de Barcelona, CSIC, Barcelona, and Liver Unit-Hospital Clinic-IDIBAPS; 2Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBERehd), Barcelona, Spain, 3University of Southern California Research Center for Alcohol Liver and Pancreatic Diseases and Cirrhosis, Keck School of Medicine, USC, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) functions as a mechanism of transient ceramide generation through sphingomyelin hydrolysis, which regulates a wide range of cellular effects, most notably apoptosis. Indeed ASMase has been shown to mediate TNF/Fas and radiation-mediated apoptosis in multiple cell types. Recently, we have addressed the role of ASMase in drug-induced liver injury. Quite intriguingly, however, genetic ASMase deletion promotes acetaminophen (APAP)-mediated liver injury and liver failure. In addition, pharmacological ASMase inhibition in wild type mice reproduced the sensitization to APAP-induced hepatocellular apoptosis and mitochondrial injury of ASMase null mice and these effects were mediated by accumulation of cholesterol in lysosomes. Moreover, the induction of lysosomal cholesterol accumulation by targeting NPC1 with U186669A mimicked the effect of ASMase deletion in the sensitization to APAP-mediated hepatocellular death. These effects were accompanied by impaired mitophagy induced by APAP due to defective autophagosome fusion with cholesterol-loaded lysosomes. Despite the role of autophagy in the progression of fatty liver disease towards steatohepatitis (NASH), ASMase null mice were protected against high fat diet (HFD)-induced NASH with decreased hepatic steatosis, inflammation and liver injury. Although autophagy was impaired in HFD fed ASMase-/- mice, lysosomal membrane permeabilization (LMP) also was defective. Indeed, primary hepatocytes from ASMase null mice were highly resistant to palmitic acid-induced apoptosis and LMP. Therefore, these findings indicate that ASMase regulate LMP and autophagy whose interplay and impact in liver disease depends on the context.
CERAMIDE METABOLISM IN HYPOTHALAMUS CAUSED INSULIN CENTRAL RESISTANCE AND DYSREGULATION OF GLUCOSE HOMEOSTASIS DURING OBESITY
Hervé Le Stunff1, Mélanie Campana1, Lara Bellini1, Claude Rouch1, Nadim Kassis1, Nicolas Coant1, Benoit Colsch2, Eric Hajduch3, Christophe Magnan1
1Unité Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative – UMR CNRS 8251, Équipe Régulation Centrale de la Glycémie (RéGlys), Université PARIS DIDEROT (7), Paris Cedex 13, France. 2CEA-Centre d’Etude de Saclay, Laboratoire d’étude du Métabolisme des Médicaments, Gif-sur-Yvette, France. 3INSERM UMR_S 1138, Paris, France.
Background: Accumulation of lipids in hypothalamus has been proposed to be responsible for the establishment of central lipotoxicity, a phenomenon that could contribute to the development of peripheral insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes by deregulating the nervous control of glucose homeostasis. Here, we tested the hypothesis that ceramide metabolism could play a role in the installation of a central insulin resistance and the deregulation of obesity-induced glucose homeostasis.
Results: In this study, we showed that an insulin resistance state appears in hypothalamic GT1-7 cells treated with palmitate, which was associated with an accumulation of ceramides. Using a lipidomic analysis using palmitate deutered, we found that ceramide increases is coming from de novo synthesis. In the presence of myriocin, ceramides were no longer accumulated and the insulin resistance induced by palmitate were reversed. Inhibition of PKC ζ also counteract palmitate induced insulin resistance despite the presence of an accumulation of ceramides. In obese Zucker rats, we found an increase of hypothalamic ceramides compared to lean rats, which is counteract when they are perfused intra-cerebroventricularly with myriocin. Importantly, this is associated with an improvement of insulin sensitivity in hypothalamus. Interestingly, treatment with myriocin, improve glucose tolerance of obese Zucker rats, which is associated with an increase on insulin secretion and sensitivity. Finally, we found that islets of Langerhans isolated from obese Zucker rats restore an in vitro glucose-induced insulin secretion when they are treated with myriocin.
Conclusions: Our study reveal that hypothalamic lipotoxicity is associated with an accumulation of ceramides, responsible for the installation of insulin resistance. They also highlight the key role of central ceramide metabolism in the dysregulation of glucose homeostasis induced by obesity.
SECRETORY SPHINGOMYELINASE AND MACROPHAGE FUNCTIONS DURING OBESITY
Deevska, G, and Mariana Nikolova-Karakashian
University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Lexington KY.
Acid sphingomyelinase gene encodes two forms of acid sphingomyelinase, the lysosomal (L-SMase) and the secretory (S-SMase). Elevated S-SMase activity has been found in patients with heart failure, sepsis, Hepatitis C, and fatty liver disease, as well as in many animal models. Our earlier studies have shown that obesity is also associated with elevated serum S-SMase. The goal of the current study is to evaluate the mechanism and consequences of these obesity-associated increases in S- SMase.
C57Bl6 mice fed high fat (12 weeks) and ob/ob mice were used in these experiments. Diet-induced obesity was associated with elevated serum S-SMase activity. Ex vivo studies with peritoneal macrophages and aortic discs from obese and lean mice suggested that increased macrophage secretion is likely responsible for the elevated serum S-SMase activity. The increased in S-SMase release was accompanied by a reciprocal decline in the activity of L-SMase, suggesting a shift in the post-translational processing of the ASMase precursor. To test whether this shift has an impact on macrophage function, wound-healing model was used. Obese and slim C57Bl6 mice received 4 dorsal wounds. Activated macrophages, isolated from the wounds, exhibited 6-8 fold higher-S-SMase activities as compared to peritoneal macrophages. Obesity was associated with even greater increases in S-SMase and decline in L-SMase. Wound macrophages isolated from obese mice also exhibited higher macrophage TNF release. Loss- and gain- of function studies indicated that both, the decline in L-SMase and the increase in S-SMase seen in obese animals, influence TNF secretion in response to wounding or direct LPS stimulation.
These results suggest that obesity is associated with a shift in the processing of acid SMase in activated macrophages, which impacts the capacity to secrete TNF. Earlier studies have indicated that the underlying mechanism likely involves regulation of the activity of TNF converting enzyme, TACE.
Acknowledgements. This work was supported by CDMRP Discovery Award PR152294
THE CERAMIDE TRANSPORTER CERT IS A REGULATOR OF LIPID-INDUCED INSULIN RESISTANCE IN MUSCLES
Cécile Bandet1, Rana Mahfouz1, Julien Véret2, Athanassia Sotiropoulos3, Maxime Poirier1, Agnieszka Blachnio-Zabielska4, Raphaëlle Ballaire1, Xavier Le Liepvre1, Olivier Bourron1, Dušan Berkeš5, Pascal Ferré1, Fabienne Foufelle1, Hervé Le Stunff2 and Eric Hajduch1
INSERM UMR_S 1138, Paris, France; 2 Université Paris-Diderot, Paris, France; 3 INSERM U1016, Paris, France; 4 Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland; 5 Slovak University of Technology, Bratislava, Slovakia.
Background – Ceramides produced from saturated fatty acids (FA) play a central role in the development of lipotoxicity-induced insulin resistance (IR) in muscles. Ceramides are produced in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to the Golgi to be converted into sphingomyelin. The ceramide transporter CERT has been identified as a key factor for the ER-to-Golgi trafficking of ceramide. We tested the hypothesis that changes in CERT expression could contribute to the development of IR in muscle cells.
Results – We assessed CERT expression in various insulin resistance models in vitro in C2C12 and human myotubes treated with palmitate and in diabetic patient myotubes, and in vivo in mice fed a high fat diet. In all insulin resistance models studied, CERT protein expression is decreased. We also demonstrate that the decrease in CERT expression observed in presence of FA excess is not related to the activation of ER stress or degradation via the proteasome, but through caspase cleavage. Then, to figure out whether CERT plays an important role in maintaining insulin sensitivity in muscle cells, we overexpressed CERT or inhibited its expression using siRNA or CERT chemical inhibitors (HPA-12 and gedunin) in muscle cells in vitro and in vivo. Inhibiting CERT expression in vitro or in vivo potentiates the deleterious action of lipotoxicity on insulin signaling whereas overexpression of CERT in vitro (in C2C12 cells) or in vivo (in mouse tibialis muscle) counteracts the deleterious action of lipotoxicity on insulin signaling (associated with a 20% decrease in muscle ceramide content). In addition, inhibition of caspase activity prevents ceramide-induced IR in C2C12 muscle cells.
Conclusion – Altogether, these results demonstrate the importance of a normal traffic of ceramide from the ER to the Golgi to preserve muscle cell insulin sensitivity and the importance of CERT in this process.
MYRIOCIN AS POST-CONDITIONING THERAPEUTIC IN MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION DAMAGE: REGULATION OF SPHINGOLIPID METABOLISM FOR THE RECOVERY FROM INFARCTION
Fabiola Tecla Bonezzi1, Marco Piccoli2, Giuseppina Milano3,4, Rita Paroni1, Riccardo Ghidoni1, Anna Caretti1, Luigi Anastasia2, Paola Signorelli1
1 Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy.
2 Laboratory of Stem Cells for Tissue Engineering, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Policlinico San Donato, Milan, Italy.
3 University Hospital Centre Vaudois (CHUV), Cardiovascular Research Center, Lausanne, Switzerland.
4 Vascular Biology and Regenerative Medicine Unit, Centro Cardiologico Monzino–IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
Background.
Myocardial infarction is the irreversible death of heart muscle secondary to lack of oxygen supply (ischemia). Reperfusion following ischemia is necessary for tissue recovery, but leads to additional damage that causes increasing infarct size. The sphingolipid ceramide was found accumulated in myocardium upon ischemia/reperfusion and its modulation exhibited therapeutic effect in animal studies. We here demonstrate that ceramide modulation by the orphan drug myriocin can be considered a promising post-conditioning approach after myocardial ischemia.
Results.
Intra-ventricular nanocarriers, loaded with the inhibitor of ceramide synthesis myriocin, were injected intraventricular at the beginning of reperfusion, after 30 minutes of left anterior descending (LAD) coronary ligation in mice. We observed ceramide increase after ischemia/reperfusion, both in infarct and in the risk areas; myriocin treatment lowered this increase in the risk area.
Echocardiography, performed to evaluate cardiac functions, and histological analysis on cardiac tissues, confirmed that inhibition of ceramide synthesis is involved in the ischemic/reperfusion injury and it can mediate tissue recovery. In the risk area, transcript and protein levels of inflammatory markers were measured as well as oxidative stress responses were studied. Myriocin post conditioning was able to significantly reduce expression and transcription of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-. Moreover, myriocin triggers anti-oxidant responses by lowering peroxide concentration and by the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 axis, which plays a pivotal role in both intrinsic resistance and cellular adaptation to reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Conclusions
We demonstrated that enhanced ceramide synthesis takes part to ischemic/reperfusion injury and that is modulation by myriocin can be considered a useful candidate in the research for post conditioning mimetics.
CERS 6 IS A KEY MEDIATOR OF THE CERAMIDE RESPONSE TO DIETARY FOLATE IN MOUSE LIVER
Keri Barron and Natalia Krupenko
Department of Nutrition UNC Chapel Hill, Nutrition Research Institute
Ceramides are increasingly recognized as key bio-effector molecules in cellular adaptation to stress, including response to nutrient deprivation. Recent work from our lab has demonstrated that folate stress elicits ceramide elevation response in cultured cells, with CerS6 being the central player in this mechanism. We hypothesized that CerS6 regulation is a general element of adaptation to dietary folate but the studies linking folate and ceramide metabolism in a whole organism are missing.
Here we evaluated the CerS6-dependent sphingolipid response to dietary folate in mouse liver. Ten- week-old CerS6 KO mice and their WT siblings were fed diets containing 0, 2, or 12 ppm of folic acid (FA) for four weeks. Animal weight and body composition (MRI) were assessed immediately before the start of dietary regiments and four weeks later. Our experiments revealed a significant difference in both the body weight gain and fat mass increase over the course of experiment between the WT and KO mice. Measurements of sphingomyelins (SM) and ceramides have demonstrated that changes in dietary folate evoked sphingolipid response in the mouse livers. FA deficient diet (0 ppm) reduced levels of SMs with all acyl chain lengths in both genotypes. The total SM levels were lowered by ~28% and 24% in WT and KO mice, respectively. On all diets, CerS6 KO mice showed higher levels of SMs than WT mice, with the exception of C16-SM, which was higher in WT mice on all diets. The total ceramide levels were ~ 60% higher in CerS6 KO than in WT mice, and did not change in response to diet in either genotype. However, the folate-deficient diet induced acyl chain length-specific ceramide changes in the WT animals. C16-ceramide increased by ~75%; C18– and C24– ceramides were also elevated. Levels of other ceramides were either not changed, or slightly reduced. In CerS6 KO mice changes for any ceramide species did not exceed 10%.
Our experiments demonstrate that dietary alterations in FA induce the sphingolipid response in mice. Significant changes of C16-ceramide in WT livers, but not in CerS6 KO livers in response to folate deficient diet underscore the key role of CerS6 enzyme in mediation of dietary folate effects.
SPHINGOSINE KINASE-2 DEFICIENCY AMELIORATES KIDNEY FIBROSIS IN A MOUSE MODEL OF UNILATERAL URETERAL OBSTRUCTION BY UPREGULATING SMAD7
Stephanie Schwalm1, Sandra Beyer1, Helena Frey1, Riad Haceni1, Liliana Schaefer1, Josef Pfeilschifter1 and Andrea Huwiler2
1Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Germany; 2Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Switzerland.
Kidney fibrosis is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease and leads to extracellular matrix accumulation, organ scarring and loss of kidney function. In this study, we investigated the role of the sphingosine kinase-2 (SPHK2) on the progression of tubular fibrosis by utilizing a unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) model in the mouse. We found that SPHK2 protein and activity were upregulated in fibrotic renal tissue. Functionally, Sphk2 deficient (Sphk2-/-) mice showed an attenuated fibrotic response to UUO compared to WT mice as demonstrated by reduced collagen abundance and decreased expression of fibronectin-1, collagen I, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) and a reduced infiltration of macrophages. Importantly, this was associated with increased expression of the antifibrotic protein Smad7 and higher levels of sphingosine, which further increased upon UUO in Sphk2-/- kidneys. Notably, Smad7 was also increased in isolated kidney fibroblasts of SphK2-/- mice and in SPHK2 downregulated human proximal tubular epithelial cells. In a complementary approach, in human Sphk2- overexpressing mice, UUO resulted in exacerbated signs of fibrosis with increased collagen accumulation, higher expression levels of fibronectin-1, collagen I, α-SMA CTGF, PAI-1 and macrophage infiltration but decreased Smad7 expression.
In summary, these data reveal that SPHK2 plays an important role in kidney fibrogenesis by
modulating TGFβ signaling. Thus, SPHK2 might be an attractive new target for the treatment of fibrosis in chronic kidney disease.
THE ROLE OF SPHINGOSINE-1-PHOSPATE IN SEPSIS
Jefri Jeyapaul, Xin He, Cynthia Weigel, and Markus H. Gräler
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Center for Sepsis Control and Care (CSCC), and Center for Molecular Biomedicine (CMB), Jena University Hospital, Hans-Knöll-Str. 2, 07745 Jena, Germany.
Sepsis is defined as a dysregulated host response to infection leading to life-threatening organ dysfunction. Despite many attempts to develop specific drugs for sepsis treatment, the only therapeutic options today consist of antibiosis and supportive treatment including volume resuscitation and vasoactive drug therapy. In order to identify new therapeutic options for sepsis treatment we are focusing on the lipid signaling molecule sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and its receptors. We found that mice treated with the S1P-lyase inhibitor 4-deoxypyridoxine (DOP) showed increased survival, decreased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased bacterial load in liver tissue. Besides the immune modulatory effects of increased S1P in tissues of DOP-treated mice, S1P is additionally known to stabilize the vascular endothelial barrier, which we could also demonstrate in DOP-treated septic mice by measuring vascular leakage of intravenously injected Evans Blue dye in lung and liver tissues. Surprisingly this stabilizing effect on the endothelial barrier was also observed after treating septic mice with the sphingosine analogue FTY720, which is phosphorylated in vivo to FTY-P and induces prolonged internalization and inhibition of S1P1, the main receptor transducing the stabilizing effect. In order to define the mechanism of S1P and FTY-P mediated stabilization of the vascular endothelial barrier, we performed electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) at 6 kHz and transendothelial electrical resistance (TEER) measurements in primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and in the endothelial cell line EA.hy926 under static and dynamic conditions in cell culture dishes and in biochip assays at a flow rate of 3 dyn/cm2. Under these conditions, the barrier-stabilizing effect of FTY-P was not inhibited by the S1P1 antagonist W146, pointing to a S1P1 independent mechanism for FTY-P mediated membrane stabilization. Current data indicate that S1P3 may play a role, and S1P3 deficient septic mice do not show a protective effect of FTY-P on the vascular endothelial barrier anymore. We thus conclude that endothelial barrier protection in septic mice by FTY-P is mainly transduced via S1P3. The exact mechanism is currently under investigation.
EXPLOITING SPHINGOLIPIDS AGAINST FUNGAL INFECTIONS
Del Poeta, Maurizio
Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY and Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY.
Among invasive fungal infections, cryptococcosis, candidiasis, aspergillosis and pneumocystosis are the most life-threatening. The incidence of these infections has risen dramatically over the last 20 years, more than 14-fold. The CDC estimates that more than 1 million new cases per year of cryptococcosis will occur worldwide in patients with AIDS. Disseminated candidiasis is the 4th most common hospital-acquired sepsis. while disseminated aspergillosis is steadily increasing in immunocompromised patients. and is responsible for severe asthma by fungal sensitization (SAFS) disease. Based on these reports, over 1,300,000 people are estimated to die every year due to invasive fungal infections, which is most likely underestimated. Even with the current antifungal treatments, the associated mortality rate of invasive fungal infections is similar to malaria (1,240,000/year) and tuberculosis (1,400,000/year). However, the therapy of human systemic fungal infection has not received a commensurate level of R&D attention.
A number of recent studies have established that sphingolipids play a key role in fungal growth and pathogenesis of these fungal infections. The fungal sphingolipid glucosylceramide (GlcCer) allows growth at neutral/alkaline conditions whereas inositol-containing sphingolipids (e.g. IPC) allow fungal growth at acidic conditions. Fungi possess three ceramide synthases producing ceramides and phytoceramides which are then used to make GlcCer and IPC, respectively.
I will discuss the synthesis and metabolism of these fungal sphingolipids, highlighting the similarities and differences with the synthesis and metabolism of sphingolipids in mammalian cells. I will then provide a comprehensive outline of the past and current effort in the R&D of antimicrobials targeting these pathways focusing on the studies performed in my laboratory.
Dr. Maurizio Del Poeta is a Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) of MicroRid Technologies Inc.
CIRCULATING ACID SPHINGOMYELINASE AND CERAMIDE CONTRIBUTE TO RADIATION- INDUCED INTESTINAL TOXICITY
D.Leonetti 1, H. Estephan H1,2, M-H Gaugler1, I. Corre1, F. Paris1
1Endothelium Radiobiology and Targeting, UMR Inserm 1232, Cancer Research Center, Nantes, France 2Anti ‑ Tumor Therapeutic Targeting Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences, Lebanese University, Hadath
Background: The response of endothelial cells (EC) to high doses of irradiation leads to clonogenic cell death and damage of normal tissue. Paracrine factors are essential mediators of pathophysiological processes; their involvement in endothelial-intestinal tissue linkage during acute radiation toxicity has not been assessed. In the present study we evaluated whether acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) and ceramide represent paracrine factors enhancing radiation-induced toxicity in the small intestine. Results: We showed that 15 Gy-irradiation induced ASM and ceramide secretion in primary endothelial cells, 24 and 72h after exposure. Furthermore, the exogenous ASM and ceramide (C2-ceramide and C-16 ceramide) induces intestinal epithelial T84 cell dysfunction in term of cell growth, cell death, and IL-8 production, a marker of intestinal injury. The in vivo regulation of ASM activity and ceramide levels was next assessed in a model of radiation-induced intestinal toxicity. Irradiation of WT mice at 15 Gy resulted in a significant increase of both serum secretory ASM (S-ASM) and lysosomal (L-ASM) activities at 30 min after exposure and remained elevated up to 96h. Radiation-induced activation of circulating ASM resulted in a sustained increase in serum ceramide levels within 30 min of irradiation, and remained elevated up to 96 h. Intestinal L-ASM and S-ASM exhibited activity peaked 24h after irradiation and ceramide increased between 24h and 96h. In irradiated ASM-knockout mice, where circulating ASM is absent, circulating ceramide was not increased and intestinal injury was limited. Intestinal damage was also reduced in irradiated mice treated with an ASM inhibitor, D609. Conclusions: This study highlights the role of ASM and ceramide as paracrine factors in radiation-induced intestinal toxicity. Endothelial cells may be responsible for their increased secretion suggesting the need to protect these cells from the toxic effects of radiation in order to limit intestinal failure.
SPHINGOMYELIN SYNTHASE 1 (SMS1) DOWNREGULATION CONTRIBUTES TO CD95L AND TRAIL RESISTANCE IN MELANOMA
Bilal Fatima1,2,3,4, Constantinescu Andrei Alexandru5,6, Lafont Elodie, Dufour Florent5,6, Céline Colacios1,2,4, Levade Thierry1,2,4,7, Badran Bassam3, Daher Ahmad3, Andrieu-Abadie Nathalie1,2, Micheau Olivier5,6 and Ségui Bruno1,2,4,#
1INSERM UMR 1037, CRCT, 31037 Toulouse, France.
2Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre Le Cancer, 31037 Toulouse, France.
3Université Libanaise, Ecole Doctorale de Sciences et Technologies, Campus Universitaire de Rafic Hariri, Hadath, Lebanon.
4Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France.
5INSERM UMR 1231, LNC, UFR Science de Santé, 21078 Dijon, France.
6Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté, UFR Science de Santé, 21078 Dijon, France.
7Laboratoire de Biochimie, Institut Fédératif de Biologie, CHU Purpan, 31059 Toulouse, France.
Background
Melanoma cells display sphingolipid (SL) metabolism alterations that are likely to contribute to melanoma progression.
Results
While in non-cancer cells, de novo synthesized ceramide is mainly converted to sphingomyelin (SM) and, to a lesser extent, glucosylceramide (GlcCer), we provide evidence herein that melanoma cell lines express higher content of GlcCer than SM. Moreover, both SM synthases 1 (SMS1) and 2 (SMS2) are expressed at low levels in human melanoma biopsies and low SMS1 expression is associated with a worse prognosis. Importantly, loss of SMS1 and/or SMS2 in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) increased GlcCer content and impaired death receptor (DR) ligands-induced cell death. However, restoring the SM-GlcCer homeostasis in human melanoma cell lines, either by expressing SMS1 or by inhibiting GCS, overcame melanoma resistance to DR ligands.
Conclusion
Our study indicates that SMS1 downregulation in melanoma enhances GlcCer synthesis, triggering SM/GlcCer homeostasis alteration, and confers resistance to DR ligands. Reprogramming SL metabolism is thus likely to represent an original approach to sensitize melanoma cells to CD95L or TRAIL.
THE PHYSIOLOGICAL ROLE OF SIALIDASE NEU3
Luigi Anastasia1,2
1IRCCS Policlinico San Donato, San Donato, Italy. 2Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
NEU3 sialidase is a glycohydrolytic enzyme often referred to as the “ganglioside sialidase”, because it preferentially removes sialic acid residues from gangliosides. While the pathological role of the enzyme in cancerogenesis has been extensively studied, its physiological role has only recently been revealed. In particular, NEU3 has been shown to participate in various cellular processes, including the differentiation of skeletal myoblasts, where its activity is needed for myotube formation and apoptosis protection. Moreover, NEU3 was shown to be up-regulated under hypoxic conditions, and the overexpression of the enzyme greatly increases cell resistance to oxygen deprivation opposing cell death. Along this line, we recently reported a novel mechanism of HIF activation, the master regulator of cell response to hypoxia, mediated by NEU3. Interestingly, we discovered that NEU3 is up-regulated in the myocardium of chronic cyanotic congenital patients, as compared to acyanotic congenital hearts that were used as controls. We found that endogenous NEU3 expression and activity of NEU3 is up-regulated in the heart of cyanotic congenital heart pediatric patients, and that this caused an up-regulation of the EGFR signaling pathway. This caused the activation of a signaling cascade, down-stream of EGFR, ultimately leading to an activation of HIF-1alpha and down-stream pro-survival signaling pathways. These results support that NEU3 sialidase plays a critical role in the response of the myocardium to hypoxia and the preservation of cell viability. Pharmacologically mimicking NEU3 sialidase activation was also tested, and it may result in the development of new drug candidates for hypoxic diseases of the cardiovascular system.
CERAMIDE SYNTHASE 4 COORDINATES STEM CELL MAINTENANCE AND CELL FATE DECISIONS
Franziska Peters1,2, Susanne Brodesser3, Jens C. Brüning3,4,6,7, Carien M. Niessen2,3,4, Martin Krönke1,3,4,5
1Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University of Cologne, Germany, 2Department of Dermatology, University of Cologne, Germany, 3Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD), 4Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC),5German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), 6Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, 7Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research Cologne, Germany.
Aging affects the homeostasis of multiple organs of the body and is associated with an overall reduction in fitness. Skin aging involves impaired epidermal barrier maintenance, an increased susceptibility to injury and infection, reduced wound healing, a loss of dermal elasticity, wrinkling, hair loss and increased cancer risk. In addition, there is increasing evidence that skin aging goes in line with a reduction in hair follicle stem cells. We have previously shown that ceramide synthase 4 (CerS4)-deficiency leads to a reduction in quiescent hair follicle bulge stem cells. We now addressed, if this is due to a stem cell intrinsic phenotype or due to a potential niche function of CerS4.
Our study shows that CerS4 is highly expressed in adult murine epidermis where it is localized in the interfollicular epidermis and specific compartments of the hair follicle where CerS4+ cells co-localize with bulge hair follicle stem cell markers. Inactivation of CerS4 led to precocious activation of hair follicle bulge stem cells. This was manifested in a loss of quiescent label retaining cells and in a continuous growth state of CerS4-/- hair follicles at a time point where CerS4+/+ hair follicles had entered the resting phase. This ultimately led to an almost complete depletion of bulge stem cells in one-year old mice. At the time point where CerS4+/+ hair follicles had entered the resting phase a reduction in BMP target gene mRNA expression was identified in CerS4-/- epidermis, indicating a decrease in BMP signaling. As BMP activity promotes entry into the resting phase and quiescence of bulge stem cells this may explain the inability of CerS4-/- hair follicle stem cells to properly enter the resting phase. Further whole body CerS4-deficiency alters cell fate decisions. These changes in cell fate decisions are not due to a stem cell intrinsic function of CerS4, thus highlighting a niche function of CerS4.
Thus our data reveal an essential role of CerS4 in the regulation of the regenerative capacity of the hair follicle stem cell compartment.
CHANGE IN SPHINGOLIPIDS PROFILES IN ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM, MITOCHONDRIA ASSOCIATED MEMBRANES AND MITOCHONDRION UPON INDUCTION OF APOPTOSIS
Vincent Mignard1, Nolwenn Dubois1,2, Lisa Oliver1,2, Claire Pecqueur1,2, François M. Vallette1,2 & François Paris1,2
1CRCINA, INSERM 1232, Université de Nantes. Nantes, France. 2Institut de Cancérologie de l’Ouest, St Herblain, France.
Background: The implication of sphingolipids in mitochondrial functions, especially cell death induction, is acknowledged as an essential step. However, little is known about the precise sphingolipid composition of mitochondria and related organelles and their modulation during apoptosis.
Results: We have analyzed the presence of key lipids of the ceramide pathway (ceramide, sphingomyelin, sphinganine, sphingosine, sphingosine 1-Phosphate, glucosylceramide, and lactosyl- ceramide) by LC-MS/MS in the reticulum endoplasmic (ER), the mitochondria associated membranes (MAM) and the mitochondria (PM) purified from mouse liver and brain and U251 glioblastoma cells. We found that tissues and cell line express similar sphingolipid profiles although differences in chain lengths were observed. We then analyzed the distribution of sphingolipids during staurosporin (STS)- induced early apoptosis in U251 cells. We observed an important increase of ceramides in the PM fraction, 4h after STS treatment when early apoptosis is observed. Quite surprisingly, a similar increase for sphinganine was observed in mitochondria, although the cellular global concentrations was decreased. On the contrary, the content in sphingomyelin was specifically decreased in MAM. Finally, no change in the distribution of sphingosine, glucosyl- and lactosyl-ceramides was observed.
Conclusion: Our results show that the sphingolipid distribution in the organelles was regulated differently from total cellular contents during early apoptosis. Further studies should better explain those dynamic and their links to the early stage of apoptosis.
SPHINGOSINE-1-PHOSPHATE LYASE AND NEURODEGENERATION
Gerhild van Echten-Deckert
LIMES Institute, Membrane Biology & Lipid Biochemistry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Autophagy defects have been identified as critical factors underlying the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. We recently reported a previously unidentified route through which sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) lyase (SPL) modulates autophagy in neurons [1]. SPL cleaves S1P into ethanolamine phosphate, which is directed towards the synthesis of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) that anchors LC3-I to phagophore membranes in the form of LC3-II. In the brains of SPLfl/fl/Nes mice with developmental neural specific SPL ablation, we observed significantly reduced PE levels. Accordingly, alterations in basal and stimulated autophagy involving decreased conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II and increased beclin-1 and p62 levels were apparent. Alterations were also noticed in downstream events of the autophagiclysosomal pathway such as increased levels of lysosomal markers and aggregate-prone proteins such as amyloid precursor protein (APP) and α-synuclein. In vivo profound deficits in cognitive skills were observed. Genetic and pharmacological inhibition of SPL in cultured neurons promoted these alterations, whereas addition of PE was sufficient to restore LC3-I to LC3-II conversion, and control levels of p62, APP and α-synuclein. Electron and immunofluorescence microscopy showed accumulation of unclosed phagophore-like structures, reduction of autolysosomes and altered distribution of LC3 in SPLfl/fl/Nes brains. In addition to our recent data that connect S1P and presynaptic architecture [2], and earlier data indicating its neurotoxicity [3], we herein provide an additional route that connects SPL deficiency and neurodegeneration via a PE-mediated defective autophagy mechanism.
- Mitroi DN et al, SGPL1 (sphingosine phosphate lyase 1) modulates neuronal autophagy via phosphatidylethanolamine Autophagy 2017, 13:885‑899.
- Mitroi DN et al. Sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase ablation disrupts presynaptic lyase ablation disrupts architecture and function via an ubiquitin‑ proteasome mediated Scientific Reports 2016, 6:37064.
- Hagen N et al, Sphingosine‑1-phosphate links glycosphingolipid metabolism to neurodegeneration via a calpainmediated Cell Death Differ 2011, 18:1356‑1365.
SPHINGOLIPIDS IN MAJOR DEPRESSION
Erich Gulbins
Dept. of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
Major depressive disorder is a severe and chronic disease with a lifetime prevalence of more than 10%. With suicide as cause of death for an estimated 10% of patients with severe major depressive disorder, this disease is also often a life-threatening illness. Major depressive disorder is treated with antidepressants, sleep deprivation or electroconvulsive therapy. The previously held monoamine hypothesis for the actions of antidepressants was recently revised because the antidepressant effect is not clearly correlated with the monoaminergic effect of the drugs; in fact, the antidepressant tianeptine is even a serotonin reuptake enhancer. We have shown that therapeutic concentrations of the antidepressants amitriptyline and fluoxetine reduce acid sphingomyelinase activity and ceramide concentrations in the hippocampus; increase neuronal proliferation, maturation, and survival; and improve behaviour in models of stress-induced depression. A genetic deficiency in acid sphingomyelinase mimics the effects of antidepressants and abrogates any further effect of antidepressants on neurogenesis and behaviour. Further, we have identified that ceramide-containing vesicles released by endothelial cells in the hippocampus are critically involved in the regulation of stem cell proliferation. Finally, I will discuss novel findings on the signalling of antidepressants. Collectively, these data show that many antidepressants target the acid sphingomyelinase/ceramide system.
SPHINGOLIPIDS AND VITAMIN D3 IN NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES
Mercedes Garcia-Gil a,b
a) Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno, 31, 56127 Pisa, Italy; b) Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood “Nutraceuticals and Food for Health”, University of Pisa, Via del Borghetto 80, 56124 Pisa, Italy.
Alterations in the signaling and concentrations of sphingolipids as well as deficits of vitamin D3 levels and polymorphisms in vitamin D3 receptor have been found in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease and multiple sclerosis. Besides its classical function of bone metabolism regulation, vitamin D3 acts on a variety of tissues including nervous system, where it modulates neuroprotection, proliferation and differentiation. Since these processes are also regulated by sphingolipids, these bioactive lipids could be mediators of vitamin D3 action in neural cells. Indeed, we have found that ceramide kinase is involved in its antiproliferative effect in human neuroblastoma cells. In addition, vitamin D3 decreases amyloid-β peptide-induced cytotoxicity both in differentiated human neuroblastoma cells and in vivo. It prevents the reduction of S1P1 receptor expression promoted by the peptide, modulating the signaling pathway leading to endoplasmic reticulum stress.
LIPIDS UNDER STRESS – A LIPIDOMIC APPROACH FOR THE STUDY OF MOOD DISORDERS
Tiago Gil Oliveira
University of Minho, Portugal
The emerging field of lipidomics has identified lipids as key players in disease physiology. Their physicochemical diversity allows precise control of cell structure and signaling events through modulation of membrane properties and trafficking of proteins. As such, lipids are important regulators of brain function and have been implicated in neurodegenerative and mood disorders.
Importantly, environmental chronic stress has been associated with anxiety and depression and its exposure in rodents has been extensively used as a model to study these diseases. With the accessibility to modern mass-spectrometry lipidomic platforms, it is now possible to snapshot the extensively interconnected lipid network. We previously used a lipidomic approach to evaluate the impact of a chronic unpredictable stress paradigm on the rat brain in a region-specific manner. We found that the prefrontal cortex was the area with the highest degree of changes induced by chronic stress. Although the hippocampus presented relevant lipidomic changes, the amygdala and to a more extent, the cerebellum, presented few lipid changes upon chronic stress exposure. The sphingolipid and phospholipid metabolism were profoundly affected, showing an increase in ceramide and a decrease in sphingomyelin and dihydrosphingomyelin levels, and decreased phosphatidylethanolamine and ether phosphatidylcholine and increased lysophosphatidylethanolamine levels, respectively. Moreover, we have expanded our lipidomic analysis to further understand the functioning of the hippocampus along its longitudinal axis, which is differentially affected in mood disorders. Overall, our work with lipid profiling provides an exciting avenue for the identification of disease signatures with important implications for diagnosis and treatment of mood disorders.
SPHINGOLIPID CONTROL OF BEHAVIOURAL EXTINCTION, DEPRESSION AND ALCOHOL ABUSE
Christian P. Müller
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Clinic, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
Alcohol is a major psychoactive drug in western societies involved in many cultural activities. It was shown that alcohol can be instrumentalized, i.e. used to achieve goals that would be impossible to achieve or require more work load without alcohol use. Alcohol use can serve numerous instrumentalization goals, one of the most important goals being the self-medication for innate or induced psychiatric problems, like for depression and/or anxiety disorders. There is a high comorbidity of depression and alcohol use disorder with bi-directional trajectories. While the neuropharmacology of alcohol is well known, neurobiological mechanisms for alcohol instrumentalization are poorly understood. Together with cholesterol and glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids are the most common lipids in brain membranes. Sphingolipids form lipid rafts and signaling platforms, which are membrane compartments enriched in G-protein-coupled receptors. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) hydrolyses sphingomyelin to ceramide and phosphorylcholine and, thus, represents a major regulator of sphingolipid metabolism, which was shown to be involved in emotional behaviour. While a temporary decline in brain ASM activity and ceramide levels are associated with the effective extinction of no longer rewarded behaviour in rats, ASM overexpression of ASM in mice (tgASM) induces depression- like behaviour. We found that it also enhanced consumption of alcohol and the alcohol-deprivation- effects after repeated withdrawal in a free-choice drinking paradigm. ASM hyperactivity facilitates the establishment of the rewarding effects of alcohol. Furthermore, we found that free-choice alcohol drinking, but not forced alcohol exposure, reduces depression-like behaviour selectively in depressed animals by normalization of ASM activity. Using SolariX MALDI-MS slice imaging, we showed that ASM hyperactivity induces sphingolipid and subsequent monoamine transmitter allostasis in the nucleus accumbens. Alcohol drinking restores sphingolipid and monoamine homeostasis selectively in depressed mice. These findings provide the first biological evidence for alcohol instrumentalization with the goal to self-medicate and ameliorate behavioural symptoms of a genetically-induced innate depression. We show that alcohol drinking normalises ASM function and re-establishes sphingolipid- and monoamine homeostasis in the nucleus accumbens of depressed mice. Thus, sphingolipid homeostasis emerges as a new mechanism to control depression-alcohol addiction comorbidity.
CHARACTERIZATION AND PREVENTION OF SPHINGOMYELIN-INDUCED NEURONAL AND GLIAL ALTERATIONS IN NIEMANN PICK DISEASE TYPE A
Azucena Pérez-Cañamás, Enrique Gabandé-Rodriguez, Beatriz Soto-Huelin, María Dolores Ledesma
Centro Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
BACKGROUND: Niemann Pick disease type A (NPA) is an inherited lysosomal storage disorder caused by loss of function mutations in the gene encoding for the acid sphingomyelinase (ASM). Sphingomyelin (SM) accumulates in the cells of NPA patients and ASMko mice, which mimic the disease, leading to motor and cognitive impairment, neurodegeneration and early death.
RESULTS: We have characterized brain cell anomalies in ASMko mice and NPA patients. Besides previously reported alterations in synaptic function and autophagy we will discuss recently observed anomalies in neuronal calcium homeostasis and microglia activation. We show that high SM levels impair the activity of the plasma membrane calcium ATPase (PMCA) leading to increased intracellular calcium in neurons. SM accumulation also corrupts the protective function of M2 microglia leading to lysosomal exocytosis, Cathepsin B release and neurotoxicity. We will also present pharmacological and genetic strategies to counteract these anomalies.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results unveil the relevant contribution of SM to neuron and microglia physiology by influencing synaptic function, autophagy, calcium homeostasis and inflammation. These findings open therapeutic perspectives for a currently untreatable disease such as NPA.
SLS: NEW INSIGHT FOR A MORE SUITABLE THERAPEUTIC APPROACH FOR HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE
Vittorio Maglione, PhD
Centre for Neurogenetics and Rare Diseases IRCCS Neuromed, Località Camerelle 86077 Pozzilli (IS) Italy
Huntington’s disease (HD), the most common dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder is characterized by a progressive striatal and cortical neurodegeneration associated with cognitive and behavioral disturbance. The disease-causing mutation is a polyglutamine stretch expansion in N- terminal region of huntingtin, a ubiquitous protein with multiple functions.
So far, many are the aberrant molecular mechanisms described to be associated with the disease, however much remains to be defined. Over the past years, we have described that sphingolipid (ganglioside) metabolism is perturbed in HD. In particular, we have found a significant reduction of ganglioside GM1 levels in both HD preclinical models and HD patients.
New data indicate that lipid breakdown is not only restricted to ganglioside metabolism, but it also affects the regulation of Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a potent signaling sphingolipid involved in a number of processes essential to cellular homeostasis and viability. Our findings show that S1P metabolism is significantly disrupted in HD even at early stage of the disease and importantly, reveal that such a dysfunction represents a common denominator among multiple disease models ranging from cells to humans through mouse models. Interestingly, the in vitro anti-apoptotic and the pro- survival actions we found, after modulation of S1P-metabolizing enzymes, allows this axis to emerge as a new “druggable” target and unfolds its promising therapeutic potential for the development of more effective and targeted interventions against this incurable condition.
OXIDATIVE STRESS, LIPOXIN A4 AND BIOACTIVE LIPIDS IN MENIERE’S PATIENTS AFTER ORAL ADMINISTRATION OF CORIOLUS VERSICOLOR: RELEVANCE TO ALZHEIMER DISEASE
Trovato A.1, Dattilo S1. Scuto M.1, Maiolino L.2, and V. Calabrese1
1Dept. Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, and 2Department of Medical and Surgery Sciences and Advanced Technologies, School of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
Ménière’s disease (MD) is characterized by the triad of fluctuating hearing loss, episodic vertigo and tinnitus, and by endolymphatic hydrops found on post-mortem examination. Increasing evidence suggests that oxidative stress is involved in the development of endolymphatic hydrops and that cellular damage and apoptotic cell death might contribute to the sensorineural hearing loss found in later stages of MD. While excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic, regulated ROS, however, play an important role in cellular signaling1-4. Modulation of endogenous cellular defense mechanisms via the stress response signaling represents, thus an innovative approach to therapeutic intervention in diseases causing chronic tissue damage, such as neurodegeneration and cancer2. Among the cellular pathways conferring protection against oxidative stress, a key role is played by vitagenes, which include heat shock proteins (Hsps) heme oxygenase-1 and Hsp70, as well as the thioredoxin/thioredoxin reductase and the sirtuin systems. Mushrooms have long been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years, being now increasingly recognized as rich source of polysaccharopeptides endowed with significant antitumor, antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial and hepatoprotective effects, thereby capable to stimulate host immune responses5-8. In this study we tested the hypothesis that neurotoxicity is an important primary mediator of injury in Ménière’s disease, a model of neurodegenerative disorder, which is reflected in measurable increases in markers of cellular stress response and oxidative stress in the peripheral blood. This study also explores the hypothesis that changes in the redox status of glutathione, can contribute to increase oxidative stress with disruption of redox homeostasis in vulnerable neurons such as spiral ganglion neurons and consequent cellular degeneration. We evaluated systemic oxidative stress and cellular stress response in 30 patients suffering from Meniere’s disease prior to and after oral administration of nutritional mushroom Coriolus versicolor (MRLs). Here, we provide evidence of protective action of Coriolus versicolor when administered orally to patients with diagnosis of Meniere disease. Increased expression of LXA4, measured in lymphocyte and plasma after oral administration for 2 month of a biomass Coriolus versicolor preparation, was associated with an increased content of redox sensitive proteins involved in cellular stress response, such as Hsp72, Heme oxygenase -1, Thioredoxin and Sirtuin-1, and with restoration of both reduced glutathione (GSH) levels and GSH/GSSG ratio in the plasma. Patients under Coriolus treatment also showed decreased levels of pentosidine, protein carbonyls, HNE and F2-isoprostanes, measured as markers f systemic oxidative stress. Since Caspase-3 in increased in Meniere’s patients, the effect of Coriolus versicolor on plasma levels of proapoptotic ceramide is under investigation. The search for novel and efficient inducers of vitagenes will facilitate the development of pharmacological strategies to increase the intrinsic capacity of vulnerable ganglion cells to maximize antidegenerative mechanisms, such as stress response and thus cytoprotection. Furthermore, this findings are relevant to potential pharmacological interventions in healthy medicine strategy, pointing to maximize cellular stress resistance of the brain thus providing neuroprotection, and will be extended to other systemic oxidant disorders such as diabetes and cancer.
IN VITRO AND IN VIVO PRECLINICAL STUDY OF NEUTRAL SPHINGOMYELINASE ROLE IN PROGENITOR/STEM CELLS OF HIPPOCAMPUS
Samuela Cataldi1§, Cataldo Arcuri2§, Carmen Mecca2, Stéphane Hunot3, François- Pierre Légeron3, Mercedes Garcia-Gil4, Irina Nakashidze1, Andrea Lazzarini5, Michela Codini1, Tommaso Beccari1, Bernard Fioretti6, Giovanna Traina1, Francesco Saverio Ambesi- Impiombato7, Francesco Curcio7, Elisabetta Albi1
§These authors contributed equally to this work
1Department of Pharmaceutical Science, University of Perugia, Italy.
2Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Polo Unico Sant’Andrea delle Fratte, Piazzale Gambuli, 06132 Perugia, Italy.
3Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06 UMR S 1127, Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelleépinière, ICM, F-75013, Paris, France.
4Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy; Interdepartmental Research Center Nutrafood ‘Nutraceuticals and Food for Health’, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
5CRABiON, Perugia, via Ponchielli 4, 06073 Perugia, Italy.
6Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Via Elce di sotto, 06123, Perugia, Italy,
7 Dipartimento di Area Medica (DAME), University of Udine, p.le M. Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine, Italy.
Background: Neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase) is known to be implicated in growth arrest, differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Although previous studies have reported the involvement of nSMase in hippocampus physiopathology, its behavior in the hippocampus during Parkinson’s disease remains undetected.
Results: The in vitro study of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3)-dependent embryonic hippocampal cell differentiation resulted in stimulation of nSMase activity with significant decrease in the levels of saturated molecular species such as 16:0SM, 18:0SM, 20:0SM, 22:0SM, 24:0SM, 26:0SM and significant increase in unsaturated molecular species 16:3SM, 16:4SM, 18:1SM,20:4SM, 24:3SM, 26:2SM and 26:3SM. The in vivo study of 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)- induced mouse model of Parkinson disease showed a reduction of nSMase immunofluorescence positivity in the dentate gyrus of hippocampus where iNOS immunoflurescence was increased, by indicating neuroinflammation. A novel finding of our study is that the reduction of saturated/unsaturated fatty acid ratio induced by nSMase, by making SM a less rigid molecule, might influence neurite plasticity during embryonic hippocampal cell differentiation. Since it has long been proven that neurogenesis continues in the adult brains of mammals in the dentatus gyrus of the hippocampus due to the presence of neural stem cells, our data would predict that nSMase stimulation by VD3 treatment could be useful for the health of hippocampus in PD.
Conclusion: Further investigation of the potential roles of nSMase in PD could provide a better understanding of the biological relevance of its level and activation in hippocampus as well as the potential benefits of targeting nSMase with VD3.
PLEIOTROPIC EFFECT OF HUMAN APOE4 ON THE CEREBRAL CERAMIDE PROFILE IN MICE
S.M. den Hoedt1, C. Janssen2, G. Astarita3, D. Piomelli4, F.P.J. Leijten1, S.M. Crivelli5, A.J.M. Verhoeven1, H.E. de Vries6, J. Walter7, P. Martinez-Martinez5, E. Sijbrands1, A. Kiliaan2, M.T. Mulder1
1Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Research School COEUR, Erasmus University Medical Centre, Rotterdam, the Netherlands, s.denhoedt@erasmusmc.nl; 2Department of Anatomy, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands;3Georgetown University, Washington DC, USA; 5Department of Pharmacology, University of California Irvine, CA 92617, United States of America; 5Department for Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands; 6Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; 7Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Background
Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) is known for its role in lipid trafficking. The ε4 allele of ApoE is the strongest genetic risk factor for late onset Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). Brain lipid trafficking is strictly regulated and imbalances are associated with neuropathology. Recently, aberrant ceramide levels have been implicated in AD. Therefore, we analysed the specific effects of human ApoE4 (hE4) on cerebral ceramide content during chow or a high fat/high cholesterol (HFHC) diet.
Results
Cerebral ceramide profiles were determined by LC-MSMS in 15 month old female wild-type (WT), ApoE-knockout (E0) and hE4-knockin mice fed chow or a HFHC diet for 3 months. Similar to E0, hE4 mice displayed lower cerebral total ceramide, Cer16:0 and Cer24:1 levels than WT mice on both diets. The HFHC diet had only minimal effects on ceramide levels. mRNA levels of genes involved in ceramide metabolism and transport were determined by qPCR. Chow-fed hE4 mice showed lower mRNA levels of ceramide synthase (CerS) 6 and of most ceramide transporters than WT and E0 mice. The HFHC diet downregulated the expression of CerSs in hE4 and WT mice and of ceramide transporters in WT mice, but not in E0 mice.
Conclusions
Cerebral ceramide levels were similar in hE4 and E0 mice, but lower than in WT mice, independent of diet. This was associated with hE4-specific effects on the expression of ceramide transporters. This study suggests that ApoE4 may affect AD development by modulating cerebral ceramide homeostasis.
CERAMIDE TRANSPORTER PROTEINS ALTER AMYLOID-BETA PHAGOCYTOSIS BY HUMAN PRIMARY MICROGLIA VIA THE CLASSICAL COMPLEMENT PATHWAY
Pilar Martinez-Martinez
Maastricht University, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology,School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Brain ceramide levels are increased in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and it has been shown that plasma ceramide levels are a strong predictor for the risk of developing AD. In addition, extensive complement activation has been observed in AD brains. It is thought that this complement activation plays an important role in amyloid-beta phagocytosis and potentially harmful inflammatory processes.
Recently we have shown that ceramide transporter proteins (CERT) binds C1q and activates the classical complement pathway. In this paper, we demonstrate that CERT modulates the uptake of oligomeric and fibrillary amyloid-beta by primary human microglia and BV-2 mouse microglia, resulting in secretion of IL-6 by these microglia. In addition, we observed colocalization of CERT, amyloid-beta and complement pathway components such as C1q and C3 in human AD brain sections. These results show for the first time a novel mechanism linking ceramides to inflammation and phagocytosis by microglia in AD
MODULATIONS OF SPHINGOLIPID METABOLISM BY CHEMICAL TUMOR PROMOTERS
Miroslav Machala1, Josef Slavik1, Lucie Svrzkova1, Katerina Pencikova1, Pavlina Simeckova1, Jan Vondracek2
1Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
2Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
BACKGROUND. Environmental toxicants have been found to affect plasma membrane, cell surface proteins or lipid signaling molecules. However, their impact on a epithelial cell lipidome remains unclear.
RESULTS. In our work, we focused on modulation of sphingolipid, dihydrosphingolipid, GM3 and lysophosphatidic acid levels in the liver and lung epithelial cell models (WB-F344, HepaRG and A549 cells), after exposure to highly lipophilic environmental contaminants 2,2,4,4,5,5-hexachlorobiphenyl (PCB 153) and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), or polar oxygenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A short-term exposure (up to 3 hours) to PCB 153 or several oxy-PAHs led to a significant increase in dihydroceramide and sphinganine and decrease in ceramide concentrations. Moreover, PCB 153 suppressed dihydroceramide desaturase activity and induced autophagy of plasma membrane proteins. These effects persisted also after 24h exposure, and they were accompanied with an increase of ceramide and hexosylceramide levels. In contrast, effects of TCDD were significant only after 24h exposure; TCDD increased ceramide and sphingosin-1-phosphate levels. Although the biological significance of these lipid modulations remains unknown, it indicates that disruption of cell lipidome could be an integral part of toxic effects of these compounds.
CONCLUSIONS. This study indicates possible interaction of chemical toxicants with sphingolipid metabolism and induction of dihydrosphingolipid levels. Nevertheless, a causal link of these lipid modulations with disruption of cell-to-cell communication or autophagy remains to be identified.
ALTERATIONS IN SPHINGOLIPID METABOLISM ATTRIBUTE TO RESISTANCE TO CORNERSTONE AML THERAPIES
Samy A. F. Morada,d , Traci S. Davisa , Matthew R. MacDougalla , Noha Abdelmageeda,c, Su-Fern Tand , David J. Feithd,e , Mark Kesterd ,Thomas P. Loughran Jr.d,e , David F. Claxtonf and Myles C. Cabota
aDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC.
bDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena Egypt.
cDepartment of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag Egypt.
dUniversity of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.
eDepartment of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA.
fPenn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA.
Background – Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive, difficult to treat neoplasm. A regimen consisting of daunorubicin (dnr) and cytarabine (Ara-c) is the current cornerstone therapy. Cells that escape therapy are a major factor in patient relapse. Because cancer cells demonstrate strong metabolic alterations in response to chemotherapy, understanding the alterations associated with drug resistance can provide a basis for development of novel therapeutic intervention. A growing body of evidence shows that modifications in sphingolipid (SL) metabolism are key factors in cancer cell response to chemotherapy.
Results – To gain insight into the impact of chemotherapy selection pressure on SL metabolism in AML, we generated HL-60 Ara-c and HL-60 dnr resistant cell lines (HL-60/Ara; HL-60/dnr). Enzymatic analysis revealed that glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), acid ceramidase (AC), and sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1) activities were elevated in HL-60/Ara and HL-60/dnr cells, compared to wild-type. Consistent with enzyme activity, immunoblot analysis showed that HL-60/Ara and HL-60/dnr cells overexpressed GCS, AC and SK1; however, Ara-c selection pressure had a 4-fold greater impact on AC expression compared to dnr. Interestingly, HL-60/dnr cells were cross-resistant to C6-ceramide; however, resistance was reversed by inclusion of a GCS inhibitor. HL-60/dnr cells expressed high levels of the multidrug resistance protein, P-glycoprotein, as would be expected. HL-60/dnr cells also demonstrated elevated glycolytic activity and doubled at 1.5-fold the rate, compared to wild-type cells.
Conclusion – The enzymes of SL metabolism are known, attractive targets in cancer therapy. This study emphasizes the important relationship between chemotherapy selection pressure and key SL branch-point enzymes that regulate ceramide glycosylation, hydrolysis, and sphingosine phosphorylation, players in the delicate balance directing ceramide-regulated cancer cell fate.
SPHINGOSINE 1-PHOSPHATE REPRESSES E-CADHERIN IN EPIDERMAL KERATINOCYTES AND PROMOTES MELANOMA CELL MIGRATION
Justine Noujarède1,2, Joëlle Riond 1,2, Virginie Garcia 1,2, Thierry Levade 1,2,3, Nathalie Andrieu Abadie 1,2
1Inserm UMR1037, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer 2013, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Toulouse, France; 2Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France; 3Laboratoire de Biochimie Métabolique, CHU Toulouse, France
Melanocyte growth and behaviour are controlled by keratinocytes through cell–cell adhesion molecules. Melanoma cells escape from this control through the regulation of epithelial and mesenchymal markers. This phenomenon is considered as a major event in the initiation of melanomagenesis but the nature of the molecular mechanisms leading to these modifications remains still unknown.
Our group showed alterations of ceramide metabolism in melanoma cells compared to heathy melanocytes. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) is over-expressed in tumor cells as a direct result of BRAF and NRAS mutations. This stimulation leads to increase sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) production and release into the tumor microenvironment. This project aims to analyze whether S1P could modulate the expression of adhesion molecules in melanoma cells and neighboring cells to regulate the first stages of melanomagenesis. Here we show that: i) Exogenous S1P or conditioned medium from melanoma cells which overexpressed SK1 inhibits the expression of E-cadherin at the plasma membrane of keratinocytes; ii) This inhibition is dependent of the S1P receptors S1PR2 and S1PR3 but not S1PR1; iii) S1P inhibits E-cadherin expression in keratinocytes by up-regulating the transcription repressors Snail and Slug; and iv) S1P inhibits adhesion of melanoma cells to keratinocytes and increases of tumor cell migration. Beside the paracrine effect of tumoral S1P on keratinocytes, we also show that the SK1/S1P axis increases the expression of mesenchymal markers at the melanoma cell surface.
Taken together, our findings suggest that S1P produced by melanoma cells could stimulate the first stages of melanomagenesis by reducing the adhesion of melanoma cells to keratinocytes in the epidermis and promoting tumor cell migration to the dermis.
β-GALACTOSYLCERAMIDASE AFFECTS ZEBRAFISH MELANOCYTE DIFFERENTIATION AND MURINE MELANOMA TUMOR GROWTH
Mirella Belleri, Giuseppe Paganini, Daniela Coltrini, Daniela Zizioli, Marco Presta
Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy
Background: β-galactosylceramidase (GALC) hydrolyzes the galactose ester bonds of galactosylceramide, galactosylsphingosine, and other sphingolipids. Genetic deficiency of GALC leads to Krabbe disease, a lethal autosomal recessive sphingolipidosis. Two orthologs of GALC (galca and galcb) have been identified in zebrafish. Whole mount in situ hybridization has revealed that galcb, expressed in the nervous system, is transiently expressed also by melanoblasts/melanocytes in zebrafish embryos.
Results: Morpholino-mediated knockdown of galcb results in the transient reduction in the number of mitfa, dct and tyr-positive melanoblasts/melanocytes in zebrafish embryos, pointing to a role for galcb in melanocyte differentiation. Given the well-known relationship between alterations of cell differentiation and neoplastic transformation, GALC expression was investigated in murine B16-BL6 melanoma cells. The results indicate that GALC is highly expressed by B16-BL6 cells in vitro and in B16-BL6 cell-derived tumor grafts in vivo. To shed light on the biological role of GALC in melanoma cells, its expression was down-regulated in B16-BL6 cells by RNA interference. GALC down- regulation causes a significant decrease in B16-BL6 cell proliferation, colony formation, motility, invasive capacity and vascular mimicry in vitro. Accordingly, GALC-silenced cells showed a reduced angiogenic activity when tested in vivo the chick embryo CAM assay and a reduced tumorigenic and metastatic activity when grafted in syngeneic mice or zebrafish embryos.
Conclusions: GALC down-regulation inhibits melanocyte differentiation and melanoma tumor growth. Further experiments are required to assess the molecular determinants of such effects, including the impact of GALC down-regulation on the sphingolipid profile in melanocytic/melanoma cells.
REGULATION OF FOCAL ADHESIONS AND CELL MIGRATION BY THE SPHINGOLIPID INTERACTING PROTEIN LAPTM4B
Kecheng Zhou1,2, Andrea Dichlberger1,2, Shiqian Li1,2, Abel Szkalisity1, Elina Ikonen1,2, Tomas Blom1,2 *
1 Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland
2Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Finland
Background: LAPTM4B interacts with ceramide and controls its subcellular distribution, thereby regulating cellular sensitivity to chemotherapeutics. There are two isoforms of LAPTM4B (35 kDa and
24 kDa) but so far no studies have been conducted to systematically address their functional differences. Here we characterize the effects of the two isoforms on cell migration and cell death pathways.
Results: In this study, we generated cell lines with stable expression of either LAPTM4B-35 or LAPTM4B-24 on a knockout background. Both LAPTM4B isoforms localize mainly to late endosomal compartments. A minor fraction of the LAPTM4B-35 isoform is in addition found on the plasma membrane in association with filopodia. LAPTM4B knockout cells have reduced levels of sphingomyelin on the plasma membrane, altered focal adhesions and display reduced migratory capacity. The migratory phenotype is reversed by reintroducing the LAPTM4B-35 isoform into the cells, but not by LAPTM4B-24. LAPTM4B partially co-localizes with integrin β1 and regulates its internalization. Multivariate analysis of different clinical cancer cohorts suggests that LAPTM4B may be a prognostic biomarker of cancer metastasis and patient survival.
Conclusions: Our data suggests that LAPTM4B-35, but not LAPTM4B-24, is active in sensitizing cells to apoptosis and stimulating cell migration. High expression of LAPTM4B mRNA predicts poor outcome in cancers, and our findings suggest that monitoring specifically the LAPTM4B-35 isoform may be beneficial.
TARGETING SPHINGOSINE KINASE-1 ENHANCES ANTI-MELANOMA IMMUNE RESPONSE AND IMPROVES EFFICACY OF IMMUNE CHECKPOINT BLOCKADE
Caroline Imbert1,2, Marine Fraisse1,2, Elie Marcheteau1,2, Florie Bertrand1,2, Sophie Tartare-Deckert4, Bruno Ségui1,2, Thierry Levade1,2,3, Céline Colacios1,2, Nathalie Andrieu Abadie1,2
1 Inserm UMR1037, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer 2013, Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse, France;
2 Université Toulouse III Paul-Sabatier, Toulouse, France;
3 Laboratoire de Biochimie Métabolique, CHU Toulouse, France;
4 Centre Méditerranéen de Medecine Moléculaire de Nice.
Treatment of advanced melanoma has been recently revolutionized thanks to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI). However, to extend the proportion of responders and prevent cancer recurrence, these treatments need to be improved.
Our study aims at analyzing whether inhibition of Sphingosine Kinase-1 (SK1), which is over-expressed in melanoma cells as a result of BRAF and NRAS mutations, improves anti-tumor immune response as well as ICI efficacy. Here, we show that the shRNA-based downregulation of SK1 in murine melanoma cells harboring the BRAFV600E mutation resulted in a reduction of tumor growth in vivo. Importantly, this phenomenom was associated with a significant decrease in the percentage of CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Treg) and, conversely, to an increase in CD8+ effector T cells into the tumors. These modifications led to a high CD8+/Treg ratio of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, which represents a good prognostic factor for patients with melanoma. Moreover, our data show that, whereas anti-CTLA-4 or anti-PD-1 treatment alone failed to elicit total rejection of the tumors in preclinical melanoma models, inhibition of SK1 has greatly improved the antitumoral effect of the ICI, leading to tumor rejection in all mice or in almost 70%, respectively. Interestingly, was the finding that the combination of SK1 inhibition with ICI greatly enhanced animal survival.
Our results demonstrate that combining ICI with approaches targeting the sphingosine-1-phosphate metabolism may represent the basis for innovative anti-melanoma therapies that could be extended to other cancers.
NEUTRAL SPHINGOMYELINASE 2 HEIGHTENS ANTI-MELANOMA IMMUNE RESPONSE AND SYNERGIZES WITH ANTI-PD-1
Florie Bertrand1,2,#, Julia Rochotte1,2,3,#, Anne Montfort1,2#, Caroline Imbert1,2, Nathalie Andrieu- Abadie1,2, Thierry Levade1,2,3,4, Céline Colacios1,2,3,## and Bruno Ségui1,2,3,##,§
1INSERM UMR 1037, CRCT, 31037 Toulouse, France.
2Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre Le Cancer, 31037 Toulouse, France.
3Université Toulouse III – Paul Sabatier, 118 route de Narbonne, 31062 Toulouse, France.
4Laboratoire de Biochimie, Institut Fédératif de Biologie, CHU Purpan, 31059 Toulouse, France.
#Co-first authorship.
##Co-seniorship.
Background
Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) is encoded by the SMPD3 gene and catalyzes sphingomyelin breakdown to ceramide.
Results
We show that SMPD3 is frequently downregulated in human metastatic melanoma, likely contributing to immune escape mechanisms. To determine the role of nSMase2 in melanoma, we reconstituted the expression of the gene in mouse melanoma with low levels of expression. Expression of nSMase2 in mouse melanoma reduced tumor growth in syngeneic wild-type but not in CD8-deficient mice. Analysis of tumor content showed that nSMase2 overexpression elicited accumulation of both ceramide and CD8+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) in wild-type mice. Mechanistically, nSMase2 augmented the immunogenicity of melanoma cell-derived exosomes by increasing their association with miR-155, a major pro-inflammatory miRNA. Overexpression of wild-type but not a catalytic inactive mutant of nSMase2 in mouse melanoma synergized with anti-PD-1.
Conclusion
Increasing SMPD3 expression and/or ceramide in melanoma may serve as an original therapeutic strategy to overcome resistance to anti-PD-1 in melanoma.
POSTERS
CHANGES ON CELL MEMBRANES BIOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES INDUCED BY THE ENDOGENOUS PRODUCTION OF ATYPICAL SPHINGOLIPIDS
Tânia CB Santos(1,2,3), Ana E Ventura(1,2), Thorsten Hornemann(3), Manuel Prieto(2), Liana C Silva(1,2)
(1) iMed.ULisboa – Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa,
Av. Prof. Gama Pinto 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
(2) Centro de Química-Física Molecular and IN – Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Complexo Interdisciplinar Av. Rovisco Pais 1049- 001 Lisboa, Portugal
(3) Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich 8091, Switzerland
Sphingolipids (SLs) with atypical long chain bases structures (atypical SLs) are recognized as important players in pathology. Elevated levels of SLs with 1-deoxy-sphingoid bases were found to be associated with the development and progression of Hereditary Sensory Neuropathy type 1 (HSAN1), metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus and likely involved in the pathomechanism of the diabetic sensory polyneuropathy. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their pathological roles remain elusive.
To investigate the biophysical implications of atypical SLs, HEK293 cells overexpressing different subunits and mutant forms of the enzyme serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) were used. Depending on the expressed SPT variant, the cells form different levels and types of atypical SLs and were studied using complementary fluorescence-based methodologies. Cells with increased levels of 1-deoxy- sphingolipds had a slightly reduced overall membrane order compared to control cells. The opposite was observed for cells with increased levels of C16 or C20 sphingoid bases, where a decrease in the overall membrane fluidity was observed compared to controls. Moreover, increased cellular density, which is associated to overproduction of atypical SLs, resulted in a significant decrease in the overall membrane fluidity but not of the plasma membrane, suggesting that these lipids have a stronger impact at the intracellular membrane compartments. Even though decreased membrane fluidity was observed for all cell lines, the changes were more distinct in cells with increased levels of 1-deoxy-SLs and SLs with shorter sphingoid bases, suggesting that these lipids might function as modulators of membrane biophysical properties and possibly of its function.
In conclusion, the increased production of atypical SLs seems to affect membrane biophysical properties in particular on intracellular membranes.
PERMEABILITY BARRIER AND MICROSTRUCTURE OF SKIN LIPID MEMBRANE MODELS OF IMPAIRED GLUCOSYLCERAMIDE PROCESSING
Michaela Sochorová1, Klára Staňková1, Petra Pullmannová1, Andrej Kováčik1, Jarmila Zbytovská2,3, Kateřina Vávrová1
1 Skin Barrier Research Group, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hradec Králové, 500 05, Czech Republic;
2 Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hradec Králové, 500 05, Czech Republic
3 Department of Organic Technology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, 166 28, Czech Republic
Ceramide (Cer) release from glucosylceramides (GlcCer) is critical for the formation of the skin permeability barrier. Changes in β-glucocerebrosidase (GlcCer’ase) activity lead to diminished Cer, GlcCer accumulation and structural defects in SC lipid lamellae; however, the molecular basis for this impairment is not clear. In our work we studied how the presence of GCer and/or lack of Cer influences permeability barrier properties of model SC lipid membranes simulating GlcCer’ase deficiency.
The SC model membranes were prepared as an equimolar mixture of sphingolipid (Cer and/or GlcCer in different ratios), Chol, FFA and 5% of CholS. We used the full spectrum of isolated human SC Cer (hCer). To determine the permeability of prepared membranes, four permeability markers – water loss through the membrane (TEWL), electrical impedance and steady state fluxes of theophylline and indomethacin, were evaluated. The membrane microstructure was characterized using X-ray powder diffraction and infrared spectroscopy. Minor impairment (5-25%) of the hCer generation from GlcCer decreased the permeability of the model membrane to four markers and altered the membrane microstructure, in agreement with the effects of topical GlcCer in human skin. At these concentrations, the accumulation of GlcCer was a stronger contributor to this disturbance than the lack of hCer. However, replacement of 50-100% hCer by GlcCer led to the formation of a new lamellar phase and the maintenance of a rather good barrier to the four studied permeability markers.
In conclusion, the barrier perturbation by free GlcCer seems to be concentration-dependent. Our results suggest that the major cause of the impaired water permeability barrier in complete GlcCer’ase deficiency is not the accumulation of free GlcCer but other factors.
EFFECTS OF 6-HYDROXYCERAMIDES ON THE THERMOTROPIC PHASE BEHAVIOUR AND PERMEABILITY OF MODEL SKIN LIPID MEMBRANES
Andrej Kovacik,1,* Michaela Silarova,1 Petra Pullmannova,1 Jaroslav Maixner,2 and Katerina Vavrova1
1Skin Barrier Research Group, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Kralove, Heyrovskeho 1203, CZ-50005 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
2University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technicka 5, CZ-16628 Prague, Czech Republic
Ceramides (Cer) play an essential role in the barrier function of human epidermis, because they help prevent water loss from the body and absorption of exogenous substances. Cer based on 6- hydroxysphingosine (H) have only been found in epidermis; however, their role in the skin barrier homeostasis is not fully understood. In this work we focused on the permeability and microstructure of model lipid membranes based on Cer NH in comparison with other non-hydroxylated Cer based on sphingosine, dihydrosphingosine or phytosphingosine, i.e. Cer NS, Cer NdS and Cer NP, respectively. Model skin membranes were composed of Cer/free fatty acids (C16-C24)/cholesterol/cholesteryl sulfate. Their permeability was assessed in Franz-type diffusion cells using the following permeability markers: flux of two model compounds (theophylline and indomethacin), electric impedance and water loss through the membrane. To elucidate the mechanisms of Cer effects on skin permeability, their biophysical properties were investigated by infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction.
The model membrane containing Cer NH attained a comparable water loss value with the model membrane composed of Cer NP, but higher than in the Cer NS-membranes. Interestingly, electric impedance of the Cer NH-containing membrane was 6times higher than of the Cer NS-membrane. In model membrane based on Cer NH, the flux of theophylline was comparable with Cer NS-membrane, but the flux of indomethacin was 2.6times higher compared to Cer NS-membrane. Using X-ray powder diffraction we found the short periodicity phase and crystalline cholesterol in all membranes. In addition, in Cer NH-based membrane we observed also a long periodicity phase. Next, using infrared spectroscopy we showed differences in lipid mixing, packing and thermotropic phase behaviour. In membranes containing hydroxylated Cer, i.e. Cer NP and Cer NH, free fatty acids did not mix well with the Cer chains.
The results showed that the individual skin Cer classes have unique properties and changes in their structure lead to differences in barrier function of model lipid membranes. We hypothesize that this apparent heterogeneity in chemical structure, permeability and biophysical properties helps the skin lipid barrier better resist external stressors.
NOVEL SUBSTRATES FOR DIHYDROCERAMIDE DESATURASE AND SPHINGOSINE 1- PHOSPHATE LYASE
Pol Sanllehía,d, Ana Pou,a Mireia Casasampere,a José Luís Abad,a Yadira F. Ordóñeza, Maria Garridoa, Olga López,b Jordi Bujons,c Gemma Fabriàs,a Josefina Casas,a Antonio Delgadoa,d
aResearch Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, bGroup of Biophysics of Lipids and Interfaces (BLI), Department of Chemical and Surfactants Technology and cBiotransformations group, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Modelling, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), dUnit of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona (UB)
Both dihydroceramide desaturase 1 (Des1) and sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase (Sgpl1) have been identified as therapeutic targets in different diseases and the development of probes for high throughput screening (HTS) of their activity is of biological and therapeutic relevance. None of the reported assays for Des1 is amenable for HTS formats. On the other hand, one HTS assay for Sgpl1 has been reported, but the substrate used (RBM13) exhibits poor kinetic parameters and it is not applicable to intact cells.
In this communication we report that introduction of a double bond at C6 of dihydroceramide has a different outcome on Des1 activity depending on the double bond geometry. Thus, while the Z isomer is desaturated by Des1 to afford the conjugated C4,C6-diene (Km=7.2 μM; Vmax=24.6 pmol/h/mg,), the E isomer is a very potent reversible non-competitive inhibitor (Ki=111.4 nM). The former finding paves the way to the development of HTS methods for Des1 based on Diels-Alder click reaction of the conjugated Des1 diene product with labeled or labelable dienophiles. On the other hand, by applying the principle of vinylogy to RBM13, the incorporation of a vinyl unit between the sphingosine 1-phosphate amino phosphate core and the relatively bulky umbelliferone unit in RBM13 has resulted in two novel fluorogenic Sgpl1 substrates endowed with better kinetic parameters than RBM13. Importantly, these novel substrates have been found to be processed in intact cells upon incorporation into nanoliposomal formulations.
New fluorogenic sensors with suitable kinetic parameters and sensitivity have been developed for the determination of Des1 and Sgpl1 activity in cell lysates and intact cells. These sensors are currently used to develop HTS for screening of libraries and cell panels.
SYNTHESIS, RADIOSYNTHESIS AND PRELIMINARY IN VITRO AND IN VIVO EVALUATION OF THE FLUORINATED CERAMIDE TRAFFICKING INHIBITOR (HPA-12) FOR BRAIN APPLICATIONS
Simone M. Crivelli1†, Andreas Paulus2,3,4†, Jozef Markus5, Matthias Bauwens2, Dusan Berkes5, Helga E De Vries6, T. Mulder7, Jochen Walter8, Felix M. Mottaghy2,3,4, Mario Losen1, Pilar Martinez – Martinez1
1 Maastricht University, Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology,School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht, the Netherlands
2 NUTRIM, School for Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
3Department of Medical Imaging, Division of Nuclear Medicine, MUMC, Maastricht, the Netherlands
4Division of Nuclear Medicine, Uniklinikum Aachen, Aachen, Germany
5 Department of Organic Chemistry, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 81237, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
6 Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
7 Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
8 Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
Ceramide levels are increased in blood and brain tissue of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients. In alignment to this, proteins controlling ceramide metabolism are abnormally concentrated in AD brains. Since the ceramide transporter protein (CERT) is the only known protein able to mediate non-vesicular transfer of ceramide between organelle membranes, the modulation of CERT function may impact on ceramide accumulation. The competitive CERT inhibitor N-(3-Hydroxy-1-hydroxymethyl-3- phenylpropyl) dodecanamide (HPA-12) interferes with ceramide trafficking. To understand the role of ceramide/CERT in AD, HPA-12 can be a useful tool to modulate ceramide trafficking and to study CERT dynamics. Here we first report the synthesis and in vitro properties of HPA-12 radiolabeled with fluorine-18, and present preliminary in vitro and in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging and biodistribution data. In vitro results demonstrated that the fluorination did not alter the biological properties of HPA-12 since the [Fluorine-19]HPA-12, interferes with 5-DMB-ceramide trafficking in HeLa cells. Radiolabeled HPA-12, [Fluorine-18]HPA-12, was obtained with a radiochemical yield of 90% and a specific activity of 73 MBq/µmol. PET imaging on wild-type mice showed hepatobiliary clearance and a brain uptake on the order of 0.3 standard uptake value (SUV) one hour post injection. Furthermore, the biodistribution data showed that after removal of the blood by intracardial perfusion, radioactivity was still measurable in the brain demonstrating that the [Fluorine-18]HPA-12 crosses the blood brain barrier and is retained in the brain.
MEASUREMENT OF CERAMIDE SPECIES IN DIFFERENT BIOLOGICAL MODELS BY LC-MS/MS
Giuseppe Matteo Campisi, Jessica Rizzo, Paola Signorelli, Fabiola Bonezzi, Anna Caretti, Riccardo Ghidoni, Federico Maria Rubino, Rita Paroni
Dept. Of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Introduction
Ceramide (Cer) is one of the most important sphingolipids subclasses actively involved in apoptosis and cell death. Recently, it has been proposed as pharmaceutical target in pathologies related to its over productions and, in this optic, its specific involvement within the more complex sphingolipid pathways is needed. Liquid Chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) is the most important technique to study the Cer metabolism, and the unique able to provide an in-depth profile of all sphingolipid species.
Here we present the optimized LC-MS/MS procedure to quantify Cer species in different biological matrices and in different biological models related to deregulation of Cer metabolism.
Materials and methods
Sphingolipids from different tissues and cells were fortified with internal standard N-lauroyl-D-erythro- sphingosine (0.2 nmol), and extracted with a customized procedure modified from the one described by Merrill et al. (1).
The LC-MS/MS (Dionex Ultimate 3000 tandem AB Sciex 3200 Q Trap), operated in the positive electrospray ionization (ESI) mode. Identification and quantification of all targeted Cer was accomplished by multiple reactions monitoring (MRM) by following the transition from the [MH+] species to the common ion fragment 264.4 m/z. The Cer content was expressed as pmol normalized to total protein content (mg). The analysis run to run lasted 22 min at flow rate 0.3 mL/min.
Results and Conclusions
As low as 50 fmoles can be detected on-column and quantified with ±15% precision and within ±20% of target level; the method was linear up to 400 pmoles in a typical 150 microL extract. Examined biological samples (˃50), include mouse retinas and hearts, human Chordoma tumor biopsies, C38 and meningioma cell cultures. The method here presented resulted suitable for all the tested samples provided by in vivo and in vitro studies. In particular, the method was useful as a direct read-out for pharmacological treatments aimed to lower the Cer content in different pathological models related to the Cer overproduction.
STRUCTURAL AND DYNAMICAL ANALYSIS OF BACTERIAL NEUTRAL SPHINGOMYELINASE
Begum Yagci1, Özkimili Ölmez1, Kutlu O. Ulgen
Department of Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University, 34342 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey
Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes sphingomyelin to generate ceramide, a bioactive lipid involved in several cellular processes including inflammation and apoptosis. Its involvement in cancer and Alzheimer’s disease suggests that it can be a potential therapeutic target for these pathologies [1]. In this study, to shed light on the mechanism of nSMase2, B. cereus nSMase (Bc-SMase) that shares a similar catalytic mechanism and protein fold with nSMase2 [1], is analyzed structurally and dynamically by performing molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on the apo- form and ligand-bound forms of this enzyme. Active and inactive forms of Bc-SMase are examined in order to understand which structural and dynamic changes are required for inactive Bc-SMase to become active. Furthermore, the noncompetitive inhibitor, GW4869 is docked into computationally determined possible hotspots on Bc-SMase and analyzed to see what conformational changes that this enzyme undergoes with GW4869.
- Shamseddine, A. A., Airola, M. V, & Hannun, Y. A. (2015). Roles and regulation of neutral sphingomyelinase-2 in cellular and pathological Advances in Biological Regulation, 57, 24– 41. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbior.2014.10.002
UNDERSTANDING THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AND INFLAMMATION BY NETWORK ANALYSIS
Elif Esvap, Elif Özkimili Ölmez, Kutlu Ülgen
Department of Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey
The immune system is an organization of cells and molecules whose primary function is to protect the host from foreign invasion like microbial infection. Inflammation is part of the non-specific immune response and is an active defense reaction of multicellular organisms. Inflammatory response may cause more damage to host than the microbe if the response is not rapid, destructive and specific. Recent works showed that sphingolipids take part in various cellular processes including inflammation.
In this work, network reconstruction of immune system along with inflammation and sphingolipid related processes with an interactomics approach integrated with transcriptomics was conducted. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of the immune system proteins produced in the human liver were constructed using databases and then visualized by Cytoscape. Candidate proteins were determined by investigating the KEGG Pathways related to immune system and inflammation. Then, the protein data was integrated with the gene expression profiles obtained from databases like GEO Omnibus or MERAV to identify the active regions of the network under a specific condition such as diseased state of the organism. The network was divided into subnetworks using a heuristic based algorithm, MCODE. For the analysis of the reconstructed network, their topological and functional properties will be estimated. For the topological properties, graph theory will be used. The acquired subnetworks will be then further analyzed for functional modules to identify drug targets. The linear pathway analysis using the netsearch algorithm will be used for extracting the signal transduction pathways.
Network analysis has great potential for identifying the causes of inflammatory disorders or revealing the relationship between diseases and the immune system. Also, additional drug targets or key regulators of immune system can be identified using biological networks for therapeutic purposes.
SPHINGOSINE KINASE INHIBITORS SKI AND ABC294640 INDUCE ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM STRESS AND PROMOTE POST-TRANSLATIONAL MODIFICATION OF p53 IN HUMAN EMBRYONIC KIDNEY 293T CELLS
Mariam Alsanafi, Nigel J. Pyne, and Susan Pyne
Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
Background
Sphingosine kinases (SK1 and SK2) are lipid kinases that catalyse the formation of the bioactive lipid, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) by phosphorylation of sphingosine. S1P acting via G-protein coupled receptors (S1P1-5) or intracellular targets induces cellular responses. We have previously shown that sphingosine kinase inhibitors induce the proteasomal degradation of SK1 in cells to promote growth arrest and/or senescence or apoptosis.
Results
In this study, we have assessed the effect of SKi (2-(p-hydroxyanilino)-4-(p-chlorophenyl)thiazole)) and ABC294640 (3-(4-chlorophenyl)-adamantane-1-carboxylic acid (pyridin-4-ylmethyl)amide), which inhibit sphingosine kinase and dihydroceramide desaturase (Des1) on ER stress and p53 in HEK293T cells. Both compounds induce the proteasomal degradation of SK1 and post- translational modification of p53 as evidence by the appearance of two proteins with Mr = 63 and 73 kDa that cross-react with anti-p53 antibody. The proteasomal inhibitors, MG132 blocks the accumulation of p63 and p73 suggesting that an unidentified protein, which is normally degraded by the proteasome has an inhibitory role in the post-translational modification of p53. Interestingly, the formation of p63 and p73 was not affected by N-acetylcystin (NAC), suggesting that oxidative stress is not involved. In addition, SKi and ABC294640 induce an ER stress response as evidence by post-translational modification of protein kinase R-like ER kinase (PERK); indicated by mobility shift on SDS-PAGE. The modulation of PERK was not affected by NAC. Both inhibitors induce ‘alarm signal’ activation of p38 MAPK and JNK.
Conclusion
SK/Des1 inhibitors potentially alter the lipid composition of the ER membrane, which directly activates PERK independent of unfolded proteins. Future objectives are to provide a mechanistic link between ER stress and p53 to define the action of SK/Des1 inhibitors on growth arrest/cell death.
HUMAN SERUM LIPIDOME MIRRORS THE LIPID SPECIES LEVELS FOUND IN SYNOVIAL FLUID DURING HEALTH AND OSTEOARTHRITIS
MK Kosinska1, G Liebisch2, J Wilhelm3, B Ishaque1, M Rickert1 & J Steinmeyer1
1Laboratory for Experimental Orthopaedics, Department of Orthopaedics, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Germany
2Department of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Regensburg, Germany
3Medical Clinic II/IV, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
Objectives: Biomarkers that reflect the molecular remodeling of early stages of OA may provide a novel diagnostic tool. We recently reported that the human synovial fluid (SF) lipidome often differ between healthy and early and/or late stages of OA. In this line, we hypothesize that blood mirrors at least some of the alterations of SF lipidome during OA. Thus, in the current study we compared the lipidome of serum and SF obtained from healthy donors and patients with early or late stage OA knee joints.
Results: Lipids were extracted from cell- and cellular debris-free knee SF and serum obtained from 16 postmortem (SF) and 33 (serum) joint-healthy donors, 49 patients with early and 43 patients with late OA changes. Extracted lipids were quantified using ESI-MS/MS. The general linear model analysis was applied to investigate possible effects of age, BMI, and gender on the level of lipids. Statistical analysis was performed using program R. The present study was approved by the ethical review committee of our University.
Human SF and serum have a comparable composition of lipid classes and species. The seven different lipid classes present in human SF and serum compromise 107 lipid species with the following species distribution: 28 phosphatidylcholine, 5 lysophosphatidylcholine, 16 sphingomyelin, 24 phosphatidylethanolamine based plasmalogen, 14 phosphatidylethanolamine, 11 phosphatidylinositol, and 9 ceramide species. Interestingly, the lipid levels were 4 to 10-fold elevated in serum and, approximately parallel to those of the SF. Importantly, some of the lipid species being elevated in OA SF are also elevated in OA serum obtained from the same donors.
Conclusions: Our quantitative data reveal firstly that human serum often reflect the alterations in lipid species levels seen in OA SF as compared to normal controls. Further studies with larger well characterized cohorts are needed to verify individual lipid species as novel OA biomarkers.
SPHINGOSINE-1-PHOSPHATE ENHANCES α1-ADRENORECEPTOR-MEDIATED VASOCONSTRICTION
Panta1, D. Móré1, É. Ruisanchez1, P. Dancs1, M. Kerék1, S. Offermanns2, Z. Benyó1
1Institute of Clinical Experimental Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary (Funding: OTKA K-112964);
2Department of Pharmacology, Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
Background. We aimed to examine the vasoactive effects of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) by evaluating its capability to alter the basal vascular tone and to influence vasoconstriction mediated by α1-adrenoreceptors. Segments of the thoracic aorta were isolated from adult male wild type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice deficient in S1P1, S1P2, or S1P3 receptors or the α subunits of G12/13 proteins in the smooth muscle. Vascular reactions were tested under isometric conditions via myogrpahy.
Results. Addition of 5 µM S1P – that is in the concentration range of S1P in human serum – did not cause significant change in the resting vascular tone. In contrast, EC50 of the vasoconstrictor effect of the α1-adrenoreceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) decreased, whereas Emax increased following 20 min incubation with 5 µM S1P in WT vessels. Similar enhancement of the vascular reactivity was detected in S1P1– and S1P3-KO segments. In S1P2-KO vessels, however, this phenomenon was absent. In addition, the potentiating effect of S1P was also lacking in vessels of G12/13-KO mice. The modulation of PE-induced vasoconstriction by S1P was abolished after inhibition of the Rho-kinase by Y27632.
In further experiments we aimed to evaluate the duration of the S1P-induced enhancement of α1- adrenoreceptor-mediated vasoconstriction. Therefore, 80 nM PE was added every 20 minutes, repeatedly, following a 20 min long incubation with S1P. Reactivity remained enhanced in the following 3 hours in WT segments, whereas this increase could not be detected in S1P2-KO vessels.
Conclusions. Although S1P does not directly modify resting vascular tone by itself, yet it significantly enhances α1-adrenoreceptor-mediated vasoconstriction even at three hours after exposure. The S1P2 receptor / G12/13 / Rho-kinase pathway appears to be responsible for this effect of S1P.
TIME-DEPENDENT ALTERATIONS OF SPHINGOLIPID METABOLISM ELICITED BY PCB 153 (2,2‘,4,4‘,5,5‘-HEXACHLOROBIPHENYL) IN LIVER PROGENITOR CELLS
Katerina Pencikova1, Josef Slavik1, Lucie Svrzkova1, Jan Vondracek1,2, Miroslav Machala1
1 Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
2 Institute of Biophysics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
Background. Significant changes of sphingolipid metabolism were observed in rat liver progenitor- like WB-F344 cells after exposure to PCB 153, a highly abundant PCB congener found both in the environment and in living organisms.
Results. After short-term exposure (1 – 3 h), the intracellular concentrations of ceramide and hexosylceramide decreased significantly, while the levels of dihydroceramide and dihydrosphingomyelin were strongly increased. Using ceramide 12/0, an artificial substrate for dihydroceramide desaturase (DES), we found that DES activity was suppressed after PCB 153 treatment. Fenretinide, a small molecular inhibitor of DES, mimicked the effects of PCB 153. These results suggest that DES activity can be rapidly suppressed by PCB 153, which is a novel mode of action of this important environmental contaminant. In contrast to the short-term exposure, longer incubation of cells with PCB 153 (24 h) increased concentrations of ceramide, hexosylceramide and dihydroceramide, thus suggesting a more complex, dynamic deregulation of sphingolipid metabolism by PCB 153.
Conclusions. The present results suggest that there might exist links between modulation of sphingolipid metabolism and further cellular effects of non-dioxin-like PCB congeners, including disruption of cell-cell communication and modulations of intracellular signaling pathways.
INCREASED 1-DEOXY-SPHINGOLIPIDS LEVELS DURING DEVELOPMENT OF DIABETES, ARE CYTOTOXIC FOR PANCREATIC ACINAR CELLS
Chen R1, Hornemann T2,3,5, Yu W2, Camargo S4, Graf R1,5 and Sonda S1,5
1Swiss Hepato-Pancreatico-Biliary(HPB) Centre, Division of Surgical Research, Department of Visceral & Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Zurich
2Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich
3Competence Centre for Systems Physiology and Metabolic Diseases, Zurich
4Institute of Physiology, University of Zurich, 5Centre for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Switzerland
Background: Dysfunctions of pancreatic acinar cells leading to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency are frequently associated with diabetes mellitus (DM). DM is associated with increased plasma levels of 1-deoxy-sphingolipids (dSLs), an atypical class of sphingolipids with demonstrated cytotoxic effects on several cell types. Here we investigated whether elevated dSLs in DM may compromise the function of pancreatic acinar cells, thus increasing the predisposition to develop exocrine pancreatic diseases.
Results:
Induction of DM in mice with streptozotocin recapitulated the increased dSL levels and atrophy of acinar cells in diabetic patient. Reduction of dSL synthesis by oral L-serine supplementation ameliorated acinar cell damage, without restoring insulin production in beta cells. This observation suggests that elevated dSLs rather than insulin deficiency contributed to the acinar cell damage in DM. In vitro studies further confirmed that treatment with the dSL 1-deoxysphinganine (dSA), directly promoted programmed cell death in pancreatic acinar cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Analysis of the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed dSL-mediated cytotoxicity showed that dSL induced mitochondrial dysfunction. This was evidenced by increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduction of redox activity. Importantly, ROS formation was a key inducer of cytotoxicity as ROS scavenging upon antioxidant treatment abrogated dSL- induced cell death. Finally, we identified the metabolic conversion of dSA into ceramide as a critical step in dSLmediated ROS production and consequent acinar cell cytotoxicity.
Conclusion: Our work revealed that dSLs are cytotoxic for pancreatic acinar cells, suggesting a role for these lipids in exocrine dysfunction observed following DM. Oral L-serine supplementation could be a therapeutic strategy to ameliorate exocrine pancreatic diseases in diabetic patients.
LYSOPHOSPHATIDIC ACID, A JANUS-FACED MEDIATOR OF THE VASCULAR TONE
Péter Dancs1, Éva Ruisanchez1, Andrea Balogh1, Cecília Rita Panta1, Zsuzsanna Miklós1, Rolf M. Nüsing2, Junken Aoki3, Jerold Chun4, Stefan Offermanns5, Gábor Tigyi6, Zoltán Benyó1
1Institute of Clinical Experimental Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary (Funding: OTKA K-112964)
2Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, JW Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
3Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
4Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California, USA
5Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
6Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Background. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lysophospholipid having a multitude of actions in the immune-, nervous-, and cardiovascular systems. We previously reported that LPA elicits endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation mediated by LPA1 receptors, phospholipase C and nitric oxide. Removal of the endothelium not only abolished this effect but converted it to vasoconstriction. Here we describe a novel paracrine/autocrine lipid mediator cascade mediating this constrictor action of LPA.
Results. LPA1, LPA2, LPA4 and LPA6 transcripts were abundantly detectable with qPCR in the aortic vascular smooth muscle (VSM) of wild type (WT) mice. Isometric tension of endothelium- denuded abdominal aortic segments was measured via myography, where LPA elicited dose- dependent vasoconstriction in endothelium-denuded WT segments. The LPA1-3 agonist VPC31143 mimicked, whereas the LPA1&3 antagonist Ki16425 inhibited the constrictor effect. The VPC31143- induced vasoconstriction was abolished in the vessels of LPA1 knockout (KO) mice but not in that of LPA2 KO mice. Genetic deletion of Gαq/11 or Gα12/13 as well as inhibition of Gαi/o by pertussis toxin (PTX) also attenuated the VPC31143-elicited vasoconstriction. Gαi/o signaling can be coupled to phospholipase A2 and COX1 activation, thus we investigated the potential involvement of autocrine/paracrine thromboxane A2 (TXA2) release in the LPA1-mediated vasoconstriction. Vessels deficient in COX1 or TP showed diminished vasoconstrictor responses to VPC31143. Furthermore, VPC31143 increased TXA2 production in WT and TP KO vessels measured with TXB2 ELISA, but failed to do so in LPA1 KO, COX1 KO or PTX-treated WT vessels.
Conclusions. Acting on VSMC, LPA elicits vasoconstriction, which counteracts the endothelium- dependent vasodilation. We propose that in case of endothelial injury the LPA/LPA1 and TXA2/TP pathways may interact as a vicious circle between platelet activation and vasoconstriction.
LYSOPHOSPHATIDIC ACID INDUCED VASOCONSTRICTION IN THE CORONARY VASCULAR BED
Zsuzsanna Miklós1, Dina Wafa1, Eszter Hobot1, Éva Ruisanchez1, Margit Kerék1, Andrea Balogh1, Péter Dancs1, Stefan Offermanns2, Gábor Tigyi3, Zoltán Benyó1
1Institute of Clinical Experimental Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary (Funding: OTKA K112964)
2Max-Planck-Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
3Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
Background: Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is known to act on 6 documented G protein-coupled receptors (LPA1-6). It has diverse effects in the cardiovascular system including its major influence on vascular tone. Although several LPA species are released in acute coronary syndrome, the effects of LPA on coronary vascular tone remain to be elucidated. Our aim was to describe the effects of LPA on the coronary flow of isolated murine hearts and to identify the signaling pathways mediating the effect.
Results: RT-PCR analysis of LPA1-6 mRNA abundance in segments of mouse coronaries verified the expression of each LPA receptors in the vessels. Administration of 1-oleoyl-LPA (10-6 M) to the perfusion line of Langendorff perfused hearts of wild type male mice reduced the coronary flow by a maximum of 35% which resulted in the drop of left ventricular developed pressure by 30%. The coronary flow reducing effect of LPA also developed in LPA1 and LPA2 deficient mice and in the presence of antagonists which block LPA3 receptors (Ki16425 10-5 M and VPC32183 10-6 M). However, the LPA4 antagonist BrP-LPA (10-8 M) abolished LPA-induced coronary flow reduction. In mouse experimental models used for the identification of intracellular signaling pathways, the smooth muscle specific deletion of Gαq/11 did not influence, whereas smooth muscle specific deletion of Gα12/13 diminished by 50 % and Rho-kinase (RhoK) inhibition (Y27632 10-6 M) abolished the effect of LPA on coronary flow.
Conclusion: LPA is a strong vasoconstrictor in the coronaries. Its effect is mediated via LPA4 receptor – Gα12/13 protein – RhoK signaling pathways. This mechanism might have relevance in acute coronary events when LPA is released in the coronary system due to platelet activation and plaque rupture.
SPHINGOSINE INHIBITS CALMODULIN ACTION: IMPLICATION FOR REGULATION OF ENDOTHELIAL NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE-MEDIATED VASORELAXATION
Éva Ruisancheza, Tünde Juhászb, Veronika Harmatc, Viktor Erdősia, Zoltán Benyóa, Károly Liliomd
aInstitute of Clinical Experimental Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary (Supported by OTKA K-112964)
bInstitute of Enzymology, Research Center for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
cLaboratory of Structural Chemistry and Biology, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
dDepartment of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
Background: Calmodulin (CaM), the main modulator in calcium signaling, regulates the function of a great number of proteins. The signaling lipid sphingosine (SPH) has been reported to inhibit several CaM-dependent enzymes, including endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). We hypothesized that Sph and its structural derivatives can directly bind to CaM. Here we characterize the interaction of CaM with Sph and its functional effects on the vascular tone.
Results: In vitro binding assays utilizing fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry and quartz crystal microbalance revealed that SPH, sphinganine (DHS), and N,N- dimethylsphingosine (DMS) binds to both apo and Ca2+-saturated CaM in a concentration and stoichiometry dependent manner. We observed high affinity, sub-micromolar binding to SPH- containing surfaces. We demonstrated in vitro that SPH was able to displace the model CaM- binding domain melittin from CaM. The crystal structure of the SPH-Ca2+CaM complex revealed a closed, inhibitory conformation of CaM. eNOS activity in vitro was also inhibited by SPH, DHS, and DMS. We examined eNOS mediated vasorelaxation in phenylephrine precontracted, isolated mouse thoracic aorta segments by myography. 30 min incubation with 10-30 μM SPH, DHS, or DMS dose-dependently shifted the acetylcholine dose-response curves to the right compared to vehicle treated vessels. However, vasorelaxation elicited by sodium-nitroprusside remained unaltered, indicating that the sensitivity of the vascular smooth muscle to NO was not affected by these compounds.
Conclusions: SPH, DHS, and DMS directly bind to CaM, inhibiting its activity on eNOS. In vitro, we observed sub-micromolar affinity when lipids were in associated forms. Ex vivo, SPH and analogues inhibited eNOS mediated vasorelaxation revealing a new regulatory mechanism of the vascular tone by sphingolipids.
ENHANCED ENDOTHELIAL NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE MEDIATED VASORELAXATION BY SPHINGOMYELINASE IN DB/DB MICE
Éva Ruisancheza, Levente Kissb, Éva Zsuzsa Strakya, Dávid Kordaa, Adrienn Párkányia, Károly Liliomc, Gábor Tigyid, Zoltán Benyóa
aInstitute of Clinical Experimental Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary (Supported by OTKA K-112964)
bDepartment of Physiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
cDepartment of Biophysics and Radiation Biology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
dDepartment of Physiology, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, US
Background: Sphingolipids, derived from sphingomyelin metabolism, have been implicated as important mediators of inflammatory processes in diabetes. The first step of sphingolipid biosynthesis is catalyzed by sphingomyelinase (SMase) enzymes which are reportedly upregulated in diabetes. In the present study we aimed to analyze the vascular effects of SMase in a mouse model of type 2 diabetes and to gain understanding on the signaling pathways involved.
Results: Db/db mice developed signs of the metabolic syndrome as indicated by their markedly increased body weight and nonfasting blood glucose level compared to control littermates. Interestingly, serum level of phosphorylcholine – the byproduct of the conversion of sphingomyelin to ceramide by SMase – was also significantly increased in the diabetic group. In phenylephrine precontracted aortic segments, the endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation by acetylcholine was diminished in vessels of db/db animals whereas the effect of the NO donor sodium nitroprusside remained unchanged. Surprisingly, in contrast to the transient contraction and subsequent weak relaxation in control vessels, SMase evoked marked relaxation in vessels of diabetic mice. In the presence of the thromboxane receptor antagonist SQ 29,548, SMase induced enhanced relaxation in both groups, but the effect was 3-fold stronger in vessels of db/db mice as compared to controls. Co-administration of the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME abolished the vasorelaxation in both groups.
Conclusions: SMase induces biphasic changes in the tone of db/db mice derived aorta and these effects are mediated by thromboxane A2 and endothelial nitric oxide. In spite of the general endothelial dysfunction in type 2 diabetes, the eNOS-mediated vasorelaxant effect of SMase is markedly enhanced.
PROTEIN-(SPHINGO)LIPID INTERACTIONS OF INFLUENZA A WITH HOST CELLS
Laura-Christin Förster*, Dr. Susann Kummer**, Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Kräusslich** and Prof. Dr. Britta Brügger*
* Heidelberg University Biochemistry Centre (BZH), Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg
** Department of Infectious Diseases, Virology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 324, 69120 Heidelberg
Viral budding of Influenza A virus (IAV) occurs at specific apical plasma membrane regions enriched in cholesterol, glyco- and sphingolipids (SLs). SLs seem to play a crucial role in IAV propagation since total cellular SL amounts increase during viral infection and defects in SL biosynthesis largely affect cell-surface localization of viral glycoproteins.
The aim of this study is to shed light on the role of SLs for the IAV life cycle. One goal was to identify SL-binding host proteins which might play a key role in IAV infection. To this end, a SILAC- based proteomic approach using a photoactivatable and clickable (pac) SL precursor, pac- sphingosine (pacSph), was performed. The proteomic screen was conducted with A549 cells possessing a stable knock-out (KO) in Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (S1PL) to prevent that pacSph derivatives are irreversibly channeled into the glycerophospholipid metabolic pathway.
Furthermore, effects of SL metabolizing enzymes on viral infection were investigated with the help of CRISPR-mediated KO cells. In initial experiments, HeLa and A549 cells deficient in S1PL (as described in the proteomic experiment) and CerS2, an enzyme catalyzing the synthesis of very- long chain ceramides, were used. Indeed, viral particle load comparison showed differences between WT and KO cells. Interestingly, lipidomic analysis revealed that the different enzymatic KOs directly affect the amount of sphingomyelin species with a sphinganine backbone which presumably influences infection, not the enzymatic KO itself.
Future objectives shall include to assess the role of specific SL-binding proteins as well as the balance between SLs with a sphingosine or sphinganine backbone, the latter referred to as dihydro-SLs, for the viral life cycle.
REGULATION OF LC3-ASSOCIATED PHAGOCYTOSIS BY ACID SPHINGOMYELINASE
Alexander Gluschko1, Marc Herb1, Katja Wiegmann1, Martin Krönke1,2,3,4, Michael Schramm1
1Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, 2Center of Molecular Medicine Cologne, 3Cologne Cluster of Excellence on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-associated Diseases (CECAD), 4German Center for Infection Research, Cologne, Germany
Background: LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP) is a recently discovered form of non-canonical autophagy that, by recruiting LC3 to single-membrane phagosomes, promotes fusion of these phagosomes with lysosomes. As acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) is required for efficient fusion of phagosomes with lysosomes and thereby for immunity to infection with pathogenic bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes, we hypothesized that ASMase might play a role in LAP.
Results: Infection of macrophages with Listeria resulted in recruitment of LC3 to a subpopulation of Listeria-containing phagosomes. These LC3-positive phagosomes fused more efficiently with lysosomes leading to enhanced killing of the pathogen. LC3 recruitment to Listeria-containing phagosomes was by LAP as it depended on production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the phagocyte NADPH oxidase Nox2 and occurred onto single-membrane phagosomes, which are both hallmarks of LAP. In ASMase-KO macrophages, Listeria-containing phagosomes were less often decorated with LC3 indicating impaired LAP. Furthermore, ROS production in response to Listeria-infection was impaired in ASMase-KO macrophages. As ROS production by Nox2 is a prerequisite for induction of LAP, these data indicate that ASMase regulates LAP by influencing Nox2 activation. Activation of ASMase after Listeria-infection in turn was amplified by Nox2-derived ROS in a positive feedback loop. Moreover, activation of ASMase after Listeria infection was impaired in TNF-KO macrophages and when TNF converting enzyme (TACE) was inhibited.
Conclusions: Together, these data indicate that Listeria infection of macrophages results in TACE- mediated TNF release which activates ASMase. ASMase activation then allows activation of Nox2 and thereby induction of LAP. As LC3 recruitment to phagosomes by LAP promotes phago- lysosomal fusion our data indicate that LAP is one of the mechanisms via which ASMase enhances phago-lysosomal fusion.
MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF SPHINGOSINE-1-PHOSPHATE INDUCED CHLORIDE CONDUCTANCE IN SENSORY NEURONS
Yanmei Qi, Natalia Schiefermeier, Michiel Langeslag, Michaela Kress
Division Physiology, DPMP, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpftraße 41/EG, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a small bioactive lipid that mediates diverse cellular responses, such as proliferation, apoptosis, migration and morphogenesis. S1P recently is emerging as an important modulator in regulating nociception. We previously have shown S1P evoked depolarizing ionic current in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) sensory neurons, resulting in the excitation of primary afferent neurons. However, the underlying molecular basis for the S1P-evoked depolarization remains elusive.
The depolarizing chloride currents elicited by S1P have been reported to be correlated with the cytoskeletal remodeling in N1E-115 neuronal cells. Using a siRNA knock-down strategy, we screened several chloride channels involved in S1P-induced cell shape change and assessed whether these chloride channels were involved in the S1P-evoked depolarization in DRG neurons. Combining an adenovirus-based gene silencing technique, RT-PCR and single cell electrophysiological recordings, we showed that the down-regulation of two chloride channels significantly reduced S1P-induced currents in DRG sensory neurons, suggesting that these two chloride channels contributed to the S1P-induced excitatory conductance in sensory neurons.
In summary, we identified two chloride channels that are important for S1P induced inward currents in sensory neurons. Activation of chloride channels by S1P signaling would lead to the influx of Cl–, resulting in the depolarization and excitation of DRG neurons. The present study provides novel insight into the mechanism by which bioactive sphingolipids regulate neuron function.
DEFECTIVE DE NOVO SPHINGOLIPID SYNTHESIS IN HUNTINGTON’S DISEASE: A NEWPATHOGENIC MOLECULAR MECHANISM?
Di Pardo A1, Basit A2, Armirotti A2, Castaldo S1, Amico E1, Pepe G1, Marracino F1, Digilio A3 and Maglione V1.
1IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
2Department of Drug Discovery and Development, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
3Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources (IBBR), National Research Council (CNR), Naples, Italy
Background:
Alterations of lipid metabolism have been frequently associated with Huntington’s disease (HD) over the past years. HD is the most common neurodegenerative disorder, with a complex pathogenetic profile, typically characterized by progressive striatal and cortical degeneration and associated motor, cognitive and behavioral disturbances. The disease results from a single gene mutation that endows the encoded protein huntingtin (Htt) with toxic properties leading to a broad array of molecular dysfunctions including an overall perturbation of brain lipid homeostasis with significant alteration of sphingolipid metabolism.
Results:
Previous studies form our group demonstrate that disturbed sphingolipid metabolism is an early event in the disease progression. Although such a defect represents a common biological denominator that may underlie the pathology among multiple disease models ranging from cells to humans through mouse models, more efforts are required to be made for deeper investigation of the underlying cause.
Results from our current research provide the first evidence that alteration of sphingolipid metabolism in HD appears to be attributable, at least in part, to a defective de novo synthesis of these specific lipids. In particular, quantitative analysis by Mass spectrometry indicates that levels of the de novo sphingolipids sphinganine and dihydroceramide are significantly reduced in HD.
Conclusions:
Our findings consolidate the evidence of disturbed sphingolipid metabolism in HD and support the hypothesis that it may represent a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of the disease and a novel therapeutic target for the development of more effective treatments.
DISTINCTIVE SPATIOTEMPORAL PATTERN OF COLITIS-ASSOCIATED CANCER DEVELOPMENT DEPENDENT ON S1P LYASE DEFICIENCY IN COLON VERSUS BONE MARROW DERIVED CELLS
Anja Schwiebs1*, Martina Herrero San Juan1, Eliza Wiercinska2, Martin Anlauf3, Florian Ottenlinger1, Katrin G Schmidt1, Dominique Thomas4, Eiman Elwakeel5, Andreas Weigert5, Halvard Bönig2,6, Klaus Scholich4, Gerd Geisslinger4, Josef M. Pfeilschifter1, Heinfried H. Radeke1*
1 Institute of General Pharmacology and Toxicology, pharmazentrum frankfurt /ZAFES, Hospital of the Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
2 German Red Cross Blood Service Institution, Frankfurt, Germany and Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
3 Institute of Pathology and Cytology, St. Vincenz Hospital, Limburg, Germany
4 Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, pharmazentrum frankfurt, Hospital of the Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
5 Institute of Biochemistry I, pharmazentrum frankfurt, Hospital of the Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
6 Department of Medicine/Hematology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
Background: Colorectal cancer develops in a highly active immunological environment and has shown considerable resistance to recent cancer immune therapies. Sphingolipids, especially S1P, are involved in both tumor cell survival and immune cell differentiation, migration and cytokine pattern. In this investigation we sought to separately define the contributions of colon vs. immune cells to carcinogenesis, employing inducible SGPL1 knockout bone marrow-chimeric mice in a colitis colon cancer model.
Results: We found that, independent of the compartment of SGPL1 deficiency, hematopoietic or stromal, DSS/AOM-treated mice demonstrated tumors with s1pr1, stat3 and IL-6 elevation. However, compartment-specific actions of the SGPL1-S1P axis contributed both morphologically and genetically to a very distinct development of inflammation and carcinogenesis. Surprisingly, mice with hematopoietic SGPL1 knockout developed severe inflammatory colitis with postponing carcinogenesis specifically characterized by cox2- and pdcd4-driven tumorigenesis. In contrast, stromal SGPL1 deficiency triggered a much more rapid occurrence of epithelial-driven sphingosine kinase 1-positive tumors, exhibiting colon cancer typical egfr and IL23-p19 signatures and a weak but Th-2 driven immune microenvironment. Moreover, we found that S1P lyase derived from hematopoietic cells is sufficient for S1P-driven lymphocyte sequestration.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that compartment-specific sphingolipid modulation uniquely clarifies the dichotomy of inflammation-induced cancer versus cancer-induced inflammation.
CERAMIDE SYNTHASE 5 INFLUENCES THE SENSITIVITY OF HCT116 COLON CARCINOMA CELLS TO OXALIPLATIN AND 5-FU IN A P53-DEPENDENT MANNER
Sebastian Brachtendorf, Kerstin Birod, Nerea Ferreirós, Sandra Trautmann, Gerd Geisslinger, Sabine Grösch
Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Theodor- Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
The sensitivity of colorectal cancer cells to chemotherapy decisively depends on the expression of functional p53 leading across cells into apoptosis upon drug-induced DNA damage. Chemotherapeutic treatment also induces ceramide synthase (CerS) expression and accumulation of pro-apoptotic ceramides. Here we investigated the p53-dependent regulation of CerS expression in oxaliplatin/5-fluorouracil (5-FU)-treated HCT116 cells, and how this affects cellular sensitivity to these genotoxic drugs.
First, we verified a significantly higher sensitivity of wild-type (wt) p53-expressing HCT116 cells to oxaliplatin and 5-FU as compared to isogenic cells lacking p53 expression (HCT116 p53-/-). After 24 hours treatment with oxaliplatin or 5-FU, we observed a strong increase in CerS5 mRNA in the HCT116 p53wt cells, but not in the p53-/- cells, which was accompanied by significantly higher C16:0– ceramide levels in the WT cells. By contrast, CerS2 expression and CerS2-related C24:0– and C24:1– ceramide levels were elevated in the p53-deficient cells only. To elucidate the contribution of p53- dependent CerS2 and CerS5 expression to the cells’ chemosensitivity, we transduced both cell lines with CerS2-/CerS5-targeting shRNA to reach a stable knockdown. CerS5 knockdown led to increased sensitivity of HCT116 p53wt cells, but not of p53-/- cells, to oxaliplatin and 5-FU. However, knockdown of CerS2 had no significant effects on chemosensitivity of both cell lines.
These data indicate a p53-dependent protective role of CerS5 in oxaliplatin/5-FU-induced cell death of colon cancer cells. Selective targeting of CerS5 expression might thus be a potential approach to influence the sensitivity of colon cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents.
VITAMIN D RECEPTOR ACTIVATION INDUCES SPHINGOSINE 1-PHOSPHATE RECEPTOR 1 (S1PR1) EXPRESSION IN RENAL MESANGIAL CELLS
A. Koch1, M. Grau1, M. Gebert1, G. Grammatikos1,2, R. Brunkhorst1,3, D. Meyer zu Heringdorf1, A. Schutkowski4, G.I. Stangl4 and J. Pfeilschifter1
1Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, 2Department of Medicine I, 3Department of Neurology, Goethe University Hospital, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany;
4Institute of Agricultural and Nutritional Sciences, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany
Background: Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) acts mainly as an extracellular ligand at five specific G protein-coupled receptors, denoted S1PR1-5. After activation, S1PRs regulate several important cell responses, e.g. intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i). We investigated whether 1,25(OH)2 Vitamin D3 (VitD3) and the vitamin D analogue EB1089 alter S1PR1 expression levels in renal cells by activation of vitamin D receptor (VDR).
Results: We demonstrate that VitD3 and EB1089 treatment increased the mRNA abundance of VDR and S1PR1 in rat mesangial cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Further, stimulation with 100 nM VitD3 and EB1089 for 6 h elevated the VDR and S1PR1 protein expression levels in rat mesangial cells. In addition, in vivo studies showed that feeding of mice for 16 weeks with adequate amounts of VitD3 (1000 IU/kg/d) enhances S1PR1 expression in kidney lysates compared to the group receiving a vitamin D deficient diet (50 IU/kg/d). In line, S1PR1 levels were upregulated in mouse mesangial cells treated with VitD3 and EB1089. This effect was not seen in mesangial cells isolated from VDR knockout mice. Functionally, VitD3 and EB1089 treatment inhibits S1P-induced [Ca2+]i increases, possibly via upregulation of S1PR1, which was previously established as a negative regulator of S1P-induced [Ca2+]i increases in renal mesangial cells (Koch et al. (2013) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1831: 1634-43).
Conclusions: Activation of VDR by VitD3 and EB1089 induces S1PR1 expression, which in turn inhibits S1P-induced [Ca2+]i increases in renal mesangial cells. These data show that vitamin D influences sphingolipid metabolism in the kidney.
DOWN-EXPRESSION OF VITAMIN D RECEPTOR IN HUMAN CARCINOMA GASTRIC CELLS: ACID SPHINGOMYELINASE AS POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TARGET OF 1 ALPHA,25- DIHYDROXYVITAMIN D3
Elisabetta Albi1 §, Samuela Cataldi1§, Irina Nakashidze1, Ivana Ferri2, Angelo Sidoni2, Cataldo Arcuri2§, Carmen Mecca2, Giovanna Traina1, Francesco Saverio Ambesi-Impiombato4, Andrea Lazzarini5, Francesco Curcio4, Maria Rachele Ceccarini 1, Tommaso Beccari1, Michela Codini1
§These authors contributed equally to this work
1 Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy
2 Institute of Pathologic Anatomy and Histology, University of Perugia, Italy
3 Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy
4 Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, Italy
5 Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, CRABiON, Perugia, Italy
Background: It has been demonstrated that 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VD3) is not a risk factor for gastric cancer but rather exerts chemopreventive effects when given during the post- initiation phase of glandular stomach carcinogenesis. The aim of the work was to test the effect of VD3 in human gastric cancer cells (NCI-N87 cell line) on acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase).
Results. Herein, we showed surprisingly that VD3 strongly down-expressed VD3 receptor. Upregulation of aSMase and phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) without changes of neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase) were dependent on VD3. aSMase activity early increased. VD3 induced overexpression caspase 8, CDKN2B, MAP3K5, cytocrome C apoptotic genes. Morphological analysis highlighted some very large round or oval cells and small cells with angular or fusiform extensions, confirmed by MIB-1 immunodetection and Hercep test. The early activation of aSMase after VD3 treatment raises an important question: it is possible that VD3 early stimulates aSMase activity and this is responsible for the inhibition of VDR expression and for the activation of PTEN and other genes involved in the apoptotic pathway? I will require further studies aimed at solving this problem to clarify the possibility to identify the aSMase as specific target of VD3.
Conclusions. Taken together our results indicated that the action of VD3 in gastric cancer cells was independent on VD3 receptor and suggested the aSMase as a possible target to induce molecular events.
ROLE OF CERAMIDE/PP2A SIGNALING IN NON-DIOXIN-LIKE ORGANIC TOXICANT PCB153 MODULATION OF GAP JUNCTION INTERCELLULAR COMMUNICATION IN LIVER PROGENITOR CELLS
Meacci E., Pierucci F.1 Squecco R.2, Frati A1, Vestri A. 1, Vicenti C1., Matteini F.1, Machala M.3, Francini F2
1 Dept of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, Research unit of Molecular and Applied Biology, Viale GB Morgagni 50, University of Firenze, 50134 Firenze Italy;
2 Dept of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Section of Physiological Sciences, Viale GB Morgagni 63, University of Firenze, Firenze 50134 Italy;
3 Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, Brno, 62100 Czech Republic
Background. Abundant non-dioxin-like toxicant PCB153, member of a group of pollutants distributed throughout the environment, induces gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) impairment. Recently, we have shown that PCB153 determines time-dependent changes in sphingomyelin metabolism in WB-F344 cells.
Results. Here, by electrophysiological and biomolecular determinations we provide evidence of the existence of heterotypic GJs, mainly formed by Connexin (Cx) 43, Cx32 and Cx26, and the ability of PCB153 to affect both voltage-dependent and -independent channels. PCB153 can transiently modulate protein phosphatase PP2A activity and promote significant changes in ceramide/Ceramide 1-phosphate (Cer/C1P) level. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition and gene silencing of PP2A prevent PCB153 effects on GJIC and other membrane biophysical properties. A role for Cer/C1P and PP2A on the expression/function of specific Cx isoform-formed GJ will be also discuss.
Conclusions. Here, we provide experimental evidence for novel mechanisms by which PCB153 promotes GJIC impairment in liver stem-like cells, opening new windows for the identification of potential targets (PP2A and Cer/C1P axis) in the prevention of the tumorigenic action of environmental toxicants.
11th Meeting
11th Meeting
Izmir, Turkey, May 6-10, 2015
Membrane lipids regulate sphingolipid catabolism, their enzymes and lipid binding proteins.
Konrad SANDHOFF,
Lymes Institut, University Bonn
Cholesterol and sphingolipids (SLs) stabilize eukaryotic plasma membranes. Together with phospholipids (PLs) they reach luminal vesicles in the late endosomes as platforms for membrane degradation. A maturation process of the luminal vesicles removes lipids inhibiting lysosomal catabolism. Sphingomyelin (SM) is hydrolyzed by acid sphingomyelinase, facilitating cholesterol export to the cytosol by NPC2 and NPC1. SM and cholesterol poor luminal vesicles then serve as platforms for glycosphingolipid degradation employing soluble hydrolases, SAPs (sphingolipid activator proteins) and anionic PLs as stimulators. We reconstituted the catabolic proteins on liposomal surfaces, mimicking luminal vesicles of the lysosomes as platforms for SL degradation. Liposomes with no net surface charge generated only negligible and physiologically irrelevant catabolic rates even at lysosomal pH values. Incorporation of anionic PLs into the SL-carrying liposomes, however, stimulated the catabolic rate by up to more than an order of magnitude. However, the incorporation of cholesterol or SM into the SL carrying liposomal membranes generated a strong inhibition of SL hydrolysis and the transfer of membrane lipids between liposomal vesicles by SAPs, even in the presence of anionic phospholipids. Ongoing in vitro studies indicate that PM-stabilizing lipids, i.e. SM and cholesterol, inhibit several steps of lysosomal SL and glycosphingolipid catabolism, and also lipid solubilisation as studied by Plasmon Resonance (Biacore) and intervesicular lipid transfer activities of several SAPs and NPC2, even in the presence of activating anionic PLs.
The sphinx, bioactive sphingolipids, and sphingomyelinases.
Yusuf HANNUN
Stony Brook
Sphingolipids were initially discovered by J. Thudicum, who identified them as unusual and perplexing lipidic substances from the brain. Their enigmatic nature led Thudicum to naming them after the riddle of the Greek Sphinx. Our studies initially resulted in identification of bioactivities for sphingosine, and intense research over 3 decades has now resulted in appreciation of sphingolipids as an important class of cell regulatory molecules that include sphingosine, sphingosine 1-phosphate, ceramide, ceramide 1-phosphate, and several others. The most recent studies on bioactive sphingolipids have been accelerated by the molecular identification of most/all known enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism, the deployment of model organisms (e.g. yeast and mouse), the development of mass spectrometry to analyze the complexity of lipid structure and levels, and the development of informatics approaches to study the ‘sphingolipidome’. Several attributes are emerging from the study of bioactive sphingolipids. First, metabolism of bioactive sphingolipids constitutes a highly regulated network involving the operation of more than 30 distinct enzymes. Second, most enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism show very specific sub cellular localization, suggesting local metabolism and action of their substrates and products. Third, the study of ceramide in particular shows that this is indeed a family of closely related molecules that show structural specificity, are generated in a combinatorial fashion, and appear to participate in distinct functions. I will illustrate these concepts through the study of the neutral sphingomyelinase family.
The new sphingolipid vascular biology of single dose radiotherapy.
Richard KOLESNICK
Sloan-Kettering Institute – NYC, NY USA
Single dose radiotherapy (SDRT), facilitated by image guidance and intensity modulation technologies that improve precision in tumor targeting to reduce risk of normal tissue toxicity, has revolutionized cancer treatment with local control rates .90%, even in tumors resistant to conventional fractionation. While classic radiobiology focuses on response of tumor cells rather than non-tumor microenvironmental cells, initial pre-clinical studies in our lab found disruption of tumor vasculature obligate for SDRT cure. This endothelial cell dysfunction results from activation of acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase), converting sphingomyelin to the second messenger ceramide in endothelial plasma membranes, events inhibitable by the angiogenic factors bFGF, VEGF-121 or VEGF-165. Conversely, anti-angiogenic agents, such as anti-VEGFR2 Ab DC101 (Imclone), de-repress ASMase activity, synergistically increasing SDRT-induced ceramide elevation, enhancing endothelial dysfunction. That ceramide is critical for anti–ceramide Ab inhibition of DC101-enhanced endothelial damage. These results translate in vivo, as anti-VEGFR2 DC101 or anti-VEGF G6-31 synergistically increase SDRT-induced endothelial injury in MCA/129 sarcomas, and enhance tumor response. Critically, anti-angiogenic Ab delivery must be administered immediately prior (0.5-2h) to SDRT, but not earlier or after, to de-repress ASMase effectively. At longer intervals between drug delivery and SDRT the system appears to counter-regulate, re-setting the ceramide-generating capability of ASMase at or near the original setting. In contrast, tumors in asmase-/- mice, which provide damage-resistant vasculature, are unaffected by either anti-angiogenic agent. This lecture will review fundamentals of this new biology and present unpublished data that define mechanism of coupling of endothelial dysfunction to DNA repair in tumor cells.
Ceramide-enriched compartments in neural stem cell differentiation and neurodegeneration.
Erhard BIEBERICH
Georgia Regents University
Objective: Ceramide is a remarkable sphingolipid in that it organizes membrane microdomains and interacts with protein kinases and phosphatases, thereby eliciting cell signaling pathways regulating neural cell apoptosis, differentiation, cell polarity, and neurodegeneration. We hypothesized that these two functions of ceramide, structural and regulatory, combine the organization of structural cell signaling platforms by ceramide with its function as a specific cell signaling lipid. Using polyclonal antibodies, for the first time generated in our laboratory against specific ceramides, we found that C24:0/C24:1 ceramide was enriched in primary cilia of neural progenitors. Another ceramide species, C18:0 ceramide, was found to induce exosome formation and secretion in astrocytes exposed to Aβ1-42, a neurotoxic amyloid peptide in Alzheimer’s disease. C24:1 as well as C18:0 ceramide bound to atypical PKCζ (aPKCζ), a protein kinase C isoform regulating cell polarity. This data suggests that the interaction of C24:0/C24:1 ceramide and C18:0 ceramide with aPKCζ (and other regulatory proteins in a ceramide-induced protein complex) is critical for the formation of cilia in neural stem cell differentiation and exosomes in neurodegeneration, respectively. Therefore, cilia and exosomes may constitute two compartments that are critically regulated by distinct ceramide species. Supported by NSF grant 112157 and NIH grant R01AG034389.
Ceramide nano-liposomes: road to the clinic.
Mark KESTER Nanostar
Institute, University of Virginia
The ceramide nanoliposome is a non-toxic, non-aggregating 80nm particle that selectively kills cancer cells in multiple solid and non-solid tumor models. Ceramide nanoliposomes are currently being developed for the clinic. Recent pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic and toxicology data will be reported from both rodent and canine models. These data are being assembled for a FDA IND submission to support a first in man human trial of the ceramide nanoliposome.
Disclosure: Keystone Nano, Inc. (PA, USA) has licensed ceramide nanotechnology from Penn State Research Foundation. MK is co-founder and CMO of Keystone Nano.
LAPTM4B facilitates late endosomal ceramide export to control sphingolipid mediated cell death pathways.
Tomas BLOM1, Shiqian LI1, Andrea DICHLBERGER1, Nils BÄCK1, Young Ah KIM2, Ursula LOIZIDES-MANGOLD3, Howard RIEZMAN3, Robert BITTMAN2, Elina IKONEN1
1University Of Helsinki / Faculty Of Medicine / Anatomy, 2City University Of New York / Queens College / Department Of Chemistry And Biochemistry, 3University Of Geneva / Department Of Biochemistry
Objectıve: The late endosomal organelles (LE) are a major site for sphingolipid catabolism in eukaryotic cells. The mechanisms by which sphingolipid degradation products exit LE are not well understood. In this study we set out to identify proteins that facilitate the removal of sphingomyelin (SM) degradation product(s) from LE, and to assess their potential role as modulators of cell death pathways.
Methods AND Results: By conducting an siRNA screen of membrane spanning LE proteins using [3H]-SM/LDL as a probe, we identified LAPTM4B as a regulator of endosomal ceramide removal. Using novel crosslinkable and fluorescent ceramide probes we found that LAPTM4B interacts with ceramide and facilitates its removal from LE. LAPTM4B lowers LE ceramide in parallel with, and independent of acid ceramidase-dependent catabolism. In LAPTM4B silenced cells, LE sphingolipid accumulation is accompanied by lysosomal membrane destabilization. However, these cells resist ceramide-driven caspase-3 activation and apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic agents. Conversely, LAPTM4B overexpression reduces LE ceramide and stabilizes lysosomes but sensitizes to drug-induced caspase-3 activation.
Conclusıon: The data provide evidence for a novel ceramide export route from LE and identify LAPTM4B as its regulator. Moreover, LAPTM4B acts as a gatekeeper between intra- and extra-endosomal ceramide pools, modulating apoptosis sensitivity. By compartmentalizing ceramide, LAPTM4B controls key sphingolipid mediated cell death mechanisms and emerges as a candidate for sphingolipid targeting cancer therapies.
Dihydroceramide accumulation mediates cytotoxic autophagy of cancer cells via autophago-lysosome destabilization.
Sonia HERNÁNDEZ-TIEDRA1, Gemma FABRIÀS2, Josefina CASAS2, David DÁVILA1, L Ruth MONTES3, Israel LÓPEZ-VALERO1, Kentaro HANADA4, Marja JÄÄTTELÄ5, Alicia ALONSO6, Guillermo VELASCO1
1Complutense University, 2Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia , 3Unidad De Biofísica (CSIC, UPV/EHU), 4National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 5Danish Cancer Society Research Center (DCRC), 64Unidad de Biofísica (CSIC, UPV/EHU)
Objective: Autophagy is primarily a cell survival mechanism although depending on the cellular context and duration of the triggering stimuli, this cellular process can also lead to cell death. The molecular bases of this dual role of autophagy in cancer cell survival remains to be clarified. Previous work by our laboratory showed that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, the main active component of marijuana) triggers autophagy-mediated cancer cell death. In this study, we used THC and nutrient deprivation (an autophagic stimuli that triggers protective autophagy) to investigate the specific molecular mechanisms responsible for the activation of autophagy-mediated cancer cell death. Our results show that treatment with THC but not incubation with EBSS enhances the balance between dihydroceramides and ceramides in microsomes and in an autophagosome-enriched fraction. Biophysical experiments with model vesicles revealed that an increase in the dihydroceramide /ceramide ratio similar to that triggered by THC leads to the destabilization and subsequent release of the content of lipidic vesicles. Moreover, treatment with THC induced the release of cathepsins from lysosomes and the subsequent activation of apoptosis in a sphingolipid biosynthesis- and autophagy-dependent manner. Furthermore, pharmacological up-regulation of dihydroceramide levels by inhibiting dihydroceramide desaturase activates autophagy-mediated cancer cell death and exerts a similar anticancer action than THC. Taken together, our findings support that the mechanism of THC-induced autophagy-mediated cancer cell death relies on an increase in the dihydroceramide/ceramide ratio in the endoplasmic reticulum that is transmitted to autophagosomes and leads to autophago-lysosome destabilization, the release of cathepsins and the activation of apoptotic cell death.
Lipid oversupply to cardiomyocytes induces sphingolipid-dependent oxidative stress and induction of mitophagy through ceramide synthase 2.
Brıttany A LAW1, L. Ashley COWART2
1MUSC, 2MUSC, VA
Objective: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DbCM) contributes to the high risk of heart failure (HF) in diabetics, but mechanisms underlying DbCM remain unclear. We previously showed that high saturated fat feeding in mice altered cardiomyocyte sphingolipid profiles leading to DbCM and that some of these maladaptations were dependent on autophagy and ceramide synthase 5 (CerS5). In the present study, we sought to further understand the cellular processes in which lipid overload leads to DbCM in in the context of sphingolipids. Mice fed an obesogenic diet and in vitro studies using H9c2 cardiomyocytes were utilized in this study. Increased oxidative stress and apoptosis were identified in the hearts of animals subjected to lipid overload, while animals treated with the sphingolipid synthesis inhibitor myriocin were protected. Similarly, cardiomyocytes treated with palmitate showed a sphingolipid-dependent increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitophagy. Treatment with mitochondria-targeted ceramide analogs revealed that very long chain ceramides, but not long-chain ceramides, induced cardiomyocyte cell death, which was exacerbated by inhibiting mitophagy. This suggested that lipotoxicity to cardiomyocytes occurs in part through oxidative stress in a sphingolipid-dependent manner, and mitophagy may occur to prevent further damage. In the observation that only very long chain species led to these outcomes suggested involvement of CerS2. Overexpression of CerS2 showed increased mitophagy in cardiomyocytes and knockdown of CerS2 by CRISPR-CAS9 technology decreased mitophagy. Taken together, our data suggest that lipid overload induces mitophagy as a protective measure in defense from CerS2-induced mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, and cell death in DbCM.
Adjuvant tamoxifen improves effectiveness of ceramide-centric therapy in acute myelogenous leukemia .
Samy MORAD1, Mark KESTER2, Thomas LOUGHRAN2, Traci DAVIS1, Terence RYAN3, Tonya Zeczycki1, Myles CABOT1,
1Department Of Biochemistry And Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School Of Medicine, Greenville, Nc 27834, Usa, 2University Of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Va 22908, Usa, 3Department Of Physiology, East Carolina University, Brody School Of Medicine, Greenville, Nc 27834, Usa
Objective: The breast cancer drug tamoxifen is an effective inhibitor of sphingolipid metabolism, blocking ceramide glycosylation as well as inhibiting acid ceramidase activity. These “off-target” actions make tamoxifen an interesting ancillary for improving the apoptosis-inducing potential of ceramide. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic properties of single agent C6-ceramide versus a C6-ceramide-tamoxifen regimen in AML, an aggressive leukemia.
Methods: Studies were conducted in AML cells lines (KG-1, HL-60, HL-60/VCR), patients cells, and MLL-AF9 AML mice. Agents were administered in ethanol or as nanoliposomes. Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTS and propidium iodide, apoptosis by Annexin V and DNA fragmentation, therapeutic potential by spleen and marrow leukemia burden, mitochondrial function by respirometry, ATP levels by enzymatic end-point assays, glycolysis by Seahorse, and lipid analysis by mass spectroscopy.
Results: The therapeutic impact (viability, apoptosis) of the C6-ceramide-tamoxifen regimen was superior to single agents. Mitochondrial targeting was evidenced by sharp decreases in Complex I respiration, membrane potential, and ATP levels. In KG-1 cells, a 24 hr exposure reduced glycolytic capacity by 50% and downregulated survivin expression by 60%. Tamoxifen halted conversion of C6-ceramide to C6-glucosylceramide and also synergistically boosted effectiveness of the ceramide-generating retinoid, fenretinide (4-HPR) in drug resistant HL-60/VCR cells, which was accompanied by caspase-3 activation. Nanoliposomal administration of C6-ceramide-tamoxifen lowered leukemia stem cell burden in spleen and marrow in MLL-AF9 AML mice.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a multi-hit versatility of tamoxifen with ceramide-centric therapies for magnifying therapeutic potential in AML. Acknowledgment- NCI PO1CA17198
Host sphingolipid-transfer proteins and infectious diseases.
Kentaro HANADA
National Institute of Infectious Diseases
Objective: Intracellular trafficking of lipids are essential events for lipid metabolism and membrane biogenesis [Hanada & Voelker (2014) Traffic ]. Ceramide is transported from the ER to the medial/trans Golgi region for the synthesis of sphingomyelin by the ceramide transfer protein CERT [Hanada et al (2003) Nature; Hanada (2014) BBA]. Ceramide is also transported to the cis Golgi compartment or a sub-region of the ER for the synthesis of glucosylceramide (GlcCer) by a CERT-independent pathway. GlcCer is then transported to the medial/trans Golgi region for the synthesis of lactosylceramide via the glycosphingolipid transfer protein FAPP2-dependent and –independent pathways [D’Angelo et al (2013) Nature]. Recent studies showed that several pathogens exploit the lipid-transfer proteins of host cells to steal host sphingolipids to their own purposes. The obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia spp forms the parasitophorous vacuole “inclusion”, and proliferates in it, stealing various host metabolites. The inclusion protein IncD binds the PH domain of CERT, and recruits ceramide from the ER to the inclusion [Derre et al (2011) PLoS Pathog; Elwell et al (2011) ibid]. Although various viruses form membranous structures for their replication in host cells, the mechanisms underlying their formation are largely unknown. Intriguingly, human hepatitis virus type C (HCV) requires host FAPP2 for replication [Khan et al (2014) J Virol]. HCV might exploit FAPP2 to recruit GlcCer from the Golgi complex to the membranous viral factory, and such GlcCer-recruitment would be crucial for the HCV factory to acquire a detergent-resistant “raft-like” characteristics.
A potential function of sphingolipid-dependent secreted exosomes in sequestering alzheimer’s amyloid-ß.
Yasuyuki IGARASHI1, Kohei YUYAMA2,
1Hokkiado Univ., 2Hokkaido Univ.
Objective: Increased levels of amyloid-ß peptide (Aß) in brain are linked to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Exosome, an extracellular lipid vesicle, contains several proteins related to neurodegenerative disorders, including Aß. However, the role of the exosomes in AD pathogenesis is largely unknown. In the resent study, we demonstrated that the neuronal exosomes were abundant in glycosphingolipids (GSLs) and coupled with Aß in a GSL-dependent manner. The exosome-bound Aß was then incorporated into brain-resident phagocytes, microglia, for degradation, suggesting that the exosomes contribute to Aß clearance. Moreover, we found that the exosome production was modulated by sphingolipid metabolism. Inhibition of sphingomyelin synthase activity enhanced exosome secretion and accelerated Aß clearance in a transwell study. Consistent with the notion of in vitro study, continuous administration of the exosomes into mouse brains resulted in marked reductions in Aß levels, amyloid depositions, and Aß-mediated synaptotoxicity in AD model mice. In addition, we showed that the densities of exosomes in mouse and monkey CSF declines during aging, inversely correlated with intracerebral Aß levels. Our data revealed that the exosomes act as potent scavengers for Aß by carrying it on exosome surface GSLs. Improving Aß clearance by exosome administration or upregulation of endogenous exosome secretion would be a novel strategy for AD therapy. References: Yuyama K., Igarashi Y. et al JBC 287:10977-10989( 2012); Yuyama K, Igarashi Y et al. JBC 289: 24488-24498 (2014); Yuyama K, Igarashi Y. BBA 1841: 793-798 (2014); Yuyama K, Igarashi Y et al, FEBS Lett. 589:84-88 (2015)
Molecular mechanism of the production of acylceramide, the key lipid for skin barrier formation.
Akio KIHARA1, Yasuyuki IGARASHI1,
1Hokkaido University
Objective: The epidermal permeability barrier is essential for land-dwelling creatures. Lipid lamellae present in the stratum corneum, the uppermost layer of the epidermis, are responsible for barrier formation. Acylceramide is the most important of the epidermal lipids, both in physiological and pathological terms. Decreases in epidermal acylceramide levels are associated with cutaneous disorders such as ichthyosis and atopic dermatitis. However, the mechanism behind acylceramide production is poorly understood, leaving the broader picture of molecular mechanisms behind epidermal barrier formation still unclear. Here, we identified the cytochrome P450 CYP4F22 as the missing fatty acid ω-hydroxylase required for acylceramide production. Furthermore, we also revealed that PNPLA1 is required for the final step of acylceramide synthesis, ester bond formation between ω-hydroxyceramide and linoleic acid. Both CYP4F22 and PNPLA1 have been identified as causative genes of autosomal recessive congenital ichthyosis (ARCI). ARCI mutant proteins of CYP4F22 and PNPLA1 exhibited reduced enzyme activity. Furthermore, acylceramide levels were greatly reduced in CYP4F22 ARCI patient. Our findings clearly demonstrate a relationship between ARCI pathology, acylceramide levels, and enzyme activities of CYP4F22 and PNPLA1 and provide important new insights into the molecular mechanisms of acylceramide synthesis and skin barrier formation.
Identification of a novel pathway for acylceramide generation in lipid droplets by ceramide synthase, fatty acyl-CoA synthase, and diacylglycerol acyltransferase enzyme complex.
Can SENKAL1, Yusuf HANNUN2, Lina OBEID1,
1Stony Brook University, 2Stony Brook University
Objective: Fatty acyl-CoA (FA-CoA) dependent ceramide generation is catalyzed by ceramide synthases (CerS) in the de novo pathway. Importantly, six CerS isoforms displaying different preferences to generate ceramides with distinct fatty acyl chains have been identified. Currently, there is little insight into the regulation of the distinct CerS enzymes. In an approach aimed at defining interacting partners of CerS’ and shed light into substrate preference properties of CerS enzymes, we found that that fatty acyl CoA synthase ACSL5 interacts with CerS. Contrary to our initial hypothesis, ACSL5 generated FA-CoA was not a direct substrate utilized by CerS to generate ceramide as measured by LC/MS. Rather, ACSL5 generated FA-CoA was utilized together with de novo ceramide for the generation of acylceramides, poorly studied ceramide metabolites. Moreover, inhibition of ceramide channeling to acylceramide enhanced accumulation of de novo ceramide and resulted in augmentation of ceramide-mediated apoptosis. Mechanistically, we show that acylceramide generation is catalyzed by diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2 (DGAT2) and involves the formation of an ACSL5-CerS-DGAT2 complex on lipid droplets. In summary, this study identifies the molecular mechanism of a novel metabolic pathway of acylceramide generation and implicates the importance of this novel pathway in ceramide-mediated apoptosis.
Epigenetic control of glycosphingolipid metabolic switch.
Giovanni D’ANGELO1, Domenico RUSSO1, Serena CAPASSO1, Lucia STICCO1, Roberto DE GREGORIO2, Riccardo RIZZO1, Floriana DELLA RAGIONE2, Maria MATARAZZO2, Gian Carlo BELLENCHI2, Maurizio D’ESPOSITO2
1Institute Of Protein Biochemistry , National Research Council Of Italy, Naples, 2Institute Of Genetics And Biophysics, National Research Council Of Italy, Naples
Objective: Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are membrane lipid constituents characterized by a ceramide backbone linked to a glycan moiety. Hundreds of different glycan sequences can be incorporated into GSLs in a process, which does not depend on a pre-existing template nor is strictly genetically determined. Nevertheless GSLs expression is tightly regulated during embryogenesis and failure to synthesize specific GSLs leads to serious genetic diseases in humans. How individual cells decide which GSLs (among the many possible options) to synthesize under a given condition is not understood. Here we describe a self-contained control circuit regulating the metabolic direction of GSLs glycan elongation through the epigenetic control of GSL synthesizing enzymes expression. We found, indeed, that the globoside Gb3 represses the transcription of the first enzyme involved in the synthesis of gangliosides (i.e. GM3 synthase; GM3S). Gb3 exerts this function by negatively regulating the expression of the epigenetic modulator of neuronal differentiation AUTS2, which in turn activates GM3S promoter by fostering local histone acetylation. Our results provide a mechanistic explanation for the Globo-to-Ganglio GSL switch observed during neuronal differentiation, and ascribe a new role to GSLs in the epigenetic control of neuronogenesis.
Elucidating novel metabolic pathways of the neurotoxic 1-deoxysphingolipids.
Irina ALECU1, Alaa OTHMAN2, Arnold VON ECKARDSTEIN1 , Thorsten HORNEMANN1
1Institute Of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, 2Institute Of Experimental And Clinical Pharmacology And Toxicology, University Of Lübeck,
Objective: Serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), which catalyzes the first step in the de novo synthesis of sphingolipids, typically condenses serine and palmitoyl-CoA. Under certain conditions SPT can also use alanine, resulting in the neurotoxic atypical 1-deoxysphingolipids (1-deoxySLs). Pathologically elevated 1-deoxySLs cause the inherited neuropathy HSAN1. Due to the missing C1-hydroxyl group, 1-deoxySLs are not metabolized to complex sphingolipids nor degraded by the canonical pathways. Here we investigated the metabolic pathways of 1-deoxySLs in order to understand and potentially control their buildup. We used high-resolution high accuracy mass spectrometry and metabolic profiling workflows to identify novel downstream 1-deoxySL-metabolites. The formation of these novel 1-deoxySL metabolites was modulated using specific chemical enzyme inhibitors and inducers. We identified five novel 1-deoxySL downstream metabolites. Blocking the conversion of 1-deoxysphinganine to 1-deoxysphingosine with Fumonisin B1 significantly decreased the levels of these metabolites. When directly treating cells with different synthetic 1-deoxysphingosine isomers, we observed corresponding variations in the newly identified metabolites. Furthermore, the formation of all five metabolites could be modulated by inhibiting or inducing a specific cytochrome P450 subfamily. While neurotoxic 1-deoxySLs are not metabolized by the canonical pathways, we showed for the first time that they are in fact metabolized downstream by a specific subfamily of cytochrome P450 enzymes. We have elucidated the structure of five novel 1-deoxySL metabolites and their metabolic order, which is downstream of 1-deoxysphingosine. This novel metabolic pathway may be further exploited as a novel therapeutic target to reduce 1-deoxySL levels in HSAN1 patients.
Production of 2-N-acyl-amino-14,16-dimethyloctadecan-3-ol (n-acyl-aod) by CHO-LY-B cells in culture: identification of a new family of naturally occurring N-acyl-1-deoxysphinganine analogues using liquid-chromatography electrospray tandem mass spectroscop.
Brandon M. KENWOOD 1, Samuel KELLY1, Jingjing DUAN1, Anita SOLHAUG2, Silvio UHLIG2, Gunnar Sundstol ERIKSEN2, Ronald T. RILEY 3, Alfred H. MERRILL, Jr.1
1Georgia Institute Of Technology, 2Norwegian Veterinary Institute, 3United States Department Of Agriculture
Objective: Fusarium avenaceum is a fungal contaminate of many starch plants including cereal grains. It produces 2-amino-14,16-dimethyloctadecan-3-ol (AOD), which has structural features of a sphingoid base–more specifically, a 1-deoxysphinganine. Many other categories of sphingoid bases are N-acylated by ceramide synthases, but it is not known if AOD undergoes acylation, or if so, which fatty acyl-chain-length metabolites would be made. To answer these questions, we have used CHO-LY-B cells, which cannot make endogenous sphingolipids due to a defective serine palmitoyltransferase, and culture them under conditions where they contain no detectable sphingoid bases. Thus, the cells can be incubated with AOD and the metabolites analyzed without interference from endogenous sphingoid bases nor ambiguity about the species that are found. When lipid extracts from CHO-LY-B cells incubated with sub-toxic levels of AOD were examined by liquid chromatography electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry, it was evident that the cells produce N-acyl-derivatives of AOD with a wide range of chain lengths (C16 to C24), which suggests that AOD is a substrate for multiple ceramide synthases. The cellular effects and metabolism of N-acyl-derivatives of AOD warrant further investigation due to the prevalence of F. avenaceum in the world food supply. This work was supported by funds from NIH grant R01GM76217, the Smithgall Institute Chair in Molecular Cell Biology, and the Norwegian Veterinary Institute.
Sphingosine‐1‐phosphate lyase deficiency in the brain.
Gerhild VAN ECHTEN1
Limes-Institute For Membrane Biology & Lipid Biochemistry At The Kekulè-Institute Of The University Bonn1
The evolutionary conserved bioactive lipid sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) is essential for brain development but can exert detrimental effects in postmitotic neurons. Its content in the brain is regulated by specific kinases, phosphatases and by S1P‐lyase (SPL).
The potential role of S1P in neurodegenerative disorders, especially in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is controversially discussed. On the one hand S1P was found to stimulate Abeta formation in neurons by directly interacting with β‐secretase BACE1. On the other hand S1P was described as a neuroprotective factor that is lost early in AD pathogenesis. This raises intriguing questions on the pathophysiological role of S1P metabolism in AD etiology: Do age‐dependent alterations in S1P/sphingosine metabolism trigger or reduce the accumulation of Abeta, hyperphosphorylated tau and ultimately neuronal death in AD? Recent studies in Alzheimer brains revealed that regions most heavily affected by Alzheimer pathology, exhibited the most pronounced decline of S1P levels. To increase S1P amounts in the brain we generated a mouse model with targeted deletion of SPL. Although no neuronal loss was detectable, these animals exhibit age‐dependent deficits of motor coordination, spatial learning and memory. Preliminary studies indicate enhancement of sphingosine and S1P, decrease of phosphatidylethanolamine, impaired autophagy, altered processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP), increased proteasomal activity and decreased expression of presynaptic proteins. Potential molecular links between SPL deficiency and the observed biochemical and physiological changes will be presented.
What have we learnt from the study of ceramide synthase knock-out mice?
Anthony FUTERMAN
Department Of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute Of Science
ABSTRACT NOT PRESENT IN iCC/SLC 2015 MEETING BOOKLET
Lack of ceramide synthase 2 suppresses the development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by impairing the migratory capacity of neutrophils.
Julia BARTHELMES1, Anika MANNER DE BAZO2, Yael PEWZNER-JUNG3, Max EBERLE1, Nerea FERREIROS1, Gerd GEISSLINGER1, Atnhony FUTERMAN3, Sabine GROESCH1, Susanne SCHIFFMANN1
1Instıtute Of Clınıcal Pharmacology; Hospıtal Of The Goethe-Unıversıty Frankfurt, 2Department Of Neurology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, 3Department Of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute Of Science
Objective: Until now, the role of ceramides with specific chain lengths in the development of EAE/MS have not been elucidated. CerS2 null mice which lack very long chain ceramide and sphingolipids, but have increased C16-Cer and -sphingolipid level served as a good tool to study the chain length-specific role of ceramides in the development of EAE.
Methods: EAE was induced in female mice by subcutanously injected with MOG35-55 (myelin oligodendrocyte protein) emulsified in complete Freund`s adjuvant (CFA) and an i.p. injection of pertussis toxin (PTX). Ceramide levels were determined by LC-MS/MS, mRNA levels by quantitative PCR, protein levels of CerS2 by western blot and the expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR2 by FACS.
Results: In EAE mice we observed a significant elevation of CerS2 and its product, C24-ceramide, in CD11b+ cells (monocytes and neutrophils) isolated from blood. Specific genetic deletion of CerS2 significantly delayed the onset of clinical symptoms, due to a reduced infiltration of immune cells, in particular neutrophils, into the central nervous system. Neutrophils isolated from CerS2 null EAE mice, as opposed to WT EAE mice, were characterised by significantly lower CXCR2 receptor mRNA expression resulting in reduced migratory capacity towards CXCL2. Also G-CSF-induced CXCR2 expression was significantly reduced in CerS2 null neutrophils and their migratory capacity was significantly impaired.
Conclusion: Our data strongly indicate that G-CSF-induced CXCR2 expression is regulated in a CerS2-dependent manner and that CerS2 thereby promotes the migration of neutrophils, thus, contributing to inflammation and the development of EAE and MS.
Ceramide transporters: the link between lipid metabolism, inflammation and amyloid-ß aggregation in Alzheimer’s disease.
Pılar Martinez MARTINEZ1
1Maastricht University
Objective: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia, characterized by neuropathological hallmarks as synaptic loss, aggregates of amyloid-ß peptides (Aβ), neurofibrillary tangles, ceramide accumulation in the brain, gliosis and neuroinflammation. No treatment or intervention options are currently able to modify the pathophysiology of AD. Recently, ceramide transporters (CERTs) have been implicated as possible therapeutic candidates. CERT proteins have the unique function of transporting the lipid ceramide via its (StAR)-related lipid transfer (START) domain. CERTs are known to be responsible for the trafficking of ceramides inside and outside the cells. Interestingly, these ubiquitous proteins bind to proteins that are prone to misfolding and aggregation. And they are essential for the development and homeostasis of the central nervous system (CNS). The knockdown of CERT leads to loss of myelinated tracts and to extensive apoptosis. Recently, we identified CERTL as an Aβ-binding protein (binds Aβ1-42) associated to human and murine amyloid plaques. Our results show that CERTL reduces Aβ aggregation and has a protective effect against Aβ-induced toxicity in neuroblastoma cells. Additionally, we have identified this protein as a receptor for C1q in the surface of damaged cells, which can activate the complement system. This indicates that CERTL takes part in the cellular defensive response against Aβ- induced toxicity and is involved in the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with neurodegenerative processes.
The pathomechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity of 1-deoxysphingolipids.
Saranya SURIYANARAYANAN1, Arnold VON ECKARDSTEIN1, Thorsten HORNEMANN1
1Institute Of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zürich
Objective: Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type I (HSAN I) is a slowly progressing neurological disorder characterized by loss of pain and temperature sensation. It has been associated with several mutations in the enzyme serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) which catalyzes the condensation of palmitoyl-CoA and serine – the first and rate-limiting step in the de novo biosynthesis of sphingolipids. The HSAN1 mutations shift the substrate specificity of SPT from L-serine to L-alanine which results in the formation of atypical and neurotoxic 1-deoxysphingolipids (1-deoxySLs) which are found to be pathologically elevated in HSAN1. However, the pathomechanisms underlying the 1-deoxySLs mediated neurotoxicity is unknown. This study aims to identify and characterize downstream pathways of 1-deoxySLs mediated neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicity of 1-deoxySLs was assessed using immunofluorescence, live cell imaging and by quantifying the neurite outgrowth in a neuronal cell models. Downstream signalling pathways involved in 1-deoxySLs mediated cytotoxicity and neurotoxicity are identified by screening a commercially available kinase inhibitor library using Hek293, SH-SY5Y cells as well as in primary DRG. 1-deoxySLs caused significant cytotoxic and neurotoxic effects in HEK293 and Neuronal cells. Neuronal cells showed changes in cell morphology and reduction in the length and number of neurites. On the basis of these results we developed a high throughput assay to screen a commercial kinase inhibitor library. First results indicate that some of the tested inhibitors are able to decrease 1-deoxySLs mediated toxicity. The 1-deoxySLs were shown to be toxic to neuronal cells. This toxicity appears to be related to specific cellular signalling pathways.
Development of pheochromocytoma in ceramide synthase 2 null mice.
WooJae PARK1, Ori BRENNER1, Aviram KOGOT-LEVIN2, Ann SAADA2, Alfred MERRILL3, Yael PEWZNER-JUNG1, Anthony FUTERMAN1
1Weizmann Institute Of Science, 2Hebrew University Medical Center, 3Georgia Institute Of Technology
Objective: Pheochromocytoma (PCC) and paraganglioma are rare neuroendocrine tumors of the adrenal medulla and sympathetic and parasympathetic paraganglia for which mutations in ~15 disease-associated genes have been identified. We now document the role of an additional gene in mice, the ceramide synthase 2 (CerS2) gene. CerS2 is one of six mammalian CerS, which synthesizes ceramide with very-long acyl (C22-C24) chains. The CerS2 null mouse has been well characterized, and displays lesions in several organs including the liver, lung and the brain. We now demonstrate that changes in the acyl chain profile of the adrenal gland leads to the generation of adrenal medullar tumors. Histological analyses revealed that about half of the CerS2 null mice developed PCC by ~13 months, and the rest showed signs of medullary hyperplasia. Norepinephrine and normetanephrine levels in the urine were elevated at 7 months of age consistent with the morphological abnormalities found at later ages. Accumulation of ceroid in the X-zone was observed as early as 2 months of age and as a consequence, older mice displayed elevated levels of lysosomal cathepsins, reduced proteasome activity and reduced activity of mitochondrial complex IV by six months of age. Together, these findings implicate an additional pathway that can lead to PCC formation, which involves alterations in the sphingolipid acyl chain length. Analysis of the role of sphingolipids in PCC may lead to further understanding of the mechanism by which PCC develops, and might implicate the sphingolipid pathway as a possible novel therapeutic target for this rare tumor.
Alkaline ceramidase 3 deficiency results in Purkinje cell degeneration and cerebellar ataxia due to dyshomeostasis of ceramides and their metabolites in the brain.
Kai WANG1, Ruijuan XU1, Jennifer SCHRANDT1, Yong Z. GONG2, Demetri D. SPYROPOULOS2, Wei SUN 2, Ashley J. SNIDER1, Yusuf A. HANNUN1, Lina M. OBEID1, Cungui MAO1
1Stony Brook University , 2Medical University Of South Carolina
Objective: Dysregulation of the metabolism of ceramides has been implicated in aging and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. However, much remains unknown about how the metabolism of ceramides is controlled in the central nervous system (CNS) during normal aging. Here we report that the mouse alkaline ceramidase 3 (Acer3) is critical for the homeostasis of ceramides in the aging brain and that its deficiency causes degeneration of Purkinje cells (PC) and thereby impairs mouse motor coordination in mice at around 8 months of age. Enzymatic activity assays revealed that, like human ACER3, the mouse Acer3 preferentially catalyzed the hydrolysis of unsaturated long-chain ceramides (ULCCs) such as C18:1-ceramide, a major ceramide species in the brain. Acer3 was found to be upregulated with age in the mouse brain, and its upregulation was associated with a decrease in the levels of C18:1-ceramide and a reciprocal increase in the levels of sphingosine (SPH) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Acer3 knockout caused an age-dependent accumulation of various ceramides in the brain while abolishing the age-related increase in the levels of both SPH and S1P in this tissue. Acer3 knockout caused PC degeneration in the cerebellum and impaired the ability in motor coordination and balance in mice at around 8 months of age. Taken together, these results suggest that Acer3 plays critical roles in controlling the homeostasis of ceramides and their metabolites SPH and S1P in the brain as well as protecting PCs from premature degeneration.
Administration of phytoceramide and glucosylceramide ameliorated the memory impairment in mice.
Kyunghwa YUN1, Ji-yeon YU1, Yeahyun LEEM1, Seikwan OH1
1Ewha Womnas Univ.
Objective: This study was aimed to investigate the possible roles of phyroceramide and glucosylceramide in memory function in mice.
Methods: Phytoceramide was orally administered to ICR mice for 7 days. Memory performances were assessed using the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task.Aged mice were given experimental diet pellets which contains glucosylceramide for 3months. Glucosylceramide (50mg/kg, p.o.) showed memory enhancing activity after 3-month treatment in the aged mice (C56BL/6, 18–20months old) through Y-maze, novel objective test, and Morris water maze test.
Results and Conclusion: Treatment of Pcer enhanced cognitive performances in the passive avoidance test and Y-maze task. Immunoblotting studies revealed that the phosphorylated CREB and BDNF were signifi cantly increased on hippocampus in the Pcer-treated mice.Long-term treatment of glucosylceramide decreased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in the brain of aged mice. The LPS-induced mRNA level of iNOS, COX-2, IL-1
Structural and functional characterization of serine palmitoyl transferase in mammals.
Museer LONE1, Thorsten HORNEMANN2
1Institute For Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zuric, 2Institute For Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich
Objective: Regulatory and signaling mechanisms that govern SPT function have been the focus of several recent studies, primarily in yeast cells. However, initial findings from the cultured mammalian cells suggest that mammalian SPT is subject to differential and complex regulations. Moreover, mechanistic changes leading to an increased activity or the shift in substrate preference of the SPT enzyme have not been worked out yet. In particular, the factors which lead to the formation of neurotoxic 1-deoxySLs which are associated with peripheral neuropathies (HSAN1 or diabetic sensory poly neuropathy) is not understood. Here, we aim to identify the protein interactome of the functional SPT complex to determine the regulatory factors of the SPT holoenzyme and to characterize the biological relevance of the interactions in vivo.
Methods: We are using genetically modified KO-cell lines, in combination with fluorescent tagged proteins and FRET as well as co-immunoprecipitation studies followed by mass spectrometry to elucidate SPT subunit interactions. Furthermore, we challenge cells with pharmacologically and biological stimuli to modulate sphingolipid synthesis to investigate the effect on the molecular and enzymatic properties of the SPT complex.
Results: Methods to immuno-purify the SPT enzyme by targeting individual subunits have been established. Preliminary data show that specific mutations in certain SPT subunits influence regulation and alter the overall SPT activity and product spectrum.
Conclusions: SPT activity is subject to complex regulations which might be mediated by direct modifications of subunits and the association and dissociation with the inhibitory and activating proteins.
Targeting sphingolipid signaling in the visual system.
Riccardo GHIDONI
Dept. Health Sciences, Univ. Milan
Current knowledge of mechanisms underlying photoreceptor death in retinal degenerative diseases has lead to the notion that cellular apoptosis is the predominant mechanism, even in genetically heterogeneous disorders such as Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP). We are performing follow up studies based upon pharmacological targeting of the biochemical pathway leading to the ceramide synthesis and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) cleavage, in order to both counteract apoptosis and preserve survival.
Results obtained in vivo on rd10 mutant mice (a model of recessive RP) showed that ceramide levels in the retina increase at the peak of rod degeneration, but can be lowered by ocular administration of myriocin, an inhibitor of Serine Palmitoyl Transferase, the rate-limiting enzyme in ceramide biosynthesis. Noticeably, this treatment also decreases the number of dying photoreceptors. To achieve prolonged treatment (i.e. several weeks), we developed a non-invasive drug-delivery approach based on eye drops of a suspension of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) loaded with myriocin. The nanoparticles function as vectors allowing topical drug administration. Daily supply of SLN-eye drops loaded with myriocin to rd10 mice lowered rod photoreceptor death and promotes survival, preserved their morphology and extended the ability of the retina to respond to light as assessed by ERG recordings. It is important to say that cone photoreceptors and cone-mediated vision were also considerably well preserved over time.
Investigation of the potential role of S1P in photoreceptor survival has been addressed by the use a cone-like 6661W cell line, previously treated with hydrogen peroxide to induce oxidative stress. We wished to increase S1P in cone photoreceptors aiming to enhance their survival and resistance mechanism to oxidative stress. We observed that: i) exogenous S1P, at low doses, recovers 661W cells viability from oxidative stress; b) administration of a S1P lyase inhibitor, THI, recovers 661W cells viability after oxidative stress; c) THI reduces apoptosis of H2O2-stressed 661W cells; d) THI reduces endogenous stress mediators in 661W cells; e) THI enhances anti-oxidant & survival response to H2O2 in 661W cells. Administration of THI to rd10 animals is currently addressed. These data pose promising premises to set up a combination therapy, with both Myriocin and THI, to delay photoreceptor degeneration in Retinitis Pigmentosa.
Complexities of cardiac sphingolipid metabolism.
Ashley COWART
Medical University Of South Carolina
In recent years, numerous studies have revealed important roles of sphingolipids including sphingosine-1-phosphate and ceramide in cell, tissue, and organ responses to nutrient surplus. Our lab has focused on how fatty acids differentially regulate sphingolipid metabolism, and how these bioactive lipids work to exacerbate and/or protect from metabolic insult. In the heart, ceramides serve key functions in various disease contexts. Moreover, data reveal specialized pathways of cardiomyocyte sphingolipid metabolism that make distinct contributions to pathophysiology during cardiac metabolic insult. Our laboratory has investigated two of these pathways: Sptlc3-derived sphingolipids, and CerS5 and CerS2-derived sphingolipids. Each of these pathways are stimulated under conditions of fatty acid surplus, and each mediates a distinct cell process. In addition to teasing out individual contributions of these pathways in cell culture systems, emerging data from mouse models has provided insight into how these pathways may converge to mediate diabetic cardiomyopathy; however, cell type-specific approaches will be vital to better understand cardiomyocyte-specific sphingolipid actions.
Hepatic upregulation of serine palmitoyltransferase subunit 2 by endoplasmic reticulum stress modulates glucose and lipid metabolism.
Su-Yeon LEE1, Su-Jung KIM2, Bo-Rahm KIM1, Tae-Sik PARK1
1Gachon University, 2Ulsan University
Objective: The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the principal organelle in the cell for protein folding and trafficking, lipid synthesis and cellular calcium homeostasis. Perturbation of ER function by accumulation of misfolded protein results in activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Chronic ER stress is reported to have an important role in abnormal lipid and glucose metabolism leading to development of insulin resistance. Here, we reports that transcription of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) is regulated by ER stress-mediated UPR pathways. Expression of Sptlc2, a major catalytic subunit of SPT in liver, was upregulated by high fat diet in liver of C57Bl6 mice. Treatment of tunicamycin, an ER stress inducer, elevated Sptlc2 and ceramide levels in primary mouse hepatocytes. Overexpression of the spliced form of X-box binding protein 1 (sXBP1) upregulated Sptlc2 expression, whereas the spliced form of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) had no effect on Sptlc2 expression as demonstrated by Sphk2 promoter assays and western blot analyses. Liver-specific overexpression of Sptlc2 (lSptlc2 Tg) elevated fasting glucose levels and inhibited phosphorylation of AKT by insulin. In addition, the response to insulin was diminished and hepatic lipoprotein secretion was increased in lSptlc2 Tg mice. These results demonstrated that Sptlc2 is regulated by ER stress-induced UPR pathways and involved in hepatic secretion of VLDL.
Deoxysphingolipids, novel biomarkers for diabetes, are cytotoxic for insulin-producing cells.
Richard A. ZUELLIG1, Thorsten HORNEMANN2, Alaa OTHMAN2, Adrian B. HEHL3, Tanja GÜNTERT4, Omolara O. OGUNSHOLA4, Enrica SAPONARA5, Arnold VON ECKARDSTEIN2, Rolf GRAF5, Sabrina SONDA5
1Division Of Endocrinology, Diabetes And Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital Zurich, 2Institute For Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, 3Institute Of Parasitology, University Of Zurich,4Institute Of Veterinary Physiology, University Of Zurich, 5Departement Of Visceral & Transplantation Surgery, University Hospital Zurich
Objective: Irreversible failure of pancreatic beta-cells is the main culprit in the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus, a disease that is now a major global epidemic. Recently, elevated plasma levels of deoxysphingolipids, including 1-deoxysphinganine, have been identified as novel biomarkers for the disease. In this study, we analyzed whether deoxysphingolipids directly compromise the functionality of pancreatic beta-cells.
Methods: Effects of deoxysphingolipids were investigated in insulin-producing Ins-1 cells and primary islets. Cell functionality and signaling pathways were analyzed by biochemical methods and flow cytometry. Cytoskeletal alterations were imaged by confocal microscopy. Levels of mRNA and composition of sphingolipid species were quantified by real-time PCR and mass spectrometry, respectively.
Results: Treatment with 1-deoxysphinganine induced dose-dependent cytotoxicity with senescent, necrotic and apoptotic characteristics and compromised glucose-stimulated insulin secretion of beta-cells. In addition, 1-deoxysphinganine altered cytoskeletal dynamics, resulting in intracellular accumulation of filamentous actin and activation of the RhoGTPase Rac1. Moreover, 1-deoxysphinganine selectively up-regulated ceramide synthase 5 expression and was converted to 1-deoxy-dihydroceramides, without altering normal ceramide levels. Inhibition of intracellular 1-deoxysphinganine trafficking and ceramide synthesis improved the viability of the cells, indicating that the intracellular metabolites of 1-deoxysphinganine contribute to its cytotoxicity. Analyses of signaling pathways identified JNK and p38 MAPK as antagonistic effectors of cellular senescence.
Conclusion: Our results revealed that 1-deoxysphinganine is a cytotoxic lipid for insulin-producing cells, suggesting that the increased levels of this sphingolipid observed in diabetic patients may contribute to the reduced functionality of pancreatic beta-cells. Thus, targeting deoxy-sphingolipid synthesis may complement the currently available therapies of diabetes.
Lysosomal stress drives Sphk1 expression in adipose tissue macrophages.
Tanit GABRIEL1, Mina MIRZAIAN1, Marc TOL1, Roelof OTTENHOFF1, Cindy VAN ROOMEN1, Johannes AERTS2, Marco VAN EIJK1,
1Medical Biochemsty, AMC, 2LIC, Biochemistry, Leiden University
Objective: During obesity adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) have to handle an increased lipid load. When adipocyte dysfunction occurs large amounts of lipids are spilled, which consequently impacts macrophages and their lysosomes. Recently it has been found that obesity induces a program of lysosome biogenesis in ATM. In addition, we found a novel obese ATM marker Gpnmb to be induced as a consequence of lipid-induced lysosomal stress. Previously we demonstrated that inhibition of GSL synthesis in models of obesity improved aspects of metabolic dysfunction including inflammation. It is not clear if GSL manipulation in adipose tissue impacts macrophages, adipocytes or both. This prompted us to analyze in detail in sorted ATM populations genes involved in (G)SL synthesis, degradation and transport. We observed a striking induction of Sphk1 in obese ATM. These findings are in agreement with literature. Interestingly, also Sphk1 activity and concomitantly formation of S1P was elevated in obese ATM. To get insight in the regulation of Sphk1 expression in ATM we made use of the macrophage cell line RAW 264.7. It was found that Sphk1 induction occurs as a consequence of overfeeding with palmitate,but also with lysosome stressors such as chloroquine. Additional evidence suggests that Sphk1 activity in obese ATM prevents induction of cell death upon lysosomal challenge. We postulate that high lipid load causes lysosomal stress, which triggers induction of sphk1. By controlling the overshoot of ceramide levels, and consequently cell death, it is ensured during obesity that enough ATM lipid buffering capacity persists.
The role of adipose ceramide in metabolic homeostasis.
Scott SUMMERS
Baker Idı Heart And Diabetes Institute
The lipotoxicity posits that the accumulation of fat-derived metabolites in tissues not optimized for lipid storage induces the cellular dysfunction that underlies metabolic disorders. Of the metabolites that accumulate, sphingolipids such as ceramide appear particularly deleterious, as pharmacological inhibition or genetic ablation of enzymes requisite for sphingolipid production ameliorates insulin resistance, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease in rodents. To identify the tissues that produce the sphingolipids that impair metabolic homeostasis, we have studied knockout mice lacking the a requisite biosynthetic enzyme, serine palmitoyltransferase -2, in either liver, muscle, myeloid cells, or adipocytes. The speaker will share data on the metabolic phenotype of these conditional knockout animals, which reveal novel and important roles in adipose biology.
Active phosphorylated FTY720/fingolimod is a potent inhibitor of class i histone deacetylases that reactivates estrogen receptor expression and increases hormonal therapeutic sensitivity of breast cancer.
Sarah SPIEGEL1, Sheldon MILSTIEN1,
1VCU School Of Medicine
Objective: Hormonal therapies, including ovarian ablation, ER antagonists, and aromatase inhibitors, are the standards of care for treatment of ERα positive breast cancer. However, development of resistance to hormone therapies in advanced breast cancer is a major obstacle. Moreover, estrogen receptor-α (ERα)-negative breast cancer is clinically aggressive and does not respond to conventional estrogen targeted therapies. Strategies that lead to re-expression of ERα could sensitize breast cancers to selective ER modulators. FTY720/Fingolimod, a sphingosine analog, is an FDA-approved pro-drug for treatment of multiple sclerosis that also has anticancer actions that are not yet well understood. We have now found that FTY720 is phosphorylated in breast cancer cells by nuclear sphingosine kinase 2 and accumulates there. Nuclear FTY720-P in turn is a potent inhibitor of class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) that enhances histone acetylations and gene expression independently of its known effects on canonical signaling through sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors. In ERα negative human and murine breast cancer cells, FTY720 reactivated expression of silenced ERα and sensitized them to tamoxifen. Moreover, oral administration of clinically relevant doses of FTY720 to mice bearing ERα negative syngeneic breast tumors also re-expressed ERα and increased therapeutic sensitivity to tamoxifen in vivo more potently than a known HDAC inhibitor. Our work suggests that FTY720 is a promising strategy for effective treatment of conventional hormonal therapy-resistant breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer. Supported by NIH grant RO1CA061774 and the Department of Defense BCRP program award W81XWH-14-1-0086 (S. Spiegel).
CerS4/ceramide metabolism in the regulation of TFG-beta receptor signaling and tumor metastasis.
Salih GENCER1, Can Emre SENKAL2, Suriyan PONNUSAMY3, Natalia OLEINIK1, Mohammed DANY1, Shanmugam P. SELVAM1, Joshua OAKS1, Besim OGRETMEN1
1Medical University Of South Carolina, 2Stony Brook University, 3University Of Tennessee
Objective: Recent studies indicate that ceramide species play diverse biological functions including, skin barrier function, liver homeostasis, cell death and cancer pathogenesis, highlighting the importance of ceramide synthases (CerS) in these processes. Migration, a part of these processes, also is effected by ceramide metabolism. However, the molecular mechanism of CerS/ceramide involved is unknown. Here, we investigated the effect of CerS on migration and its related signal pathways in situ and in vivo model. Interestingly, our data show that among CerS only CerS4 is related to cell migration. Here, we also have generated CerS4-/- mice, and these mice were viable with no lethal tissue. Interestingly, we observed that loss of CerS4 resulted in irreversible alopecia, which was associated with hyper-proliferation and migration of keratinocytes. Mechanistically, we show that knockout/knockdown of CerS4 enhances cell migration by which ligand-independent signaling of TGFβ receptors in various cell types, including keratinocytes, MEFs, and cancer cells. Additionally, low level of TGFβR1-Smad7 interaction was found in knockdown of CerS4 cells. Moreover, we found that ceramide interact with Smad7 and interaction was decreased by knockdown of CerS4. Thus, ceramide-Smad7 binding modulates plasma membrane association of TGFβR1, and inhibits its signaling through Sonic-Hedgehog (Shh) signaling for migration. In fact, inhibition of TGFβR/Shh signaling using molecular or pharmacologic inhibitors almost completely prevented cell migration in response to CerS4 knockdown. These data suggest that CerS4/ceramide signaling plays key roles in the regulation of cell migration via controlling the TGFβR/Shh axis.
C16-ceramide is a natural regulatory ligand of p53.
Natalia KRUPENKO1, Baharan FEKRY1, Amin ESMAEILNIAKOOSHKGHAZI1, Kevin KNAGGE2, Zdzislaw SZULC3, Yuri PETERSON3, Sergey KRUPENKO1
1UNC Chapel Hill, 2David H. Murdock Research Institute, 3Medical Unioversity Of South Carolina
Objectives: We have previously observed that a transient elevation of one of the ceramide-generating enzymes, ceramide synthase 6 (CerS6), in cancer cells up-regulates p53 through an obscure mechanism. Since the immediate effect of CerS6 elevation was the raise of C16-ceramide, we hypothesized that the mechanism underlying the p53 elevation was the direct binding of this ceramide to the protein, which leads to the p53 release from its complex with MDM2.
Methods: NMR spectroscopy, membrane-binding assays, bimolecular fluorescence complementation, protein pulldown, titration of tyrosine fluorescence, and LC/MS-MS measurements of ceramides were applied to study the interaction between p53 and ceramide.
Results: We have demonstrated that p53 binds C16-ceramide with high affinity (Kd = 60 ± 20 nM) within its DNA binding domain and that the interaction between p53 and ceramide is highly selective towards the acyl chain length. NMR experiments have demonstrated chemical shifts perturbations upon C16-ceramide binding in the BOX-V sequence of p53, which interacts with the acidic domain of E3 ligase MDM2. In agreement with this finding, we have further demonstrated that the binding of ceramide disrupts the complex between p53 and MDM2, thus preventing the p53 ubiquitination and degradation.
Conclusions: Our study establishes C16-ceramide as the first natural small molecule regulating p53 tumor suppressor through the direct binding. This type of regulation is a novel physiological mechanism of p53 activation, which is fundamentally different from the canonical p53 activation through protein-protein interactions or post-translational modifications.
C stimulating CAMP overproduction accelerate development of cutaneous SCC.
Kyungho PARK1, Young-Il KIM1, Anna NIELSEN-SCOTT1, Kyong-Oh SHIN2, Yong-Moon LEE2, Walter M. HOLLERAN1, Sarah ARRON1, Theodora M. MAURO1, Peter M. ELIAS1, Yoshikazu UCHIDA1
1University Of California, San Francisco, 2College Of Pharmacy Chungbuk National University
Objective: Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) is a ccomon cancer, often initiated by oxidative stress, particularly ultraviolet irradiation. We demonstrated that oxidative stressors upregulate a key innate immune element, cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (CAMP) via endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-mediated, sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling (Park K et al., Mol Cell Biol, 2011 & 2014). Prior studies showed that CAMP production also increases in certain cancers. Yet, why CAMP overproduction occurs and how CAMP could stimulate tumorigenesis remains unknown. We assessed whether and how CAMP contributes to the development of cSCC. CAMP mRNA/peptide and sphingosine-1-phosphate productions were significantly higher in cSCC cells than in normal human keratinocytes. Exogenous CAMP significantly stimulated the growth of cSCC (but not normal keratinocytes). We next showed that blockade of the CAMP receptor, formyl peptide receptor-like (FPRL) 1, by a specific receptor antagonist (WRW4) attenuated cSCC gowth. We then demonstrated cSCC invaded into dermis using cultured human skin model consisting with epidermis and dermis and exogenous CAMP further stimulated cSCC invasion into an in vitro dermal equivalent, but WRW4 suppressed cSCC invasion. Finally, elevated CAMP expression and cell growth in SCC were significantly suppressed by specific inhibitors of sphingosine kinase 1. These studies suggest that sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling stimulates CAMP overproduction resulting in a FPRL1-dependent enhancement of cSCC growth and invasion.
Dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism in melanoma: roles in cell survival and tumor progression.
Nathalie ANDRIEU
Centre de Recherches en Cancérologie de Toulouse
Cutaneous melanoma is a complex disease that arises through the stepwise transformation of melanocytes within the basal epidermal layer of the skin and evolves due to a myriad of genetic aberrations correlated or not with the person’s UV exposure behaviour. Although very promising with meaningful effects on progression-free survival, BRAF-directed therapies are usually short-lived due to the appearance of resistance, which leads to disease progression. This emphasizes the need to develop new therapeutic approaches that could overcome cancer relapse. Interestingly, ceramide metabolism is strongly altered in melanoma and represent an exploitable target for the development of novel therapies. Here, we show that the reduction of sphingosine 1-phosphate levels in resistant metastatic melanoma resulted in sensitization of these cells to apoptosis induced by a BRAF inhibitor. This phenomenon is associated with decreased expression of MITF, a major regulator of melanoma survival which controls the expression of Bcl-2 family members. Moreover, our findings reveal a key role for melanoma sphingosine kinase 1 in macrophage recruitment and polarization within the tumor microenvironment, thereby controling the aggressiveness of this cancer.
Key role of S1P receptors in the action mechanism of TGFβ in myoblasts.
Paola BRUNI
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italia
Solid experimental evidence is in favor of a key role of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) signaling axis in the action mechanism of multiple extracellular agents, with a role in the onset of their final response.
In our laboratory we have studied the involvement of S1P signaling pathway in skeletal muscle precursor cells, named myoblasts, highlighting its requirement for the full accomplishment of specific biological actions by growth factors and cytokines. In this regard, we have addressed the possible implication of endogenous production of S1P in the action mechanism of TGFβ, a potent cytokine known to hamper skeletal muscle repair. Our study clearly shows that sphingosine kinase-1 is up-regulated by TGFβ. More importantly, the enhanced biosynthetic pathway of S1P is accompanied by a profound modification of S1P receptor expression profile. Overall, our results support the notion that by up-regulation of S1P3 and S1P4, TGFβ is able to readdress S1P pathway in myoblasts. Indeed, in unstimulated cells this signaling axis promotes myogenic differentiation and is physiologically involved in skeletal muscle regeneration. In contrast, via S1P3 induction, TGFβ drives transdifferentiation of myoblasts into myofibroblasts while the induced up-regulation of S1P4 accounts for its apoptotic action, making the S1P-directed signaling detrimental for skeletal muscle repair. Thus, it appears that the biological outcome of S1P signaling axis can be highly flexible depending on the pattern of S1P receptors, that can undergo rapid and critical changes.
Thrombocytopenia induced by sphingomyelin deficiency in SMS1 knock out mice.
Toshiro OKAZAKI1, Yoshibumi UEDA1, Makoto TANIGUCHI1,
1Kanazawa Medical University
Objective: The degradation of platelets as well as the production is an important step to maintain the number of platelets. However, it is not fully understood whether sphingolipids and their metabolizing enzymes are involved in the degradation of platelets. Sphingomyelin synthase 1 (SMS1) and SMS2 are in charge of producing sphingomyelin (SM), which is a key sphingolipid consisting of microdomain and occupies around 10 % of all lipids on the plasma membrane. In the present study, we revealed that SMS1 is crucial for maintaining the number of platelets in mice. SMS1-knock out (KO) mice, but not SMS2, exhibit typical thrombocytopenia symptoms including low number of platelets, longer bleeding time and the increase in the number of reticulated platelets. In the complete blood counts the numbers of erythrocytes and leukocytes in SMS1-KO mice were similar to those of the control. SM levels on the plasma membrane of SMS1-KO mice , but not SMS2-KO mice, were massively decreased in platelets and megakaryocytes compared to other cell lineages. In addition, the significant increase of phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization was detected in the platelets and megakaryocytes of SMS1-KO mice as compared to SMS2-KO and wild mice, suggesting that SM deficiency facilitated PS externalization in the plasmamembrane. SMS1-KO mice showed the splenomegaly and exhibited the higher collocalization of CD41-positive platelets and CD-68-positive macrophages in the spleen than SMS2-KO and wild mice, suggesting up-regulation of the phagocytosis of platelets by macrophages in SMS1-KO mice. In the bone marrow SMS1-deficiency induced an increase of megakariocytes as a reactive synthesis to thrombocytopenia like the case of immune thrombocythemia (ITP). When the spelenectomy was performed in SMS1-KO mice the platelets increased after 4 days of operation. These results suggested that SM regulated by SMS1, but not SMS2, in the plasma membrane is involved in the controlling the degradation of platelets through PS externalization.
ApoM+HDLrestrains lymphopoiesis and neuroinflamation via sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling.
Victoria BLAHO1, Sylvain GALVANI1, Eric ENGELBRECHT1, Catherine LIU1, Steven SWENDEMAN1, Mari KONO2, Richard PROIA2, Lawrence STEINMAN3, May HAN3, Timothy HLA 1
1Weill Cornell Medical College, 2National Institute Of Diabetes And Digestive And Kidney Diseases, – 3Stanford University
Objective: Lipid mediators influence immunity in myriad ways. For example, circulating sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a key regulator of lymphocyte egress. Although the majority of plasma S1P is bound to apolipoprotein M (ApoM) in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle, how the ApoM-S1P complex regulates immunity is unknown. Here, we show that ApoM-S1P is dispensable for lymphocyte trafficking yet restrains lymphopoiesis by activating the receptor S1P1 on bone marrow (BM) lymphocyte progenitors. Mice that lacked ApoM (Apom-/-) had increased proliferation of Lin-Sca1+cKit+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (LSK) and common lymphoid progenitors (CLP) in BM. Pharmacologic activation or genetic overexpression of S1P1 suppressed CLP proliferation in vivo. Activation of S1P1 on CLP in vivo could be visualized using novel S1P1 GFP signaling mice, and the lack of S1P1 stimulation in Apom-/- mice resulted in decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation and subsequent increased STAT5 activation. ApoM was stably associated with CLPs in BM and specifically inhibited lymphopoiesis in vitro. Upon immune stimulation, Apom-/- mice developed more severe experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, characterized by increased lymphocytes in the central nervous system (CNS) and breakdown of the blood-brain barrier. Thus, the ApoM-S1P-S1P1 signaling axis restrains the lymphocyte compartment and adaptive immune responses. Since plasma HDL levels influence CNS and other inflammatory diseases, this regulatory pathway may represent a novel therapeutic.
Defining the role of acid ceramidase in ulcerative colitis and the inflammatory response.
Mel Pilar ESPAILLA1, Ashley SNIDER1, Toshihiko KAWAMORI2, Yusuf A. HANNUN1, Lina M. OBEID1
1Stony Brook University, 2University Of Hawaii Cancer Center
Objective: The sphingolipid enzyme sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1) and its metabolic product sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) are key regulators of disease pathology in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Ulcerative colitis, one of the major forms of IBD, is a debilitating condition characterized by chronic colonic inflammation and represents a significant risk factor for the development of colorectal cancer. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the inflammatory response in ulcerative colitis remain incompletely understood. Our published work showed that SK1 deficient mice are protected from parameters of disease and inflammatory responses in the murine model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. We aimed to investigate the upstream metabolic regulation of the bioactive sphingolipid S1P in ulcerative colitis by identifying the upstream ceramidase enzyme contributing to the inflammatory response. Ceramidases are sphingolipid metabolic enzymes that hydrolyze ceramide to generate sphingosine, the precursor of S1P. Using immunohistochemistry, we determined that lysosomal acid ceramidase is overexpressed in the inflammatory infiltrate of colonic tissue from patients with ulcerative colitis but not in normal tissue. Our preliminary data also shows that acid ceramidase activity is increased in the inflamed colon of DSS-treated mice. In vivo pharmacologic and genetic inhibition of acid ceramidase protects mice from disease pathology and inflammation in the DSS-induced colitis model. Furthermore, ex vivo studies demonstrate acid ceramidase-mediated regulation of macrophage inflammatory responses, including production of inflammatory cytokines. These results begin to implicate a novel and specific role for AC in the regulation of disease pathology in DSS-induced colitis and myeloid inflammatory responses.
Sphingolipid metabolism and signaling in the regulation of drug resistance in CML.
Yusuf BARAN1
Abdullah Gul University Faculty Of Life And Natural Sciences1
Cellular resistance mechanisms developed by cancer cells and tissues in the beginning or proceeding times to applied anticancer agents is a significant problem preventing succesfull therapy. Trysine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs) are very effective drugs used for the treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). TKIs bind to the amino acids of the BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase ATP-binding site and stabilize the non-ATP-binding form of BCR-ABL, thereby preventing phosphorylation of its substrates. Although imatinib has high rates of hematologic and cytogenetic response, after exposure of drug, resistance to TKIs has been recognized as a major problem.Various cellular mechanisms may be involved in the nature of cellular resistance. Increased amount of BCR/ABL, alteration in BCR/ABL structure, inhibition of apoptotic mechanisms, decreased imatinib uptake and increased detoxification are well-known mechanisms of resistance.
Aberrant ceramide metabolism is another one of these inherent or acquired mechanisms that contribute to cellular drug resistance. Stress increases de novo ceramide synthesis by Ceramide Synthase gene family or activate sphingomyelinases and ceramidase and elevate levels of ceramide leading to apoptosis. Many other stimuli, particularly growth and survival factors, convert apoptotic ceramide to antiapoptotic sphingosine-1-phosphate and glucosyleceramide (GlcCer) by Sphingosine Kinase-1 and glucosyle ceramide synthase (GCS).
In this talk, the roles and mechanisms of action of ceramide metabolism, besides all other possible resistance mechanisms, in the regulation of TKIs-induced cell death and resistance in sensitive and imatinib resistant cell lines and CML patient samples will be reviewed. This study was supported by TUBITAK with the Project number 111S391 to Y.B.
Lipid signaling in S1P-lyase-deficient fibroblasts.
Dagmar Meyer ZU HERİNGDORF
Institut für Allgemeine Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) lyase catalyzes the ultimate step in sphingolipid degradation, i.e., the irreversible cleavage of S1P. Mice lacking S1P lyase have a strongly reduced life span and suffer from multiple organ defects, lymphopenia, and generalized inflammation1,3,4,6. S1P and sphingosine accumulate in cells and tissues of these mice, which furthermore have a hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia, despite their strongly reduced body fat4. Similar to the whole organism, both S1P and sphingosine accumulate in embryonic fibroblasts from S1P lyase-deficient mice (Sgpl1-/–MEFs). Therefore, these cells might be used as a model system to study intracellular effects of S1P and sphingosine, and they might help to elucidate the phenotype of the knockout mice. Several research groups have analyzed the properties of Sgpl1-/–MEFs2,5,8,9,10. It has been shown that the cells grow well and are protected from apoptosis2,10. They are furthermore characterized by a disturbed Ca2+ homeostasis, reduced HDAC activity and reduced expression of several HDAC isoforms5,8. S1P lyase deficiency has also been linked to neurodegeneration7, and interestingly, even Sgpl1-/–MEFs have a defect in the processing of the amyloid precursor protein9. Our new data show that not only sphingolipid metabolism but also cholesterol homeostasis is considerably altered in these cells.
Selected References:
1. Schmahl J et al.; Nat Genet (2007)
2. Colié S et al.; Cancer Res (2009)
3. Vogel P et al. PLoS One (2009)
4. Bektas M et al.; J Biol Chem (2010)
5. Claas RF et al.; Cell Signal (2010)
6. Allende ML et al.; J Biol Chem (2011)
7. Hagen-Euteneuer N et al.; J Biol Chem (2012)
8. Ihlefeld K et al.; Biochem J (2012)
9. Karaca I et al.; J Biol Chem (2014)
10. Ihlefeld K et al.; J Lipid Res (2015)
Crosstalk between sphingolipid and glycerophospholipid metabolism in yeast.
Auxiliadora AGUILERA-ROMERO1, Vladimir GIRIK1, Aline X.S. SANTOS1, Isabelle RIEZMAN1, Fabrice DAVID2, Howard RIEZMAN1,
1University Of Geneva, 2EPFL,
Objective: Systematic lipidomics is a new, rich source of biological information that allows grouping of genes according to function via their lipid profile (1). We have now measured the lipidome of over 600 yeast mutants, including a collection of protein kinases and phosphatases as well as proteins found in the early secretory pathway (2). These studies have revealed new steps in the regulation of ceramide and sphingolipid homeostasis and have also revealed a correlation between a group of mutants with a particular type of defect in sphingolipid homeostasis with a misregulation of glycerophospholipid metabolism. We are currently working on the identification of a potential sphingolipid metabolite that is responsible for this misregulation as well as its mechanism of action. 1. Santos, AXS et al., (2014) Systematic lipidomic analysis of yeast protein kinase and phosphatase mutants reveals novel insights into regulation of lipid homeostasis. Mol. Biol. Cell 25, 3234-46. 2. Schuldiner, M et al., (2005) Exploration of the function and organization of the yeast early secretory pathway through an epistatic miniarray profile. Cell 123, 507-19.
Gycosylceramide supply from ethiopian plants – screening and quantification methods.
Mathias REISBERG1, Norbert ARNOLD2, Reinhard H. H. NEUBERT1, Birgit DRÄGER1
1Martin Luther University Halle-wittenberg, Institute Of Pharmacy, 2Leibniz Institute Of Plant Biochemistry, Department Of Bioorganic Chemistry
Objective: Ceramides are widely distributed in nature. They also provide a major lipid class in the outermost layer of mammalian skin – the stratum corneum. A ceramide balance disorder is related to skin diseases as psoriasis or neurodermatitis. A ceramide skin supplementation with plant glycosylceramide resources is therefore economically of high interest. Glycosylceramides occur in Fabaceae species, e.g. Albizia julibrissin. Five Fabaceae species, in part endogenous in Ethiopia, were collected in April 2013 in the Oromia Region. An easy sample preparation was developed. Total lipids were extracted from ground air-dried seeds using a mixture of isopropanol – n-hexane – water 55:20:22 (V/V/V) as solvents [Markham J and Jaworski JG, 2007. Rapid Commun Mass Sp. 21: 1304-1314] and were further partitioned by liquid-liquid-extraction. Qualitative analysis was carried out by TLC on silica gel 60 F254 plates (Merck), quantitative screening by densitometric analysis after an 18-step solvent gradient (Automated Multiple Development-AMD 2 (CAMAG)) was performed on HPTLC silica gel 60 F254 plates (Merck). Structures were identified by LC-MS using glycosylceramides previously isolated as reference compounds by means of intensive HR-FT-ICR-MS, NMR and MS/MS analyses. We demonstrate by using our developed methods and work flow, an intensive screening regarding the occurrence of ceramides in plants and other natural resources is feasible. Our results give first hints on glycosylceramide content in a broader range of plant species. Total amounts ranged from 3 to 13 mg per 100 g dry weight with highest contents in different Albizia species. The plants may serve as ceramide resources.
Systematic lipidomics of mutants in the early secretory pathway.
Isabelle RIEZMAN1, Auxılıadora AGUILERA-ROMERO1, Alıne X.S. SANTOS1, Fabrıce DAVID1
1Unıversıty Of Geneva
Objective: Systematic lipidomics is a new, rich source of biological information that allows grouping of genes according to function via their lipid profile (1). We have now measured the lipidome of over 450 yeast mutants representing proteins found in the early secretory pathway (2). We have used a statistical analysis of the results to cluster mutants with similar phenotypes in sphingolipid homeostasis. We have also used rankings to determine the mutants with the largest and smallest amount of particular sphingolipids as well as ergosterol, which has a particular relation to sphingolipids (3). Interestingly, apart from mutants in ergosterol biosynthesis, the mutant with the least amount of free ergosterol is sfb3/lst1. This COPII coat protein is specifically involved in the transport of GPI-anchored proteins (4), whose transport also requires ceramide, suggesting a possible coregulation or transport of ceramides and ergosterol. 1. Santos, AXS et al., (2014) Systematic lipidomic analysis of yeast protein kinase and phosphatase mutants reveals novel insights into regulation of lipid homeostasis. Mol. Biol. Cell 25, 3234-46. 2. Schuldiner, M et al., (2005) Exploration of the function and organization of the yeast early secretory pathway through an epistatic miniarray profile. Cell 123, 507-19. 3. Guan, XL et al., (2009) Functional interactions between sphingolipids and sterols in biological membranes regulating cell physiology. Mol. Biol. Cell 20, 2083-95. 4. Manzano-Lopez, J et al., (2014) COPII coat composition is actively regulated by luminal cargo maturation. Curr. Biol. 25, 152-62.
Endosomal sterol, phosphoinositide and sphingolipid signaling integrates cell cycle control with endosomal membrane trafficking.
Vytas BANKAITIS
Texas A&M Health Science Center College Station
ABSTRACT NOT RECEIVED
Reconstruction and analysis of yeast sphingolipid protein interaction network.
F. Betul KAVUN OZBAYRAKTAR1, Kutlu ULGEN1
1Bogazici University Department Of Chemical Engineering
Objective: Sphingolipids are both structural and regulatory components of the cell, where they control processes decisive in cell’s fate. The first effort of constructing the protein-protein interaction network of sphingolipids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae enabled us to understand the details of the topological properties of the newly constructed network as well as to assign functions to some of the uncharacterized proteins involving in the network of sphingolipids. The topological analysis of sphingolipid related proteins, especially those under clinical trials for cancer therapy, yielded novel potential drug targets. Novel interactions are predicted using a newly developed integrated methodology employing sequence and structure based computational interaction prediction tools, orthology, expression profiles, co-localization information and Gene Ontology (GO) terms. The sphingolipid network shows topological properties of a scale-free, small-world, and modular structure, as it is the case for biological networks. The function annotation of uncharacterized proteins of the network is performed using a multi-dimensional hybrid method which combines the results from modules and neighbors, and examines them by information gathered from genetic interactions, expression profiles, and sequence similarity. The here constructed sphingolipid network coupled with the newly developed hybrid function annotation method constitutes an efficient platform for function annotation and drug target identification
Sphingolipid analogues and inhibitors: sphingolipid-based therapeutics.
Nigel PYNE1, Susan PYNE1
1University Of Strathclyde
Objective: Sphingolipids function as recognition molecules of cellular stress that can result in endoplasmic reticulum stress, unfolded protein responses, autophagy, apoptosis and senescence in cells. Sphingolipids can also represent danger signals to promote host-defense inflammatory reactivity to invading pathogens. Sphingolipid analogues are designed to mimic endogenous sphingolipid metabolites to modulate these cellular stress and inflammatory reactions. For example, sphingolipid analogues can modulate sphingolipid metabolizing enzymes to control the steady state levels of endogenous sphingolipids and thereby induce the death of cancer cells, such as T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells. In the case of sphingosine kinase inhibitors, there is a close relationship between the targeting these enzymes, sphingolipid metabolism, oxidative stress and the proteasome that when perturbed can result is catastrophic collapse of cell survival signaling networks in solid cancers. Another example is the use of sphingadienes that increase sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase expression to reduce intracellular sphingosine 1-phosphate levels and limit inflammatory driven down-regulation of tumour suppressor genes in colon cancer cells. Sphingosine mimetics also promote activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome to stimulate formation of the pro-inflammatory mediator, IL-1, which could be exploited to produce antagonists that diminish exaggerated inflammation in disease. Alternatively, sphingosine mimetics could be used to promote host-defense against invading pathogens; thereby representing alternative therapeutic strategies to the development of antibiotics. The translation of sphingolipid analogues into therapeutics is challenging because of solubility, bioavailability and ‘low-affinity’ binding to targets. This presentation will highlight these issues and the potential for sphingolipid based therapeutics.
FTY720 induces necroptosis by regulating ceramide signaling at the plasma membrane.
Rose NDETO1, Besim OGRETMEN1
1Medical University Of South Carolina
Objective: Sphingolipids are important signaling molecules in cells and have recently been explored as cancer therapy targets. FTY720 (Fingolimod, Gilenya) is an FDA approved sphingosine analogue drug used for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS). FTY720 is phosphorylated by sphingosine kinase 2 (SK2), to generate P- FTY720 to exert its immunosuppressive properties through binding to sphingosine -1 phosphate receptors (S1PRs). FTY720 also exhibits anti-cancer properties. Our previous studies indicated that one of the mechanism by which FTY720 induces cell death is through necroptosis. FTY720 directly binds to I2PP2A/SET (Inhibitor 2 of PP2A), consequently activating the tumor suppressor protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). The activated PP2A then induces cell death by stimulating the activity of Receptor-Interacting Protein kinase-1 (RIPK1), involved in necroptosis signaling. Previous studies have also shown that ceramide also binds I2PP2A and activates PP2A. However, little is known about the roles of FTY720 in ceramide signaling and regulation of necroptosis. We hereby seek to investigate the mechanisms of FTY720 in inducing necroptosis with regard to ceramide signaling. Preliminary data indicate that inhibitors of ceramide generation partially protect cells against FTY720-induced cell death. FTY720 and non-phosphorylated FTY720 analogues do not affect ceramide generation, but lead to the formation of specific ceramide-multi-protein complexes at the plasma membrane involved in plasma membrane disruption for necroptosis. Future mechanistic studies will help us understand the details of how these complexes are formed at the plasma membrane and how they regulate necroptosis in response to cellular stress invoked by FTY720 and other therapeutic agents.
Ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P)-stimulated migration and phospho-ceramide analogue-1 (PCERA-1)-induced il-10 expression are mediated via distinct receptors in macrophages.
Tsaffrir ZOR1, Sebastián KATZ1, Dorit AVNI1, Orna ERNST1, Lide ARANA2, Alberto OURO2, Brian P. GRIFFIN3, Charles E. CHALFANT3, Michael M. MEIJLER4, Antonio GÓMEZ-MUÑOZ2
1Tel-aviv University, 2University Of The Basque Country , 3Virginia Commonwealth University School Of Medicine, 4Ben-Gurion University Of The Negev
Objective: Inflammation is an ensemble of tightly regulated steps, in which macrophages play an essential role. The endogenous phospholipid ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) stimulates macrophages migration and suppresses LPS-stimulated secretion of the key pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF alpha, while the synthetic C1P mimic, phospho-ceramide analogue-1 (PCERA-1), suppresses TNF alpha secretion and amplifies production of the key anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, in LPS-stimulated macrophages. Previous reports suggested that the two compounds act via one or more G-protein coupled receptors. We show that C1P stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages migration via the NFB pathway and MCP-1 induction, while PCERA-1 neither mimicked nor antagonized these activities. Conversely, PCERA-1 synergistically elevated LPS-dependent IL-10 expression in RAW264.7 macrophages via CREB transcriptional activity, while C1P neither mimicked nor antagonized these activities. Both PCERA-1 and C1P inhibited TNF secretion, but while PCERA-1 suppressed TNF alpha transcription, C1P blocked the secretion step itself by inhibiting TNF alpha converting enzyme (TACE). Finally, PCERA-1 failed to interfere with a C1P binding assay. These results thus indicate that the natural sphingolipid C1P and its synthetic analog PCERA-1 bind and activate distinct receptors expressed in RAW264.7 macrophages. Identification of these receptors will be instrumental for elucidation of novel activities of extra-cellular sphingolipids, and may pave the way for the design of new sphingolipid mimics for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, and pathologies which depend on cell migration, as in metastatic tumors.
Uracil and benzoxazolone carboxamides: discovery of potent small-molecule inhibitors of acid ceramidase?
Daniela PIZZIRANI1, Anders BACH1, Chiara PAGLIUCA2, Natalia REALINI1, Andrea ARMIROTTI1, Daniele PIOMELLI3
1Fondazione Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, 2Janssen Pharmaceutica, 3Fondazione Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy AND University Of California, Irvine, USA
Objectıve: Herein, we present an overview of our recent work on the discovery and development of the first two classes of potent small-molecule inhibitors of acid ceramidase (AC). As the pharmacology of sphingolipid signaling is still nascent, novel tools are needed to further drive understanding of the roles of ceramide in physiology and pathology.
Results: We identified promising small-molecule hits against AC by screening compound collections towards this target. Medicinal chemistry work around selected hits led to the development of two chemical series of potent AC inhibitors, the uracil- and the benzoxazolone-carboxamide classes. Carmofur and other uracil derivatives were the first identified nanomolar inhibitors of AC. We found that selected uracil carboxamides act synergistically with standard anti-neoplastic drugs in certain types of cancer, suggesting a potential use as chemosensitizers. Prototype members of the benzoxazolone class were found to be metabolically stable and capable of engaging AC both in vitro and in vivo, thus representing the first potent and systemically active inhibitors of this enzyme. We also characterized these compounds in terms of mechanism of action, proving that they inhibit AC by covalent binding to its catalytic cysteine.
Conclusıons: We have developed different chemical classes of potent small-molecule inhibitors of AC which can serve as tools to study the functions of ceramide in health and disease, and may help to validate AC as drug target with potential therapeutic applications in cancer and inflammation. These compounds may also provide promising starting points for the development of novel therapeutic agents.
Sphingolipid analogues as inhibitors of sphingolipid metabolism and trafficking.
Christoph ARENZ
Instıtut für Chemıe / Humboldt Unıversıtaet zu Berlın
ABSTRACT NOT RECEIVED
Targeted LC-tandem-MS analysis and ms imaging reveal new sphingolipid structures and the function of ceramide synthase 3 in vivo.
Roger SANDHOFF1
1German Cancer Research Center
Objective: Tandem-mass spectrometry (coupled to liquid chromatography) enabled the discovery of tissue-specific sphingolipid structures and of the natural composition of 1-O-acylceramides in mammals. Metabolism and cellular location of the latter remains enigmatic (Sphinx-like), but analysis of knockout mouse models gives first insight. The discovery of germ cell specific sphingolipids led to investigations of ceramide synthase 3 (CerS3) function in vivo. Analyzing systemic and cell-specific knockout mouse models with targeted LC-tandem MS proved CerS3 incorporates in a non-redundant fashion ultra long-acyl chains into sphingolipids of differentiated keratinocytes and of adluminal germ cells. Hence, CerS3 is quintessential for skin barrier/life and for male fertility. Tissue location is a prerequisite to understand the biological function of a molecule, which now can be addressed by mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to distinguish closely related lipid structures. MSI revealed a highly specific location of such CerS3-dependent sphingomyelins in two different adluminal regions of seminiferous tubules supporting the idea, that these structures are made for more than one purpose in germ cells.
Phenotypic malignant changes and untargeted lipidomic analysis of long-term exposed prostate cancer cells to endocrine disruptors.
Núria DALMAU1, Joaquim JAUMOT1, Romà TAULER1, Carmen BEDIA1,
1Institute Of Environmental Assessment And Water Research (ydaea-csyc)
Objectıve: Numerous studies involve the endocrine disruptors (EDs) exposure to the initiation and development of cancers, including prostate cancer. Three different EDs (aldrin, aroclor 1254 and chlorpyrifos (CPF)) have been investigated as potential inducers of a malignant phenotype in DU145 prostate cancer cells after a chronic exposure. Then, an untargeted lipidomic analysis has been performed to decipher the lipids involved in the observed transformations.
Methods: Phenotypic malignant changes such as epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) induction, proliferation, migration, colony formation and release of metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) have been analyzed in 50-day exposed cells to the selected EDs. Changes in specific sphingolipids and other lipids were assessed by the means of an untargeted lipidomic analysis using chemometric tools on LC-MS data of lipid cell extracts.
Results: Chronic exposure to aldrin and CPF resulted in EMT induction. CPF and aroclor 1254 also increased cell migration, colony formation and MMP-2 release. On one hand, the untargeted lipidomic analysis revealed a global decrease in phospholipids, ceramides glucosylceramides and lactosylceramides in cells treated with aldrin; on the other hand, CPF and aroclor 1254 treatment resulted in an increase of certain phospholipids, glycosphingolipids and a remarkable increase of some cardiolipin species. All treatments resulted in increased levels of triacylglycerides.
Conclusıons: The untargeted lipidomic approach used in this study enabled the identification of some lipid compounds and lipid metabolic pathways which could be involved in the acquisition of a malignant phenotype under ED exposure in prostate cancer cells.
Ceramides in anoxia survival.
J. Thomas HANNICH1, Augustinus GALIH1
1Geneva University
Objective: Sphingolipids are major eukaryotic membrane lipids which have been shown to play important signaling roles during cellular stress. Using targeted and non-targeted lipidomics we found a connection between 1‐deoxy sphingolipids and resistance to anoxia in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Animals that produce more 1-deoxy sphingolipids show lower survival during anoxia and suppression of 1-deoxy sphingolipid production can extend survival without oxygen. Genetic screens in yeast and worms to identify the target of toxic 1-deoxysphingolipids might help to not only extend survival of cells during lack of oxygen like in stroke or heart attack but also to reduce lipotoxicity during metabolic syndrome and diabetes where 1-deoxysphingolipids have been found to increase.
Elucidating the double bond position of endogenous 1-deoxysphingosine.
Regula STEINER1, Alaa OTHMAN2, Essa MOSTAFA3, Christoph ARENZ3, Alan MACCARONE4, Stephen BLANKSBY5, Arnold VON ECKARDSTEIN1, Thorsten HORNEMANN1
1University Hospital Zurich, 2University Of Lubeck, 3Humboldt University, 4University Of Wollongong, 5Queensland University Of Technology
Objective: 1-Deoxysphinglipids are atypical sphingolipids which are devoid of the 1-OH-group present in canonical sphingolipids. 1-Deoxysphingosine (1-deoxySO) is a downstream metabolite of 1-deoxysphinganine and has been found in mammalian cell lines and human plasma. We observed recently that natural 1-deoxySO shows a deviation in LC retention time when compared to a synthetic 1-deoxySO standard bearing a Δ4-5 trans double bond (DB), as in the canonical sphingosine, albeit the m/z is identical for both compounds. This indicates that the DB positon in native 1-deoxySO is at a different position than in sphingosine. Our objective was therefore to elucidate the double bond position in endogenous 1-deoxySO, which is so far not known. HEK 293 cells were fed with deuterium labelled 1-deoxysphinganine. Whole sphingolipid extract was hydrolyzed and derivatized by the addition of dimethyl disulfide (DMDS) across the double bond in 1-deoxySO. The [M]+ ion of the DMDS adduct of 1-deoxySO was analyzed by direct injection on an MS2. After collision-induced disassociation, we could identify two ions specific for the fragmentation between the two SCH3 adducts at the site of the original double bond position. The double bond position of 1-deoxySO was identified to be Δ14-15. These results were confirmed by ozone-induced dissociation. The DB of native 1-deoxySO is located at Δ14-15 and is therefore distinct to that of canonical sphingosine (Δ4-5). This indicates that 1-deoxySO might not be a substrate of dihydroceramide desaturase 1 and that the DB at Δ14-15 may be introduced by a distinct desaturase.
Increased plasma levels of select deoxy-ceramide and ceramide species are associated with increased odds of diabetic neuropathy in type 1 diabetes.
Samar HAMMAD1, Richard KLEIN1, Nathaniel BAKER1, Jad EL ABIAD1, Stefanka SPASSIEVA1, Jason PIERCE1, Jacek BIELAWSKI1, Maria LOPES-VIRELLA1
1Medical University of South Carolina
Objective: The clinical presentation of diabetic neuropathy is similar to neuropathy in hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy Type 1 (HSAN1) patients, who exhibit elevated plasma levels of deoxy-sphingolipids (DSL). Supplementation with L-serine reduces plasma DSL levels and decreases neuropathic symptoms in HSAN1 patients. Plasma DSL are elevated in Type-2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome patients but no studies reported in Type-1 diabetes.
Methods: Using mass spectroscopy, plasma levels of DSL and free amino acids in DCCT/EDIC Type-1 diabetes patients (n=80), with and without symptoms of neuropathy were investigated. Patient-determined neuropathy was based on 15-item self-administered questionnaire [Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument] developed to assess distal symmetrical peripheral neuropathy in Type-1 diabetes. Patients who scored ≥ 4, or were unable to sense their feet during walking or to distinguish hot from cold water while bathing were considered neuropathic. Levels of ceramide, sphingomyelin, hexosyl- and lactosylceramide species were also measured.
Results: Deoxy-C24-ceramide, C24- and C26-ceramide were higher in patients with neuropathy than those without neuropathy (12.3±3.7 vs 10.6±4.1, 3184.6±762.7 vs 2709.5±921.8, & 131.1±39.7 vs 104.6±35.6 nM, p<0.05). Cysteine was higher in patients with neuropathy (2.0±1.0 vs 1.4±0.6 μM, p<0.01). No differences in other sphingolipids or amino acids were detected. The Odds Ratio of positive neuropathy diagnosis was associated with increased levels of cysteine (p<0.01), deoxy-C22:1-, deoxy-C24-, and deoxy-C24:1-ceramide (p<0.05), C22-, C24-, and C26-ceramide (p<0.05). The Odds Ratio of negative neuropathy was associated with increased sphingosine (p<0.05).
Conclusion: high plasma levels of select deoxy-ceramide and ceramide species may be involved with neuropathy in Type-1 diabetes.
P1: Sphingosine kinase 1 mediates tumour monocyte interaction and cancer chemoresistance.
Joao NUNES1, Heba ALSHAKER2, Charlotte BEVAN1, Jonathan WAXMAN1, Dmitri PCHEJETSKI3,
1Imperial College, 2University Of Petra, 3University Of East Anglia
Objective: Tumour-associated macrophages promote solid tumour growth through secretion of cytokines and chemokines. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) is a known mediator of inflammation and is critically implicated in cancer progression, resistance and poor prognosis. Here we have investigated the role of SK1 as signal transduction component during the tumour-monocyte cellular interaction.
Methods: Boyden chambers were used for macrophage-tumour cells co-culturing. Cytokine production was measured by proteome profiler and ELISA assays and gene expression was measured by qRT-PCR. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay. Human prostate tumours were established in Nude mice.
Results: During co-culture both monocytes and cancer cells showed a transient increase in SK1 activity and mRNA expression together with an increase in MCP-1 and IL-6 secretion. Silencing of SK1 in cancer cells abrogated co-culture-induced phosphorylation of AKT, ERK1/2, NF-kB and SK1 in monocytes and monocyte-induced cancer cell proliferation. Furthermore, monocytes induced cancer cell chemoprotection via a SK1/Akt/ERK1/2-dependent mechanism, reducing the inhibitory effect of docetaxel on cancer cell proliferation. Selective inhibition of SK1 in tumour cells significantly reduced the cytokine secretion from both cancer cells and monocytes affecting IL-6, MCP-1, GROα, IL-32 and ICAM-1. Our data show that STAT1 binds to SK1 promoter and may be involved in SK1 transcriptional regulation in cancer cells upon monocyte stimulation. Pharmacological targeting of SK1 in mouse prostate cancer model reduced tumour volume, TAM infiltration and cytokine secretion.
Conclusion: Our results suggest a novel SK1/ERK1/2/IL-6/MCP-1 – dependent mechanism of tumour inflammation and monocyte-induced cancer chemoresistance.
P2: Investigation of epigenetic markers in the sphingosine kinase locus for a prognostic blood test to predict prostate cancer risk.
Heba ALSHAKER1, Philip JORDAN2, Alexandre AKOULITCHEV2, Dmitri PCHEJETSKI3
1University Of Petra, 2Oxford Biodynamics, 3University Of East Anglia
Objective: Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) is a proto-oncogene and has been reported to be elevated in many cancers including the prostate, but its regulation is poorly understood. Chromosome conformation patterns represent early changes in epigenetic regulation during tumourigenesis.
Methods: Chromosomal conformation studies were performed in the locus of SPHK1 gene using PCR.
Results: Epigenetic regulation of SPHK1 was investigated in 80 treatment naive patients, which were separated into low and high risk groups according to the NCCN criteria. Relevance vector machine based algorithm was used to predict the potential chromosomal conformations, which were then identified using PCR. 20 Chromosmal conformations were identified in the SPHK1 locus. Of these, an inhibitory conformation SPHK1-5/17 was consistently associated with prostate cancer patients in a low risk group. Conversely, SPHK1-1/15 conformation was shown to be associated with high risk prostate cancer. When united with other chromosomal conformation markers, in the loci of several PCa-related genes, including MYC, PSMA, PTEN, SMAD4, and SAM68, SPHK1 formed a part of a final epigenetic test that was trained on 64 samples and cross-validated on 16 independent samples. The final EpiSwitchTM test can accurately predict PCa aggressiveness status in both training and validation sets, with a combined accuracy of 98.6% (95% CI, 93% – 99%).
Conclusion: In Addition to stratification of PCa patients this prognostic, non-invasive test has the potential to be used for making treatment decisions, monitoring and predicating for PCa mortality. The EpiSwitchTM platform technology can be extended to address other clinical questions in diagnostics and theranostics.
P3: Membrane lipids regulate ganglioside gm2 catabolism and the activity of lysosomal lipid binding and transfer proteins.
Breiden BERNADETTE1, Susi ANHEUSER2, Guenter SCHWARZMANN2, Konrad SANDHOFF2
1Lymes Institut, University Bonn, 2Lymes Institut, University Bonn
Objective: During endocytosis, luminal endolysosomal vesicles are formed which serve as platforms of lipid and membrane digestion. Ongoing in vitro studies on the catabolism of radiolabeled liposomal sphingolipids (SL) and glycosphingolipids (GSL) indicated that stabilizing lipids of the plasma membrane, i.e. sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol, inhibit several steps of lysosomal SL and GSL catabolism, and also the lipid mobilization and transfer activities of several sphingolipid activator proteins (SAPs) and NPC2. We reconstituted the catabolic proteins on liposomal surfaces, mimicking luminal vesicles of the lysosomes as platforms for SL degradation. Liposomes with no net surface charge generated only negligible catabolic rates. However, incorporation of various anionic lipids into the liposomal membranes had a strong stimulatory impact on GM2 catabolism and on mobilization and intervesicular transfer of membrane lipids by GM2AP, whereas cholesterol exerted a strong inhibitory effect. The intervesicular transfer of 2-NBD-labeled GM1 from donor to acceptor liposomes was stimulated by BMP, ionic strength and low pH values, whereas both, cholesterol and SM, were inhibitory. The current work demonstrates the importance of electrostatic interaction between anionic SL-carrying vesicles and cationic proteins for the stimulation of SL hydrolysis. It also raises major concerns about the usage of His-tagged GM2AP and other lipid binding proteins to investigate the properties of the natural GM2AP. His-tagged GM2AP binds more strongly to anionic SL-carrying liposomal surfaces due to its positively charged His6-tag at low pH values. Its presence increases GM2 hydrolysis, allows transfer of 2-NBD-GM1 even at low ionic strength but prevents mobilization of membrane lipids.
P4: Ceramide mediated lethal mitophagy: a novel cell death mechanism in FLT3 targeted therapy of acute myeloid leukemia.
Mohammed DANY1, Besim OGRETMEN1
1Medical Universiy Of South Carolina
Objective: Mutations in FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase are common in Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and confer a worse prognosis. Ceramide, a bioactive sphingolipid, is synthesized de novo by Ceramide Synthases (CerS) and mediates cancer cell death in response to various chemotherapeutic agents. This study investigates the biological role of ceramide in FLT3-positive AML pathogenesis. We show that AML cell lines and patient samples expressing FLT3 have suppressed CerS1 expression and lower levels of its product C18-ceramide compared with FLT3 negative AML cells. Silenced FLT3 expression or its pharmacological inhibition increased CerS1 and C18-ceramide levels while FLT3 overexpression suppressed them. The increase in C18-ceramide after FLT3 inhibition is required for cell death as silencing CerS1 expression or inhibiting its enzymatic activity protected from FLT3 inhibitors-induced cell death. Targeting FLT3 resulted in C18-ceramide dependent mitophagy, as determined by increased LC3B-II levels and formation of autophagosomes around mitochondria. Mechanistically, C18-ceramide accumulated in the mitochondria to bind directly to LC3B-II recruiting autophagosomal membranes for the execution of mitophagy. This process was accompanied by mitochondrial depolarization, decreased ATP generation, and DRP-1 oligomerization. In summary, our novel study is the first to highlight the importance of ceramide metabolism in AML oncogenesis by showing that FLT3 suppresses CerS1 expression and ceramide generation while its inhibition reactivates CerS1/C18-ceramide axis leading to lethal mitophagy and AML cell death.
P5: Acid ceramidase expression in normal and neoplastic melanocytes and its role in melanoma progression.
Natalia REALINI1, Francesca PALESE1, Daniela PIZZIRANI1, Silvia PONTIS1, Abdul BASIT1, Anders BACH1, Anand GANESAN2, Daniele PIOMELLI3
1Fondazione Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy, 2University Of California, Irvine, USA, 3Fondazione Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy AND University Of California, Irvine, USA
Objective: In the present study, we used a combination of lipidomics, morphology, pharmacology and genetics to investigate the expression and functions of acid ceramidase (AC) in normal melanocytes and melanoma cells. We then evaluated AC inhibition as a possible strategy for melanoma therapy.
Results: We first measured AC levels in various human cancer cell lines, discovering a greater AC expression in melanoma than in other cancers. To determine whether AC overexpression distinguishes melanoma cells from non-malignant melanocytes, we measured AC gene transcription, protein concentration and enzyme activity in melanocytes and melanoma cells. Unexpectedly, normal melanocytes and melanoma expressed AC at similar levels. However, confocal microscopy experiments revealed that melanocytes and melanoma cells differ in the intracellular localization of this enzyme. Based on their similar AC levels, we predicted that ceramide content should be comparable in normal and malignant cells. In striking contrast with that prediction, lipidomic analysis showed significantly lower ceramide levels in melanoma, due to a deregulation of enzymes involved in the novo ceramide biosynthesis. Lastly, we examined whether AC inhibition influences melanoma cell viability. Our new AC inhibitor ARN14988, with nanomolar potency and good stability, inhibits AC and elevates ceramide levels in a concentration and time dependent manner. This compound alters the balance between ceramide and sphingosine-1-P and synergizes with different antitumoral agents in proliferative melanomas.
Conclusıon: In conclusion, we demonstrated a major involvement of AC and ceramide metabolism in melanoma and normal melanocytes and we propose the use of AC inhibitors for melanomas with a proliferative phenotype.
P6: The role of sphingosine kinase-1 in VHL mutant clear cell renal cell carcinoma.Mohamed SALAMA1,
Brittany CARROLL1, Mohamad ADADA1, Michael PULKOSKI-GROSS1, Yusuf HANNUN1, Lina OBEID1,
1Stony Brook University
Objectıve: Sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1), the enzyme responsible for sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) production, is overexpressed in many human solid tumors. However, its role in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) has not previously been described.
Methods: VHL defective ccRCC 786-0 cells were used in this study. SK1 down-regulation was achieved by short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) to study the role of SK1 in ccRCC. Proliferation, invasion, and in vivo angiogenesis assays were conducted.
Results: We showed that SK1 is over-expressed in 786-0 cells lacking functional VHL with high S1P levels. By using TCGA RNA seq database, we showed that SK1 expression was higher in solid tumor tissue from ccRCC patients that was associated with less survival. Knocking-down of SK1 in ccRCC cells had no effect on cell proliferation; whereas, it was associated with less invasion, less phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK), and less angiogenesis. Additionally, S1P treatment of SK1-kncock-down cells resulted in S1PR2-mediated phosphorylation of FAK and invasion.
Conclusıons: These results suggest that higher SK1 and S1P levels in VHL-defective ccRCC could induce invasion in an autocrine manner and angiogenesis in a paracrine manner. Accordingly, targeting SK1 could reduce both the invasion and angiogenesis of ccRCC and therefore improve the survival rate of patients.
P7: Untargeted lipidomic analysis of endothelial to mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer cells.
Núria DALMAU1, Joaquim JAUMOT1, Romà TAULER1, Carmen BEDIA1
1Institute Of Environmental Assessment And Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC)
Objectıve: Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that plays a crucial role in cancer metastasis in several human malignancies, including prostate cancer. Little is known about the involvement of lipids in EMT. In this work, an untargeted lipidomic analysis has been performed to investigate which are the important lipids and sphingolipids involved in this process.
Methods: EMT was induced in DU145 prostate cancer cells under TNF treatment. Sphingolipid and total lipid extracts of induced and non-induced EMT cells were analyzed through UPLC-TOF. Then, the chemometric tools Partial Least Squares-Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA) and Multivariate Curve Resolution–Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) were applied to data in order to decipher which were the lipids (sphingolipids and other lipids) that presented significant changes after EMT induction.
Results: A significant increase of 14 unsaturated triacylglycerides (TAGs) was observed under EMT induction. According to this, cell presented an accumulation of lipid droplets, as well as a concomitant up-regulation of fatty acid synthase (FASN), a gene that has been related to cancer progression and metastasis. Among other changes in sphingolipid levels, a decrease of C16:0 ceramide was observed under EMT induction.
Conclusıons: The application of chemometric tools for the study of EMT induction enabled the detection of increased levels of TAGs and changes in specific sphingolipid compounds. These results could be helpful for a better understanding of the process in the research of therapeutic targets to prevent metastasis initiation.
P8: Overcoming nilotinib resistance by specific inhibition of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 2/Gq/phospholipase C axis in chronic myeloid leukemia.
Aysun ADAN1, Besim OGRETMEN2, Yusuf BARAN1
1Izmir Institute Of Technology, 2Medical University Of South Carolina
Objective: The changes in sphingolipid metabolism are considered a significant BCR-ABL1 dependent resistance mechanism as well as BCR-ABL mutations. Sphingosine kinase-1 (SK-1)/sphingosine-1 phosphate (S1P)-mediated drug resistance is related to sphingosine-1 phosphate receptor 2 (S1P2) signaling through the inhibition of protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), resulting in increased stability of BCR-ABL1. However, specific signaling cascade involved in this process remain unkown.
Methods: The antiproliferative effects of nilotinib, SK-1 inhibitor (PF-543), S1P2 inhibitor (JTE-013), phospholipase C inhibitor (U-73122) and nilotinib/PF-543 and nilotinib/JTE-013 combinations on 32D-p210Bcr-Abl(wt) and 32D-p210Bcr-Abl (T315I) cells were determined by MTT assay. Isobologram analysis was performed using CompuSyn program. The mRNA and protein levels of BCR-ABL1, SK-1 and S1P2 were checked by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Resistant cells were also transfected with Gq peptide.
Results: IC50 values of nilotinib were 8 and >500 nm for wt and resistant cells, respectively. IC50 values for JTE-013 were calculated as 20 and 40 μM while that for PF-543 were 8 and 30 μM, respectively. Combination treatments displayed strong synergistic effects on both cell types. Although there is no significant changes in BCR-ABL1 levels for both cells, SK-1 and S1P2 levels increased in resistant cells. Combination studies decreased BCR-ABL1 protein levels in resistant cells comparing to untreated control, PF-543 or JTE-013 treatments. Although U-73122 and Gq peptide treatments decreased BCR-ABL1 protein, their combination with okadaic acid restored BCR-ABL1 protein levels.
Conclusion: BCR-ABL1 levels decreased by activating PP2A via Gq and phopholipase C inhibition, a novel mechanism, which could be a potential therapeutic target to overcome nilotinib resistance.
P9: Correlations between expression levels of bioactive sphingolipid genes and drug-sensitivity and -resistance in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients.
Melis KARTAL YANDIM1, Ilknur KOZANOGLU2, Hakan OZDOGU2, Ozden PISKIN3, Mehmet Ali OZCAN2, Guray SAYDAM4, Fahri SAHIN4, Ali Ugur URAL5, Ali UNAL6, Yusuf BARAN1
1Izmir Institute Of Technology, Department Of Molecular Biology And Genetics, 2Baskent University, Department Of Hematology, 3Dokuz Eylul University, Department Of Hematology, 4Ege University, Department Of Hematology, 5Bayindir Hospital, Department Of Hematology, 6Erciyes University, Department Of Hematology
Objective: CML is characterized by Philadelphia chromosome encoding BCR/ABL oncoprotein with tyrosine kinase function. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are used for CML therapy. In this study, we aimed to examine the correlation between expression levels of bioactive sphingolipid genes and the response of newly diagnosed (ND), TKI-treated and shown hematological response (HR), or TKI-resistant CML patients against therapy.
Methods: Bone marrow samples of 66 CML patients were harvested, and mononuclear cells were isolated by lysis buffer. cDNAs were synthesized via reverse transcription following the RNA isolation. Expression levels of ceramide synthase (CERS1-6), sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1), glucosylceramide synthase (GCS), and BCR/ABL genes were determined by qRT-PCR.
Results: Patients treated with TKIs and shown HR expressed significantly higher levels of CERS1-6 genes than ND or TKI-resistant patients, whereas TKI-resistant patients expressed higher levels of GCS and SK1 genes compared to ND or TKI-treated and shown HR. Comparing the expression levels in different samples acquired once in six months of the same patient revealed that expression levels of CERS1-6 genes increased, whereas GCS and SK1 decreased in patients treated with TKIs and shown HR. While the patients were developing resistance to the therapy, their GCS and SK1 expressions increased.
Conclusion: We showed a correlation between disease progression and bioactive sphingolipid gene expression levels in CML patients. Particularly, the results revealed that besides being alternative targets for more efficient therapy, bioactive sphingolipids might be crucial markers for anticipating drug resistance. This study was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey with 111S392 project number.
P10: CerS4 and CerS5 transcription is GPER1-mediated and AP-1-dependent regulated in human breast cancer cells.
Marthe-Susanna WEGNER1, Stephanie Beatrice OERTEL1, Rolf MARSCHALEK2, Gerd GEISSLINGER1, Sabine GRÖSCH1
1Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, 2Institute For Pharmaceutical Biology
Objective: Ceramide synthases (CerS) catalyze the synthesis of ceramides, which are beside an element of membranes, important signal molecules in the cell. Only little is known about the transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of CerS. We wanted to investigate whether the transcriptional regulation of the CerS in human breast cancer cells is G-protein coupled estrogen receptor (GPER) 1-dependent and what role does the activator protein (AP) -1 play.
Methods: MCF-7 cells were transfected with the CerS2, -4, -5, or -6 promoter and CerS4 and -5 promoter AP-1 deletion constructs, cloned into luciferase reporter gene plasmid, and an GPER1 expression plasmid. Subsequently, cells were treated with estrogen and luciferase activity was determined. An AP-1 transcription factor activation ELISA was performed after GPER1 transfection. The expression of GPER1 was determined by quantitative Real-Time PCR and Western Blot analysis. Activation of GPER1 by different ligands was determined by a cAMP-Assay.
Results: Co-transfection of CerSx promoter and GPER1 results in an increased CerS2, -4 and 6 promoter and a reduced CerS5 promoter activity in MCF-7- cells. Deletion of an AP-1 binding site in the CerS4 and -5 promoter as well as an AP-1 transcription factor activation ELISA revealed that GPER1 mediates its effect on the CerS4 and -5 promoter via the AP-1 site. Endogenous GPER1 expression is decreased after estrogen treatment in a concentration dependent manner.
Conclusion: The GPER1-effect on CerS4 and -5 promoter in MCF-7 cells is AP-1 mediated. The complex consists of cFos and Fra-1 and can be activated by diverse ligands.
P11: The lysosomal lipid storage disease Niemann Pick type A disease sensitizes to acetaminophen hepatotoxicity by impairing mitophagy.
Jose C FERNANDEZ-CHECA1, Anna BAULIES1, Vicente RIBAS1, Susana NUÑEZ1, Sandra TORRES1, Laura MARTINEZ1, Jo SUDA2, Maria YBANEZ2, Neil KAPLOWITZ2, Carmen GARCIA-RUIZ1
1IIBB-CSIC-IDIBAPS, 2Keck School Of Medicine, USC University, Los Angeles, CA
Objective: The role of lysosomes in acetaminophen (APAP) hepatotoxicity is poorly understood. Niemann-Pick type A (NPA) disease caused by acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) deficiency is a lysosomal storage disease (LSD) characterized by increased lysosomal sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol accumulation.
Methods and Results: We show that ASMase-/- mice exhibit higher liver damage and mortality after APAP overdose than ASMase+/+ mice. APAP metabolism and predominant toxic mechanisms, including mitochondrial GSH depletion and JNK activation, are independent of ASMase. ASMase-/- hepatocytes exhibit lower threshold for APAP-induced cell death and defective fusion of mitochondria-containing autophagosomes with lysosomes compared to ASMase+/+ hepatocytes, which translates in decreased mitochondrial quality control. Lysosomal cholesterol (LC) accumulation in ASMase+/+ hepatocytes by the cationic amphiphilic drug U18666A reproduces the susceptibility of ASMase-/- hepatocytes to APAP. LC extraction by 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC) protects ASMase-/- hepatocytes against APAP hepatotoxicity by improving formation of mitochondria-containing autolysosomes. 25-HC treatment rescues ASMase-/- mice against APAP-induced liver injury. The regulation of LC by U18666A or 25-HC does not affect total cellular SM content or lysosomal distribution. LC accumulation and subsequent sensitization to APAP was also observed in hepatocytes treated with amitriptyline, a widely used tricyclic antidepressant that inhibits ASMase or conduritol B-epoxide, a chemical inducer of Gaucher disease (GD), the most common LSD, due to the irreversible inhibition of glucocerebrosidase.
Conclusion: These findings indicate that LC accumulation determines APAP hepatotoxicity by impairing mitophagy, implying that patients with NPA or GD may be at risk of developing APAP-induced acute liver failure.
P12: Structure and regulation of human neutral sphingomyelinase-2.
Prajna SHANBHOGUE1, Mıchael AIROLA1, Kıp GUJA1, Rohan MAINI1, Mıguel GARCIA-DIAZ1, Yusuf HANNUN1
1Stony Brook University
Objective: Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) is a magnesium-dependent phophodiesterase that generates the bioactive sphingolipid ceramide. Ceramide is a critically important secondary messenger that acts in a variety of cellular pathways such as apoptosis, inflammation, cell growth and differentiation. Accordingly, mutations in nSMase2 can affect ceramide production and have been implicated in cancers of the breast, urinary bladder and colon. Obtaining a detailed understanding of the structure and function of this enzyme is of significant interest and has the potential to uncover new avenues for cancer therapeutics. We have obtained the first high-resolution X-ray crystallographic structure of human nSMase2 and developed a yeast two-hybrid system to analyze its inter-domain interactions, which likely play a role in activation of the enzyme by anionic phospholipids (APLs). Previous work in our laboratory identified amino acid residues in the N-terminal hydrophobic domain of nSMase2 that interact with APLs in the inner membrane. Our current results suggest that these residues also interact with the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain of nSMase2 and may help regulate activation of the enzyme by APLs. Furthermore, we have identified additional amino acid residues in the juxtamembrane region of nSMase2 that may also contribute to regulation of enzyme activity. In sum, our results provide a model for activation of nSMase2, and reveal a novel structure that paves the way for rational drug design endeavors.
P13: Cellular and molecular effects of acid ceramidase deficiency in MEFs derived from Farber mice.
Mustafa KAMANI1, Fabian YU2, Tonny HUANG2, Jeffrey MEDIN1
1University Health Network, 2University Of Toronto
Background: Farber disease is a severe LSD that results from reduced activity of acid ceramidase (ACDase), a catabolic enzyme required for the lysosomal breakdown of ceramide into sphingosine and a free fatty acid. We recently developed the first viable mouse model of ACDase deficiency and Farber disease by introducing a clinically relevant single nucleotide mutation into the Asah1 gene. The resulting Asah1P361R/P361R Farber mice accumulate ceramides in all organs, suffer from multiple abnormalities, and die by 9-13 weeks of age.
Objective: To examine the effects of mutant ACDase on enzyme processing, cell growth and potential activation of compensatory mechanisms to deal with the ceramide load. Methods: Using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from WT and Farber mice, we analyzed ACDase expression and trafficking by Western blot and immunofluorescence. Transcript levels of sphingolipid metabolic enzymes were assessed by qPCR.
Results: We show herein differential processing of WT and mutant ACDase. We also show activation of compensatory mechanisms in Farber MEFs that address the ceramide accumulation: upregulation of genes encoding ceramide-utilizing enzymes, including alkaline ceramidases, sphingomyelin synthases, and ceramide kinase, along with downregulation of genes encoding ceramide-producing enzymes, including glucocerebrosidase and ceramide synthases. Lastly, Farber MEFs show reduced proliferation and increased susceptibility to apoptosis.
Conclusions: Work from our mouse model will pave the way for understanding potential alternative functions of ACDase, identifying the particular ceramide species responsible for affecting specific cell signaling pathways, and elucidating the mechanism(s) by which lysosomal sphingolipid accumulations elicit changes in gene expression.
P14: Bibliometric evaluation of the evolution of the ceramide research landscape.
Jihad OBEID1
1Medical University Of South Carolina
Objective: Research in lipidomics has been rapidly evolving in the post genomic era with the realization that many cell and organismal functions are mediated by lipids. Several years ago, work on ceramides, sphingosine phosphate, and many other bioactive lipids, has focused on the study of basic roles of these molecules in living systems, for example, as key regulators of important cellular and intercellular functions such as cell signaling, growth, senescence, cell death, and inflammation. We have analyzed bibliometric data collected at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) to assess the evolution of lipidomics research over the several phases of Centers of Biomedical Research Excellence funding by the National Institutes of Health. Relevant PubMed MeSH terms (e.g. Ceramides and Sphingolipids) were used to identify a cohort of publications and authors in the field. Analysis of the interrelationship of MeSH terms shows increased emphasis in recent years on the translational aspects of the field and more focus on human diseases than in previous years. Network analysis using research networking software data reveals a steady rise in the average number of co-authorship consistent with a trend towards increased team science. This transition into translational science signifies a relative maturation of the lipidomics field as a whole.
P15: Involvement of S1P signalling in FGF-induced neurogenesis and proliferation in inner ear sensory cells.
Ricardo ROMERO-GUEVARA1, Ilaria RIZZ01, Marina BRUNO1, Francesca CENCETTI1, Chiara DONATI1, Paola BRUNI1
1University Of Florence
Objective: According to the world health organization (WHO) 360 million people in the world is affected by debilitating hearing loss. Currently the only available treatment is the cochlear implant, but this device is not suitable in many cases. Thus, it is necessary to explore new molecular targets that could prevent and/or restore hearing loss. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) signalling was recently shown to be essential for the maintenance of the auditory epithelium in postnatal mice. Nonetheless, the information about S1P signalling pathway in the context of inner ear is still scarce. Our aim is to understand in more detail the role of S1P signalling during the development of the inner ear sensory cells. For this purpose we are currently using a mouse otocyst-derived cell line (VOT33) suitable to study neurogenesis in vitro. As reported previously, FGF2 induced the formation of neuroblasts in VOT33 cells. Moreover, FGF2 induced proliferation and prevented apoptosis induced by serum-starvation and staurosporine treatment. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition or knockdown of both isoforms of S1P-generating enzyme sphingosine kinase (SK)-1 and -2, and the S1P receptors S1P₁ and S1P₂ affected FGF-induced proliferation, indicating that S1P signalling axis is necessary in FGF biological action. In addition to the up-regulation of the sensory neuron markers Islet1/2 and β-Tubulin-III, FGF2 treatment induced the up-regulation of S1P₁, SK1 and SK2, and down-regulation of S1P lyase, suggesting a positive involvement of S1P in FGF-induced differentiation. Currently, we are developing new strategies to improve neural maturation, as well as the establishment of new complementary in vitro models of inner ear development to gain a more comprehensive insight of S1P signalling in this biological system.
P16: The impact of ceramide-synthases on colitis ulcerosa.
Stephanie OERTEL1, Marthe-Susanna WEGNER1, Nerea FERREIRÓS BOUZAS1, Gerd GEISSLINGER1, Sabine GROESCH1
1Clinical Pharmaology, Goethe University
Background: We could show, that ceramides of various chain length have different impacts on colon cancer cell proliferation. Therefore, we want to investigate how ceramides of different chain length influence the development of colorectal carcinoma in the colitis ulcerosa mouse model by using ceramide synthase (CerS) knockout mice.
Methods: Colitis Ulcerosa was induced by Azoxymethane/Dextrane Sodium Sulfate in CerS knockout and wild type mice. CerS expression in different mouse tissues was assessed by RT-PCR and ceramide concentrations were determined by LC-MS/MS. The impact of CerS expression on different immune cell populations were investigated by FACS analysis. The protein levels of CerS in lamina propria cells of colon tissue from wild type and knockout mice were compared by immunohistochemistry after chronic inflammation.
Results: Inflammatory symptoms as well as tumor development were increased in CerS 4 knockout mice and reduced in CerS 2 knockout mice. Significant alterations in CerS expression and ceramide levels were detected in colon cells of wild type and knockout mice. CerS 2 and CerS 4 deficiency impacted various immune cell populations, like regulatory T-cells, in Blood, Lymph nodes and Spleen.
Conclusion: Ceramides of different chain lengths influence the progression and outcome of colon cancer development induced by chronic inflammation in a colitis ulcerosa mouse model.
P17: Sphingosine 1-phosphate metabolism: a novel way to sensitize melanoma cells to anticancer treatments.
David GARANDEAU1, Marie-Lise BATS1, Virginie GARCIA1, Virginie ALBINET2, Thierry LEVADE1, Nathalie ANDRIEU-ABADIE1
1Inserm UMR1037, 2Imavita
Objective: The treatment of metastatic melanoma has changed considerably with the development of targeted therapies against the frequently mutated serine-threonine kinase BRAF. The survival rate increases by 6-8 months but relapses occur in a median of 6 months. This resistance is partly due to changes in the expression of several pro- and anti-apoptotic members of the Bcl-2 family. Our group has documented significant changes in ceramide metabolism in melanoma cells compared to healthy melanocytes (Albinet et al, Oncogene 2014). In particular, S1P lyase (SPL), which degrades sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), is under-expressed (Colié et al, Cancer Res 2009), conversely to sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) which produces S1P. These alterations lead to increased production of this oncometabolite. Here, we show that SPL overexpression in metastatic melanoma which carries mutated BRAF resulted in sensitization of these cells to apoptosis induced by dacarbazine (DTIC) or vemurafenib (PLX4032). This phenomenon was associated with decreased expression of MITF, a major regulator in melanocyte differentiation and survival of melanoma, and a strong decrease in Bcl-2/Bim ratio that promoted caspase activation. In addition, the pharmacological inhibition of SK1 by SKi-1 or FTY720 induced a synergistic cytotoxic effect with PLX4032 on mutated BRAF melanoma cells which were sensitive or resistant to this agent. While sphingosine and ceramide levels increased in sensitive cells treated with PLX4032, they did not change in resistant cells. Thus, by controlling the expression of key proteins in cell survival, S1P metabolism could represent a new therapeutic approach to enhance the effectiveness of targeted therapies.
P18: The oncogenic lipid kinase SK1 promotes the migration and polarization of macrophages in melanoma tumors.
Marguerite MRAD1, Celine COLACIOS1, Claire DAVID1, Nicole THERVILLE1, Stephane CARPENTIER1, Thierry LEVADE1, Rania AZAR2, Mona DIAB-ASSAF2, Nathalie ANDRIEU-ABADIE1
1Inserm Umr 1037, 2Lebanese Univeristy
Objective: Tumor infiltration by tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) is often correlated with poor prognosis in melanoma. However, the mechanisms by which TAM mediate melanoma growth are still poorly understood. Recent studies suggest a role for Sphingosine Kinase 1 (SK1), the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of the oncogenic lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), in melanoma progression. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of SK1 in the interaction between melanoma cells and TAM. In vitro migration assays of human or murine monocytes, treated with S1P or melanoma cell-conditioned media, demonstrated that exogenous S1P as well as overexpression of SK1 in melanoma cells are able to amplify monocyte migration. This migration was disrupted in the presence of S1P receptor antagonists. On the other hand, macrophage polarization towards M1 antitumor phenotype was enhanced upon incubation with the medium of SK1-silenced melanoma cells. Intradermal injections of murine melanoma cells (B16F10), either knocked-down or not for SK1, into wild-type or SK1-deficient mice showed that the inhibition of SK1 in the host and/or in the tumor reduces melanoma growth. It also decreased tumor infiltration by macrophages. Furthermore, SK1 inhibition in melanoma cells significantly increased the expression of antitumor cytokines in the tumor microenvironment. Accordingly, preliminary flow cytometry studies indicated that, after SK1 inhibition macrophage polarization was reoriented toward an M1 antitumor profile. These findings suggest a key role of melanoma SK1 in macrophage recruitment and polarization within the tumor microenvironment, thereby enhancing the aggressiveness of this cancer.
P19: Down-regulation of ceramide synthase-6 during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition enhances plasma membrane fluidity and breast cancer cell motility triggered by FAS/CD95.
Seguı BRUNO1, Edmond VALERIE2, Dufour FLORENT3, Poıroux GUILLAUME1, Shojı KENJI2, Levade THIERRY1, Mıcheau OLIVIER3, Legembre PATRICK2
1Inserm UMR1037 / Paul Sabatier University, Toulouse III, 2Inserm UMR1085 / Rennes 1 University, 3Inserm UMR866 / Burgundy University
Objective: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) promotes cell motility, which is important for the metastasis of malignant cells, and blocks CD95-mediated apoptotic signaling triggered by immune cells and chemotherapeutic regimens. CD95L, the cognate ligand of CD95, can be cleaved by metalloproteases and released as a soluble molecule (cl-CD95L). Unlike transmembrane CD95L, cl-CD95L does not induce apoptosis but triggers cell motility. Electron paramagnetic resonance was used to show that EMT and cl-CD95L treatment both led to augmentation of plasma membrane fluidity that was instrumental in inducing cell migration. Compaction of the plasma membrane is modulated, among other factors, by the ratio of certain lipids such as sphingolipids in the membrane. An integrative analysis of gene expression in NCI tumor cell lines revealed that expression of ceramide synthase-6 (CerS6) decreased during EMT. Furthermore, pharmacological and genetic approaches established that modulation of CerS6 expression/activity in breast cancer cells altered the level of C16- ceramide, which in turn influenced plasma membrane fluidity and cell motility. Therefore, this study identifies CerS6 as a novel EMT-regulated gene that plays a pivotal role in the regulation of cell migration.
P20: Discovery of novel S1PL inhibitors against multiple sclerosis disease.P20: Discovery of novel S1PL inhibitors against multiple sclerosis disease.
Utku DENIZ1, Kutlu O. ULGEN1, Elif O. OZKIRIMLI1,
1Bogazici University, Chemical Engineering Department
Background: Sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase, a significant polar sphingolipid metabolite, serves as a contributory component in the regulation of cell migration, vascular stability and differentiation [1]. It carries out communication within the cell as a second messenger [2]. Multiple sclerosis (MS), a progressive inflammatory disorder of central nervous system (CNS), is mediated by the decreased intracellular S1P concentrations which induces migration of pathogenic T cells to the blood stream and disrupts the CNS [3]. The microsomal enzyme sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase (S1PL) degrades the intracellular S1P concentration and thus, S1PL is a promising drug target against MS disease.
Results: Virtual screening of ZINC database of 500,000 compounds via ligand-based and structure-based pharmacophore models retrieved 10,000 hits. After multistep docking and substructure search of common scaffolds, the compounds based on high docking scores, fitness values to the hypothesis and binding efficiency index (BEI), low molecular weight and high percentage of human oral absorption (HOA) were selected and further analyzed via induced fit docking (IFD) and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations in order to gain an insight into the binding modes and the key residues in binding. As a final outcome, the molecules based on having more drug-like properties were proposed as potential inhibitors of S1PL and some of the proposed compounds have also been proven effective against specific cancer cells and malarial parasites (antiviral action).
Conclusion: These potential inhibitors arouse future medicinal chemistry efforts to find out new compounds against destructive actions of pathogenic T cells.
References: 1. Bartke, N., and Y. A. Hannun, “Bioactive sphingolipids: metabolism and function”, Journal of Lipid Research, 50(Suppl.), 91-96, 2009. 2. Hait, N. C., et al. “Regulation of histone acetylation in the nucleus by sphingosine-1-phosphate”, Science, 325, 1254-1257, 2009. 3. Matloubian, M., et al. “Lymphocyte egress from thymus and peripheral lymphoid organs is dependent on S1P receptor 1”, Nature, 427(6972), 355-360, 2004
P21: Computer-aided discovery of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) inhibitors.
Ozge BAYRAKTAR1, Elif O. OZKIRIMLI1, Kutlu O. ULGEN2
1Department of Computational Science and Eng., Bogazici University – 2Department of Chemical Eng., Bogazici University, 34342 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey
Objective: Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) signaling pathway plays an important role in controlling cell survival, cell proliferation, lymphocyte trafficking, angiogenesis, and cell differentiation. Sphingosine kinases (SphKs) catalyze the phosphorylation of sphingosine that leads to the production of S1P. Elevated expression of SphK1 is observed in many different cancers, including breast, colon, and prostate [1,2]. Thus, SphK1 inhibitors have been considered as effective chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of cancers. The recently revealed crystal structure of SphK1 has two binding pockets for ATP-binding and sphingosine-binding. Calculations based on the X-ray crystal structure to compare the druggability of two pockets suggested that sphingosine-binding pocket is druggable [3,4]. In this work, it is aimed to identify potential SphK1 inhibitors by means of virtual screening and docking simulations. Using Schrödinger’s software, 500,000 compounds from the ZINC database were screened to find their ability to interact with the SphK1 sphingosine-binding pocket. Different ligand-based pharmacophore hypotheses were developed by QSAR studies from 28 heterocycle derivatives containing oxadiazole and 54 heterocycle derivatives containing thiazole using ChEMBL database. The validity of these hypotheses was tested by their ability to predict the known activity (pIC50) data reported in literature. The compounds that matched with pharmacophore hypotheses were docked and scored. The pharmacophore hypotheses were further analyzed according to ligand efficiency indices. After strain energy corrections, top hits will be proposed as potential inhibitors of SphK1 after final elimination based on pharmacokinetic and druglikeness properties. This work will provide a guide for future development of inhibitors targeting SphK1.
References: [1] Alshaker, H., Sauer, L., Monteil, D., Ottaviani, S., Srivats, S., Böhler, T., Pchejetski, D. Adv. Cancer Res. 2013, 117, 143–200 [2] Heffernan-Stroud, L.A., and Obeid, L.M. Adv. Cancer Res. 2013, 117, 201–235 [3] Cheng, A. C., Coleman, R. G., Smyth, K. T., Cao, Q., Soulard, P., Caffrey, D. R., Salzberg, A. C., Huang, E. S. Nat. Biotechnol. 2007, 25, 71
P22: Targeting ceramide transfer protein CERT to mitochondria triggers ceramide-dependent apoptosis.
Amrıta JAIN1, Olıver BEUTEL1, Sergey KORNEEV1, Joost HOLTHUIS1
1Unyversyti Of Osnabrueck
Objective: Ceramides are central intermediates of sphingolipid metabolism with critical functions in cell organization and survival. They are synthesized on the cytosolic surface of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and then transported by ceramide transfer protein CERT to the Golgi for conversion into sphingomyelin (SM) by SM synthase SMS1. Our lab previously identified SMS-related protein SMSr (SAMD8), an ER-resident ceramide phosphoethanolamine (CPE) synthase, as suppressor of ceramide-mediated cell death. Disruption of SMSr catalytic activity in HeLa cells causes a rise in ER ceramides and their mislocalization to mitochondria, triggering a mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Targeting a bacterial ceramidase to mitochondria rescued SMSr-deficient cells from apoptosis, arguing that ER ceramides exert their apoptogenic activity in mitochondria (Tafesse et al., 2014). To verify this concept, we set out to investigate the consequences of redirecting the biosynthetic ceramide flow from the Golgi to mitochondria on cell viability. To this end, the Golgi-directed PH domain of CERT was swapped for an outer mitochondrial membrane-targeting signal, yielding MitoCERT. MitoCERT accumulates at ER-mitochondrial contact sites owing to its interactions with the VAP-A receptor in the ER. Photo-affinity labeling experiments with a bifunctional ceramide analogue revealed that the protein binds ceramide through its START domain. Heterologous expression of MitoCERT in HeLa cells triggers mitochondrial apoptosis. Removal of the START domain did not affect the ability of MitoCERT to accumulate at ER-mitochondrial contact sites but completely abrogated its apoptogenic activity. Moreover, MitoCERT-induced apoptosis is suppressed by targeting bacterial ceramidase to mitochondria or treatment with myriocin. Our results indicate that mistargeting ER ceramides to mitochondria suffices to trigger a mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.
P23: A kinome-wide siRNA screening combined with targeted lipidomic analysis reveals potential new regulators of sphingolipid metabolism in human cells.
Charlotte GEHIN1, Noemi JIMÉNEZ-ROJO1, Isabelle RIEZMAN1, Howard RIEZMAN1,
1Department Of Biochemistry, Univeristy Of Geneva
Objective: The control of membrane lipid homeostasis is an essential process that allows cells to maintain both their energetic balance and the structural integrity of their different membrane systems. Eukaryotic cells invest substantial resources in generating thousands of different lipids, so there must be evolutionary advantages that are dependent on a complex lipid repertoire. If most enzymes involved in lipid metabolism are now characterized, some aspects regarding their genetic control are still outstanding. The methodology used in this work allows the monitoring of lipid changes in cells using a large-scale RNAi screening of the human kinome combined with targeted lipidomic analysis by mass spectrometry. This strategy makes possible to observe precisely the function of many genes on a large range of lipids species and it is a very promising strategy to discover aspects of lipid metabolism that remain unknown. Statistical analysis of the screening highlights some genes whose knockdown induces changes in sphingolipid levels. Among them some members of the TRIM (tripartite motif), MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinases) and BRD (bromodomain kinase) family proteins were found to induce changes in ceramide, glucosylceramide and/or sphingomyelin levels. Validations of these results are presented here, which would be the first step to understand the mechanism by which these proteins regulate sphingolipid metabolism.
P24: Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase deficiency in the brain promotes cognitive deficits.
Daniel N. MITROI1, Dan EHNINGER2, Julie SABA3, Konstantin GLEBOV1, Markus GRÄLER4, Gerhild VAN ECHTEN-DECKERT1,
1University Bonn, 2German Centre For Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 3University Of California San Francisco, 4Univesity Hospital Jena
Objective: Sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P), a bioactive signaling molecule, has been shown to modulate a wide range of cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, motility, cytoskeleton rearrangements and calcium homeostasis. It is generated by the phosphorylation of sphingosine, a catabolic intermediate of all sphingolipids. S1P is a rather short‐lived molecule that is either recycled back to sphingosine via dephosphorylation by S1P phosphatases (SPP1 and SPP2) or irreversibly cleaved by S1P lyase (S1PL). Systemic deletion of S1PL leads to a severe phenotype and early postnatal death. Since our main goal was to investigate the impact of S1PL in the central nervous system we generated a mouse model with neural‐restricted deletion of S1PL. The phenotype of these mice is rather unremarkable despite a considerable increase of sphingosine and of S1P that persists throughout life and a decrease of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), detectable only in older animals. These changes in lipid composition of the brain were accompanied by biochemical and physiological changes including impaired autophagy and altered processing of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), increased proteasomal activity and decreased expression of presynaptic proteins. Finally, ablation of S1PL in neural tissue resulted in profound deficits of motor coordination, spatial learning and memory of the respective animals.
P25: Ligation of Gq-coupled GPCRs elicits phosphorylation independent membrane translocation of sphingosine kinase-1 in murine myoblasts.
Gennaro BRUNO1, Kira BLANKENBACH2, Dagmar MEYER ZU HERINGDORF3, Paola BRUNI1,
1Università Degli Studi Di Firenze, Dipartimento Di Scienze Biomediche Sperimentali E Cliniche, Italy, 2Institut Für Allgemeine Pharmakologie Und Toxikologie, Klinikum Der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Am Main, Germany. 3Institut für Allgemeine Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Objective: Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is synthesized by the enzyme sphingosine kinase (SphK)-1 and -2 isoforms. Regulation of the activity and intracellular localization of these enzymes is known to be crucial for all those biological processes which depend on the S1P signaling. It has been shown in HEK-293 cells that Gq-coupled receptors induce a rapid plasma membrane translocation of SphK1. Aim of the present study is to check if the translocation of SphK1 is a general mechanism related to Gq-coupled receptor activation, and if the phosphorylation of the enzyme is involved. We have performed studies in C2C12 myoblasts, a well recognized cellular model for studying physiological processes in vitro.
Methods: C2C12 cells were co-transfected with a vector encoding for SphK1 tagged with GFP (SphK1-GFP) or the phosphorylation-defective mutant of SphK1 (SphK1S225A -GFP), in the presence of different plasmids encoding for Gq-coupled GPCRs, separately. SphK1 translocation was analyzed using a confocal microscope (Zeiss LSM 510 Meta). Results: Activation of Gq-coupled GPCRs such as bradykinin B2, thromboxane TxA2, or histamine H1 induces a rapid translocation (translocation half life = 4-7s) of the SphK1 from cytosol to the plasma membrane. The translocation of the SphK1 following Gq-coupled receptor activation is an event independent from the phosphorylation of the enzyme, as proven by the observed translocation of the SphK1S225A -GFP following bradykinin treatment.
Conclusion: The Gq-mediated SphK1 translocation appears to be a general mechanism of rapid regulation of SphK1, as proven in HEK-293 and C2C12 cells; moreover, this event is independent from enzyme phosphorylation.
P26: Discovery of two potent and selective inhibitors of the neutral ceramidase.
Josefina CASAS1, José Luís ABAD1, Daniel CANALS1, Yusuf H. HANNUN1, Antonio DELGADO1, Gemma FABRIAS1,
1CSYC, 2STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT STONY BROOK, 3CSYC AND UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA
Objective: Although neutral ceramidase (NC) has been reported to be a therapeutic target in colon cancer, potent and selective inhibitors have not been identified. The aim of this study was to discover NC inhibitors by high throughput screening (HTS) of several libraries.
Experimental Procedures: Ceramidase activities were determined using a fluorogenic HTS method[1] in 96 well-plates using the appropriate buffer, different concentrations of test compound and pure human neutral ceramidase (rhNC). Ceramide analysis in lipid extracts was performed by LC/MS.
Results: Two compounds able to inhibit NC were identified in one of the screened libraries. Kinetic studies showed that both compounds are non-competitive inhibitors with the substrate with Ki values of 0.77 and 2 μM. No inhibitory activity occurred for acid and alkaline ceramidases. When the effect of detergents was examined, we found that NC inhibition was dependent on the presence of sodium cholate in the reaction mixture with no inhibition occurring when other detergents were used (i. e. Triton X100). Preliminary studies in cell culture indicate that the two compounds provoke an accumulation of ceramides.
Conclusions: Two potent and selective inhibitors of NC have been discovered by library screening. They probably act by impairing the activation of NC by bile acids. [1] Bedia, C. et al. ChemBioChem 2007, 8, 642–648.
P27: Inhibition of dihydroceramide desaturase and autophagy induction in glioblastoma cell lines.
Yadira ORDONEZ1, Mireia CASASAMPERE1, Josefina CASAS1, Gemma FABRIAS1
1Csyc
Objective: The occurrence of a relationship between dihydroceramides (dhCer) increase and autophagy has been reported. The aim of this study is to determine the implication of dhCer in autophagy induced by the dihydroceramide desaturase (Des1) inhibitors gamma-tocotrienol (gTE), celecoxib (CCX), phenoxodiol (PXD) and resveratrol (RV) in glioblastoma cell lines.
Experimental Procedures: U87 and T98 cell lines were used. Cell viability (MTT or Sulforhodamine B) was determined 24 h after treatments. Autophagy (WB analysis of LC3-II) and sphingolipid composition (LC/MS) were measured in cells treated with the maximum non-toxic concentrations of compounds for 24 h. Gene silencing of Beclin 1 and acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase, SMPD1 gene) was achieved by transfection with siRNA using lipofectamine (24 h). Myriocin (5 μM, 24 h) was used to inhibit serine palmitoyltransferase.
Results: All compounds, but not gamma-tocopherol (gT), affected cell viability. gTE, CCX, PXD and RV induced autophagy, while gT did not. gTE, CCX, PXD and RV, but not gT, produced an accumulation of dhCer. Induction of LC3-II by the test compounds was decreased by both myriocin-treatment and knocking down of SMPD1. Beclin 1 silencing impaired autophagy induction by the test compounds without modifying dhCer levels.
Conclusion: Autophagy induction by the Des1 inhibitors gTE, CCX, PXD and RV in T98 and U87 cells involves both the de novo ceramide synthesis pathway and ASMase activity. The lack of effect of Beclin 1 silencing on dhCer levels supports that, in T98 and U87 cells, dhCer increase occurs before autophagy activation by gTE, CCX, PXD and RV.
P28: Modulation of acid sphingomyelinase in melanoma reprogrammes the tumor immune microenvironment.
Cristiana PERROTTA1, Emma ASSI2, Davide CERVIA3, Laura BIZZOZERO4, Clara DE PALMA1, Annalisa CAPOBIANCO5, Emilio CLEMENTI6
1Department Of Biomedical And Clinical Sciences “L. Sacco” University Of Milan, 2Division Of Molecular Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, 33Department For Innovation In Biological, Agro-food And Forest Systems (DIBAF), Università Della Tuscia,, 4Department Of Oncology, Università Di Torino And Laboratory Of Neurovascular Biology, Candiolo Cancer Institute,5Division Of Regenerative Medicine, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan , 6Department Of Biomedical And Clinical Sciences “Luigi Sacco” University Of Milan
Objective: The inflammatory microenvironment induces tumors to acquire an aggressive and immunosuppressive behavior. Since acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) downregulation in melanoma was shown to determine a malignant phenotype, we aimed here to elucidate the role of A-SMase in the regulation of tumor immunogenic microenvironment.
Methods: We analysed two in vivo murine melanoma models in which A-SMase was either downregulated or maintained at constitutively high levels. In order to investigate the dependence of immune cell infiltration by A-SMase expression in melanoma we analysed by flow cytometry, the following cell populations: myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes, regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) and dentritic cells (DCs).
Results: We found high levels of inflammatory factors in low A-SMase expressing tumors which also displayed an immunosuppressive/pro-tumoral microenvironment: high levels of MDSCs and Tregs, and low levels of DCs. In contrast, the restoration of A-SMase in melanoma cells not only reduced tumor growth and immunosuppression, but induced an high recruitment at tumor site of effector immune cells with an anti-tumoral function. Indeed, we observed a poor homing of MDSCs and Tregs and the increased recruitment of CD8+ and CD4+ T lymphocytes as well as the infiltration of DCs and CD8+/CD44high T lymphocytes.
Conclusions: This study demonstrates that changes of A-SMase expression in cancer cells is sufficient per se to tune in vivo melanoma growth and that A-SMase levels modulate immune cells at tumor site. This A-SMase-dependent modulation of microenvironment events may have a therapeutic outcome in terms of tumor growth.
P29: Ceramide in CF lung infection and inflammation: complex analyses for enigmatic sphingolipids.
Anna CARETTI1, Michele VASSO2, Josefina CASAS3, Gemma FABRIAS3, Alessandra BRAGONZI4, GASCO5, Ceciclia GELFI6, Riccardo GHIDONI1, Paola SIGNORELLI1
1University Of Milan, 22Lita Institute, Segrate, University Of Milan, 34Research Unit On Bioactive Molecules, Department Of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Catalan Institute Of Advanced Chemistry (IQAC/CSIC), Barcelona, Spain, 4 Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy, 5Nanovector, Turin , Italy, 6Lita Institute, Segrate, University Of Milan
Objective: The sphingolipid ceramide is a known inflammatory mediator and its accumulation in lung inflammation has been reported in different models of emphysema, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease and Cystic Fibrosis (CF). This latter is caused by mutation of chloride channel and associated with hyper-inflammation of respiratory airways and with high susceptibility to un-resolving infections. We previously demonstrated that ceramide de novo synthesis is enhanced in lung inflammation and sustains P.aeruginosa pulmonary infection in a CF murine model (Caretti et al. BBA 2014). Our present aim was to take advantage of quantitative and qualitative analyses to obtain further insight in the role of ceramide in CF. We concluded that the integrated use of Liquid Chromatography and MALDI Imaging coupled to Mass Spectrometry, Confocal Laser Scan Microscopy, histology analyses, is able to unmask information that is not decipherable by any single approach: i) ceramide up regulated synthesis in the alveoli is strictly related to alveolar infection and inflammation; ii) alveolar ceramide can be specifically targeted by nanocarriers delivery of the ceramide synthesis inhibitor Myr; iii) Myr is able to down-modulate pro-inflammatory Lyso-PC, favoring the increase of the anti-inflammatory PCs.
P30: Ceramide and inflammation in labor.
Paola SIGNORELLI1, Laura AVAGLIANO1, Nadia TOPPI1, Gemma FABRIAS2, Fina CASAS2, REFORGIATO1, Anna CARETTI1
1University Of Milan, 24Research Unit On Bioactive Molecules, Department Of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Catalan Institute Of Advanced Chemistry (IQAC/CSIC),Barcelona, Spain
Objective: Gestation is a unique mechanism involving a pro-inflammatory phase that allows blastocyst implanting into the uterus, a second anti-inflammatory phase allowing fetus growth and a final acute inflammatory phase that triggers contraction of the uterus and parturition. The comprehension of the regulation of inflammatory switches represents an important acquisition for the identification of therapeutic targets in pregnancy defects. Sphingolipids are a broad class of structural membrane components endowed with important signaling activities. Among sphingolipids, ceramide is a well-known mediator of stress signals and pro-inflammatory responses. Ceramide is a known activator of NF-kB and this transcription factor controls the expression of many labor-associated genes. Placenta accumulation of ceramide was shown to be responsible for PGE2 induction in acute inflammation of labor and parturition. Our group recently demonstrated that de novo synthesis of ceramide is not only enhanced in acute lung inflammation but also supports it and that. pharmacological inhibition of this activity down regulates inflammatory response. In this project we evaluated the content of ceramide (by LC-MS analysis) and the expression of Serine Palmytoil Transferase (by Western blotting and RT-PCR techniques) in placenta from cesarean delivery versus spontaneous or induced parturition. We observed a significant co-relation between ceramide increased synthesis and inflammation. These observations are particularly interesting when considering that fast labor is desirable for both mother and fetus and that pre-term labor is initiated by inflammatory cascades. Thus ceramide metabolism can be implicated in controlling important process and may become a therapeutic target in parturition complications.
P31: The oncogene GOLPH3 at the crossroad between sphingolipid metabolism, membrane trafficking, and DNA damage.
Riccardo RIZZO1, Daniela MONTARIELLO1, Domenico SUPINO1, Gaelle BONCOMPAIN2, Serena CAPASSO1, Gabriele TURACCHIO1, Seetharaman PARASHURAMAN1, Frank PEREZ2, Giovanni D’ANGELO1, Alberto LUINI1
1Institute Of Protein Biochemistry, National Research Council Of Italy, Naples, 2Institut Curie, Paris France
Objective: The GOLPH3 (Golgi phosphoprotein 3) gene is located in a human chromosome region (5p13), which is frequently amplified in several solid tumours. The precise molecular mechanism of GOLPH3 mediated oncogenesis is so far unknown, but its role in the positive control of cell proliferation via the Akt/mTOR pathway, is widely accepted. In mammalian cells GOLPH3 has been shown to contribute to vesicular trafficking and Golgi architecture, retention of Golgi enzymes and response to DNA Damage. The yeast homologue of GOLPH3, named VPS74, has essential roles in maintaining the localisation of some Golgi enzymes and in the regulation of sphingolipid homeostasis. Manipulating the expression levels of GOLPH3 in mammalian cells, we found that GOLPH3 positively regulates glycosphingolipid (GSL) synthesis by controlling the localization and stability of GSL synthesizing enzymes. Specifically we found that GOLPH3 interacts with a specific glycosphingolipid (GSL) metabolic enzyme and regulates its sub-cellular localization counteracting lysosomal degradation. The change in sphingolipid metabolism induced by the manipulation of GOLPH3 levels has an impact on p53 activation and DNA damage response following genotoxic insults. Our data suggest that GOLPH3 oncogenic activity involves the regulation of the key cancer modulator p53 through the control of sphingolipid metabolism
P32: Inhibition of ceramide synthesis as post-ischemic therapy for myocardial reperfusion injury.
Marta REFORGIATO1, Giuseppina MILANO2, Josephina CASAS3, Gemma FABRIAS3, Paolo GASCO4, CAMPISI1, Michele SAMAJA1, Riccardo GHIDONI1, Anna CARETTI1, Paola SIGNORELLI1
1University Of Milan, 2University Hospital Centre Vaudois (chuv), Service De Chirurgie Cardio-vasculaire (ccv), Lausanne, Switzerland, 3Cardiovascular Research Center (csyc-yccc), Biomedicinal Chemistry, Barcelona, Spain, 4Nanovector, Turin, Italy
Objective: Therapeutical interventions aimed at reducing post-ischemic injury may have enormous potential to improve short and long-term morbidity and mortality. Besides an array of collateral effects, reperfusion after ischemia triggers a pathological inflammatory reaction caused by several mediators including lipotoxins such as the sphingolipid ceramide. Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury was shown to increase myocardial ceramide content (Beresewicz A. 2002) and pharmacological inhibition of ceramide formation to ameliorate cardiac dysfunction (Gundewar S. 2008). We recently proved that pharmacological inhibition of ceramide synthesis significantly reduces acute inflammation in lung infection (Caretti A. BBA 2014). Our present aim was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of ceramide synthesis inhibition in I/R myocardial injury in mice. After 30 minutes of left anterior descending coronary artery ligation (LAD), we performed intra-myocardial injection of the ceramide synthesis inhibitor just at the beginning of 3 hours reperfusion. The treatment reduced infarct size (36% decrease), decreased ceramide content, expression of inflammatory cytokines, formation of hydroperoxides within the risk area. Finally, the treatment enhanced Nrf2 activated transcription of HO1. We concluded that inhibition of I/R induced accumulation of the stress lipid mediator ceramide during reperfusion of infarcted myocardium allows i) a decrease in tissue infarct, ii) a significant reduction in inflammatory and oxidative factors production, iii) enhanced myocardial pro-survival adaptive response.
P33: Activity of neutral and alkaline ceramidases on fluorogenic N-acylated coumarine-containing aminodiols.
Mireia CASASAMPERE1, Luz CAMACHO1, Francesca CINGOLANI1, José Luís ABAD1, Carmen BEDIA1, Ruijuan XU2, Kai WANG2, Cungui MAO2, Daniel CANALS2, Yusuf HANNUN2
1Csyc, 2State University Of New York At Stony Brook
Objectıve: In previous articles[1,2] we reported on the use of compounds RBM14, coumarinic analogues of ceramide with N-acyl chains of different length (RBM14-Cn), to determine acid ceramidase (AC) activity. Here we aim at determining the ability of other ceramidases to hydrolyze these substrates.
Experımental Procedures: Ceramidase activities were determined as reported[1,2] in 96 well-plates using the appropriate buffer for each ceramidase, different concentrations of test substrate and either recombinant bacterial or human neutral ceramidase (rhNC) or microsomes from cell lysates.
Results: In rhNC, the substrate affinity increases directly with increasing the N-acyl chain length; RBM14-C16 is the best substrate. All the RBM14 substrates, mainly RBM14-C14 and RBM14-C16, were hydrolyzed in both intact mouse embryonic fibroblasts defective in the ASAH2 gene and lysed cells at basic pH, suggesting that the compounds were hydrolyzed by at least one alkaline ceramidase (ACER). Lower fluorescence levels were released from RBM14-C12, RBM14-C14 and RBM14-C16 in microsomes from stable ACER3 knockdown HCT 116 cells than from their controls. However, microsomes from both HeLa-based cell lines ACER1-TET-ON and ACER2-TET-ON cultured in the presence of tetracycline had no activity on any RBM14 substrate.
Conclusıons: Compounds RBM14 are hydrolyzed by NC and ACER3, but not by ACER1 and ACER2. [1] Bedia, C. et al. ChemBioChem 2007, 8, 642–648. [2] Bedia, C. et al. J Lipid Res 2010, 51, 3542–3547.
P34: Regulation of vascular calcification by bioactive sphingolipids .
Thomas G MORRIS1, Christopher J CLARKE2, Yusuf A HANNUN2, Vasken OHANIAN1, Ann E CANFIELD1, Jacqueline OHANIAN1,
1University Of Manchester, 2Stony Brook University
Objective: Vascular calcification (VC) is associated with cardiovascular mortality and involves the osteogenic differentiation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and matrix mineralisation. It has similarities to bone formation, a process in which ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) are implicated. Ceramide can be generated by lysosomal acid-sphingomyelinase (L-SMase) and be converted to sphingosine and S1P by acid ceramidase (ACDase) and sphingosine kinases (SK) respectively. We investigated whether ceramide and S1P regulate VC. VSMCs were cultured with β-glycerophosphate to induce differentiation and mineralisation. Controls were cultured without β-glycerophosphate. Changes in L-SMase and SK activity were determined using an in vitro assay and mRNA levels with Q-PCR. Ceramide, sphingosine and S1P were measured by mass spectroscopy. Inhibition of L-SMase and ACDase was achieved using desipramine (1-10 μM). When mineralisation was widespread; C18 and C20-ceramide increased 75%, sphingosine decreased 33%, S1P increased three-fold, L-SMase activity decreased 30% but mRNA levels were unchanged, SK activity increased 66%, SK2 mRNA increased but SK1 was unchanged; all compared to control VSMCs. Desipramine dose-dependently inhibited mineralisation, increased total ceramide two-fold, decreased sphingosine 33% and prevented the increase of S1P, when compared to VSMCs cultured with β-glycerophosphate alone. Exogenous C2-ceramide decreased, whereas S1P increased, mineralisation. All changes significant, n=3 (p<0.05). In conclusion, SK activity and S1P levels are increased during VSMC mineralisation. Inhibition of L-SMase/ACDase leads to ceramide accumulation, prevents S1P production and attenuates mineralisation; identifying ceramide as an inhibitor and S1P as a promoter of matrix mineralisation. These findings identify sphingolipids as potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of VC.
P35: Effective synthesis and testing of ceramide analogues with antichlamydial activity.
Essa M. SAIED1, Christoph ARENZ1,
1 Institute For Chemistry, Humboldt Universität Zu Berlin
Objective: There is ample evidence for a role of sphingolipids in regulation of cellular signaling and for a therapeutic potential of sphingolipid inhibitors in the treatment of human disease. The quest for highly potent mediators of sphingolipid metabolism not only relies on the development of efficient synthetic routes but also on the discovery of homogenous high-throughput-screening approaches. In this study, we present two highly efficient and versatile approaches for the synthesis of ceramide analogues with anti-chlamydial activity. Parallely, we have developed robust, fast, and simple assays for assessment of biological activity in vivo and in vitro. In one project we have identified a number of ceramide analogues as a novel class of anti-Chlamydia compound that efficiently inhibits C. trachomatis growth without affecting the viability of the host cell. The potency of some compounds was higher than that of the sphingomyelin synthase inhibitor D609 or that of the antibiotic chloramphenicol. A notable result of our study is the identification of the first sub-micromolar inhibitors of chlamydial growth. Although the molecular targets of this compound class is yet unknown, the potency of the compounds, as well as the acquired knowledge about structure-activity relationship study of this compound class defines an important step for target identification soon .
P36: Structural and functional studies of neutral sphingomyelinase 2 provide new insight into regulation and inhibition.
Michael AIROLA1, Prajna SHANBHOGUE1, Achraf SHAMSEDDINE1, Kip GUJA1, Rohan MAINI1, Nana BARTKE2, Chris CLARKE1, Bill WU2, Miguel GARCIA-DIAZ1, Yusuf HANNUN1
1Stony Brook University, 2MUSC
Objective: Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase2) hydrolyzes the relatively insert signaling lipid sphingomyelin to generate the bioactive lipid ceramide. NSMase2-derived ceramide has emerged as a critical regulator of exosome-mediated intercellular communication and has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. To illustrate the mechanism of ceramide generation and aid in therapeutic development, we have conducted a detailed structural and functional analysis of nSMase2. We present the 2.0 Å crystal structure of the catalytic domain of human nSMase2 that provides insight into the critical residues involved in catalysis and sphingomyelin recognition. In addition, we delineate a key mechanistic step in modulating nSMase2 activity that mediates activation by anionic phospholipids and appears to be the target of the widely used, non-competitive nSMase2-specific inhibitor GW4869. Overall, this work provides fundamental insight into the action of this novel enzyme that may facilitate development of more potent nSMase2-specific inhibitors.
P37: Reverse modulation of Gq-coupled receptor-induced [Ca2+]i increases and sphingosine kinase-1 translocation by a WD repeat protein.
Kira BLANKENBACH1, Gennaro BRUNO2, Hans VIENKEN1, Paola BRUNI2, Dagmar MEYER ZU HERINGDORF1,
1Institut Für Allgemeine Pharmakologie Und Toxikologie, Klinikum Der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Am Main, Germany, 2Dipartimento Di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali E Cliniche, Università Degli Studi Di Firenze, Italy,
Objective: Sphingosine kinases (SphK), which catalyze the formation of sphingosine-1-phosphate, are activated by diverse signaling pathways according to the wide variety of their roles. We have shown before that Gq-coupled receptors induce a rapid plasma membrane translocation of SphK1, independently of phospholipase C (PLC) downstream signaling such as protein kinase C and [Ca2+]i. Recently, the WD repeat protein, WDR36, has been identified as a scaffold promoting the interaction of the thromboxane A2 receptor-β (TPβ), Gαq and PLCβ, thereby enhancing TPβ-induced PLC activation. Aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of WDR36 on Gq-mediated SphK1 translocation.
Methods: SphK1 translocation was analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy using a Zeiss LSM 510 Meta microscope. [Ca2+]i increases were analyzed in single cells using a Till Photonics Calcium Imaging system.
Results: [Ca2+]i increases induced by a maximal stimulation of the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor stably expressed in HEK-293 cells were significantly enhanced in cells overexpressing GFP-WDR36 compared to vector-transfected cells. In contrast, M3 receptor-induced SphK1 translocation was significantly delayed by overexpression of WDR36. This was shown in three series of experiments with 1. non-tagged WDR36 and GFP-SphK1, 2. GFP-tagged WDR36 and CFP-SphK1 and 3. GFP-tagged WDR36 and mCherry-SphK1. Furthermore, bradykinin B2 receptor-induced CFP-SphK1 translocation was significantly delayed by GFP-WDR36 in C2C12 myoblasts.
Conclusion: We conclude that WDR36 may function as a molecular switch promoting the coupling of Gq to PLC-mediated [Ca2+]i increases while impeding Gq-mediated SphK1 targeting. The data support the hypothesis that SphK1 and PLC are independent effectors of Gαq.
P38: Sphingosine inhibits no-mediated vasorelaxation of mouse thoracic aorta via binding to calmodulin.
Tünde JUHASZ1, Eva RUISANCHEZ2, Veronika HARMAT3, Jozsef KARDOS4, Monika KABAI1, Zoltan BENYO2, Karoly LILIOM1
1Institute Of Enzymology, Research Centre For Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy Of Sciences, Budapest, 2Instutite Of Human Physiology And Clinical Experimental Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 3Laboratory Of Structural Chemistry And Biology, Institute Of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, 4Department Of Biochemistry, Institute Of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest
Objective: Calmodulin-dependent endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a main determinant of the vascular tone and permeability. The sphingolipid mediator sphingosine is suggested to have vasoactive properties. We investigated the effect and mechanism of action of sphingosine on the NO-dependent vasorelaxation.
Methods: To test the ability of sphingosine to alter eNOS activity in intact vessels, myography experiments were performed on mouse thoracic aorta ex vivo. We compared the acetylcholine-induced eNOS-mediated relaxation before and during incubation of the vessels with sphingosine. The binding of sphingosine to calmodulin and its effect on calmodulin’s function in vitro were characterized by fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry, and crystallography.
Results: Treatment of the intact vessels with sphingosine induced significant rightward shift of the acetylcholine dose-response curve. Sphingosine exhibited no significant effect when vasodilation was elicited by the direct NO-donor sodium nitroprusside. We characterized in vitro the inhibition by sphingosine of calmodulin-dependent activity of eNOS, phosphodiesterase, and calcineurin. Calmodulin was found to bind sphingosine in vitro with low nanomolar affinity when the lipid was clustered. The crystal structure of their complex showed a few lipid molecules wrapped around by the protein in its inhibitory conformation.
Conclusions: No under physiologic conditions is a vasorelaxant and attenuates inflammation, while its increased production leads to the initiation and progression of inflammation. We have shown here, that the vascular effects of sphingosine in inflammation might be due to its influence on the activity of Ca2+-calmodulin-dependent eNOS enzyme via binding to calmodulin thereby preventing eNOS activation.
P39: Sphingolipidomics in gangliosidoses and metachromatic leukodystrophy: identification of differentiated sphingolipids.
Adem ÖZKAN1, Funda YILDIRIM2, Mehmet KAYILI3, Ömür ÇELIKBIÇAK3, Erdal COŞGUN1, Fatma Müjgan SÖNMEZ4, Meral TOPÇU1, Bekir SALIH3, Hatice Asuman ÖZKARA1
1Hacettepe University Faculty Of Medicine, 2Hacettepe University Faculty Of Science, 3Hacettepe University Faculty Of Science, 4Fatih University Faculty Of Medicine
Objective: Sphingolipids are ubiquitous elements of the plasma membrane. They are synthesized in ER and Golgi. Their degradation are made by lysosomal enzymes in lysosome. Defective lysosomal enzymes cause lysosomal storage diseases. Accumulation of undegraded substrates in the nervous system leads to severe impairment of neurological function with a fatal outcome. The aim of this study is to identify sphingolipid/s for predicting clinical phenotype and rate of disease progression. In this study, sphingolipids were extracted from serums of patients with gangliosidoses and Metachromatic Leukodystrophy which are the most common sphingolipid storage diseases in Turkey. Their mass spectrums are taken by MALDI-ToF-MS. Sphingolipids that make difference between groups and clinical findings were determined by cluster analysis. Internal standards were used for quantitative analysis by LC-ESI-MS/MS. After evaluation by cluster analysis of the obtained sphingolipid profiles, sphingosine and sphinganine 1-P in gangliosidoses group were found as differentiated molecules. Results of quantitative analysis indicated increased ceramide and ceramide 1-P levels in gangliosidoses group. Our preliminary data supports sphingolipidomes of the serum may show difference between diseases, difference between diseases and the controls in sphingolipid storage diseases. MALDI-ToF-MS and LC-ESI-MS/MS are appropriate methods for detection of this differences.
P40: The sphingolipid rheostat is associated with function and viability of dendritic cells.
Anja SCHWIEBS1, Olga ARLT1, Nerea FERREIRÓS BOUZAS2, Yannıck SCHREIBER2, Lukasz JAPTOK3, Burkhard KLEUSER3, JOsef M PFEILSCHIFTER1, Heınfrıed H RADEKE1
1Unyversyti Of Frankfurt, Instytute Of General Pharmacologi And Toxycologi, 2Unyversyti Of Frankfurt, Instytute Of Clynycal Pharmacologi And Toxycologi, 3Unyversyti Of Potsdam, Instytute Of Nutrytyonal Scyence
Objective: Regulation of the complex functions of the immune system has excitingly been proven to be sensitive to alterations in the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor-ligand interaction. Dendritic cells (DCs) mediate immune responses in inflammation, cancerogenesis and autoimmunity, however it is unclear whether DC-activation, function and life cycle are affected by the sphingolipid rheostat. Thus, here we investigated primary bone marrow-derived DCs upon toll-like-receptor (TLR) stimulation by RNA-, protein- and activity-measurements as well as LC-MS. Shortly upon stimulation of distinct TLRs, we found a rapid induction of IL12 secretion. In parallel we observed a transient increase in Sphingosine kinase (SK) 1 expression and total SK activity. However, upon long-term TLR-stimulation a much stronger up-regulation of SK1 mRNA levels was present in parallel to a down-regulation of SK2 levels. Interestingly, the absence of SK1 or SK2 in knockout DCs strongly augmented IL-12 induction but was dampened upon exogenous S1P supplementation. In addition, a pronounced decrease of mRNA, protein levels and enzyme activity of S1P-lyase was monitored in a time-dependent manner. Moreover, we discovered the induction of an intrinsic apoptotic pathway indicated by annexin V and caspase 3-activation and a time-dependent decrease of intracellular S1P and pronounced increase of sphingosine and ceramide levels in activated, not in resting DCs. Obviously, the ability of DCs to modulate immune responses by secreting specific cytokines but also determined by their balance between survival or cell death, is associated with a highly diverse regulation of S1P-enzyme expression and thus complex modulation of the sphingolipid rheostat.
P41: regulation of ceramide-mediated mitophagy by hpv oncoproteins and Rb/E2F axis in head and neck cancer.
Raquela THOMAS1, Besim OGRETMEN1
1Medical University Of South Carolina
Background: The five-year survival rate of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma (HNSCC) is only 50% due, in part, to a lack of effective, targeted therapies. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the causative agent of approximately 60% of HNSCC cases. Cellular transformation is achieved by the inhibitory actions of HPV E6 and E7 oncoproteins on p53 and Rb, respectively. Interestingly, HPV-associated HNSCC patients respond better to treatment, demonstrating a 54% higher survival rate compared to HPV-negative HNSCC patients. However, the underlying molecular mechanism for this has not been well-defined. We have identified a novel form of lethal mitophagy that is mediated by ceramide and dependent on DRP1 signaling as an important mechanism of cell death in HNSCC.
Objective: As no studies have examined sphingolipid signaling or mitophagy in HPV-associated HNSCC, we asked whether this form of mitophagy may be involved in the improved response to treatment. Methods: HPV-positive or HPV-negative HNSCC cells were treated with radiation or C18-pyridinium-ceramide. Overexpression or knockdown of relevant genes was performed then cell number, mitophagy, and binding assays performed.
Results: Radiation of HPV-positive cells resulted in increased levels of CerS1/ C18-ceramide. CerS1 overexpression or C18-pyridinium-ceramide treatment resulted in lethal mitophagy, dependent on DRP1 oligomerization. This response was attenuated by knockdown of E2F5 and enhanced by Rb knockdown. Additionally, E2F5/DRP1 association was detected in response to ceramide.
Conclusion: We have identified ceramide-mediated lethal mitophagy as an important cell death mechanism in HPV-associated HNSCC, regulated by the E7/Rb/E2F5 axis.
P42: Insights into the effects of the mutations of arylsulfatase A on its structure using molecular dynamic simulations.
Ayşe EREN1, Maral BUDAK2, Asuman ÖZKARA3, Kutlu ÜLGEN1, Elif ÖZKIRIMLI1
1Department Of Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University, 34342 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey, 2Department Of Molecular Biology And Genetics, Bogazici University, 34342 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey,3Department Of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty Of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
Objective: Arylsulfatase A (ASA) is a lysosomal enzyme catalyzing the hydrolysis of sulfate ester bonds. Its major substrate is cerebroside-3 sulphate, and the product of the reaction, cerebroside, is the major constituent of myelin sheats. In case of the deficiency of this enzyme, demyelination of neurons occurs causing Metachromatic Leukodystrophy Disease (MLD). In this work, we focus on the effect of previously identified mutations on the activity and functionality of ASA [1]. We first checked for conservation of these residues, which are away from the active site, by comparison with their homologs and no significant conservation was found. Next, calculation of the free energies of the wild type and mutated types of ASA using FoldX showed that the mutant form has higher energy in the monomeric, dimeric and octameric forms. Then, the W318C mutant of ASA was generated using VMD and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of 10 ns were performed for monomers at pH~7. The results of these MD simulations and the free energy calculations will be discussed. It is predicted that these mutations decrease the enzyme stability, which would result in loss of enzyme activity. In order to test this hypothesis, MD simulations for both pH values (5 and 7) of the wild type and mutants are performed. [1] Önder,E.,Sinici,I.,Sönmez,M.,Topçu,M.,Özkara,H.A.(2009) Identification of two noval arylsulfatase A mutations with a polymorphism as a cause of metachromatic leukodystrophy, in Neurological Research 31,pp 60-66
P43: Investigating the role of ORMDL proteins as regulators of the mammalian serine palmitoyltransferase.
Assem ZHAKUPOVA1, Arnold VON ECKARDSTEIN1, Thorsten HORNEMANN1
1Institute Of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich
Objective: Serine Palmitoyltransferase (SPT) typically catalyzes the first step in de novo sphingolipid synthesis. Studies in yeast demonstrated that SPT activity is tightly regulated by a metabolic feedback mechanism, mediated by Orm1 and Orm2 proteins. In contrast to yeast, mammalian cells express three Orm isoforms (ORMDL1-3). However, the role of ORMDL proteins in regulating SPT activity in mammalian cells is not yet understood. Several SNP variants in ORMDL3 were found to be closely associated with the risk for early childhood asthma. A role of SPT and de-novo sphingolipid metabolism in asthma is discussed. Methods. The role of ORMDL proteins on SPT activity was tested in HEK293 cells individually overexpressing ORMDL1, 2 or 3 and in MEF cells which are devoid of ORMDL3 expression. Furthermore we analyzed the association of ORMDL SNPs and plasma sphingoid base levels in a comprehensive population based cohort with 1200 individuals. Results. Neither the individual overexpression of ORMDL proteins nor the absence of ORMDL3 had a significant effect cellular SPT activity. None of the annotated SNPs in ORMDL genes including those that were reported to be associated with childhood asthma showed a significant association with plasma sphingoid base levels. However, increasing intracellular Ceramide levels by the addition of C6-Ceramide led to a significant suppression of SPT. Conclusion. Increasing levels of C6-Ceramides inhibit SPT activity, which indicates a regulatory mechanism of the mammalian SPT similar to yeast. However, a role of individual ORMDL isoforms including ORMDL3 in this regulatory process could not be confirmed.
P44: The use of hair samples to monitor 1-deoxy-sphingolipids in HSAN1.
Thorsten HORNEMANN1, Heiko BODE1, Saranya SURIYANARAYANAN1
1University Zurich
Background: 1-Deoxysphingolipids (1-deoxySL) are formed by the enzyme serine palmitoyltransferase due to an alternative use of L-alanine over its canonical substrate L-serine. Pathologically elevated 1-deoxSL levels are formed in the context of the inherited neuropathy HSAN1 which is caused by missense mutations in SPT. HSAN1 is a progressive ulcerating axonopathy associated with a progressive peripheral sensory loss (pain, temperature, vibration), neuropathic pain and ulcers (slow healing wounds). Often, HSAN1 patients suffer also from anhydrosis, reduced hair growth and a fine and delicate skin structure. An oral L-serine supplementation was shown to suppress 1-deoxySL formation in transgenic HSAN1 mice and HSAN1 patients. Patients under L-serine therapy reported consistently improvements in skin structure, wound healing and a faster growth of hair and finger nails.
Method: The sphingoid base profile was analyzed in hair samples from healthy controls and HSAN1 patients before and during therapy. The extracted lipids were analyzed by high resolution mass spectrometry.
Results: We observed a variety of sphingoid bases including 1-deoxySL present in the analyzed hair sample. Canonical sphingoid bases were comparable between control and HSAN1 samples whereas 1-deoxySLs were significantly higher in HSAN1^samples. After extraction the HSAN1 hair appeared more brittle and showed structural abnormalities. Longitudinal, 1-deoxySL levels correlated with the history of L-serine supplementation in the patient.
Conclusion: Significant 1-deoxySL levels were present in hair of HSAN1 patients. The longitudinal profile reflected changes in 1-deoxySL production over time. Hair samples might therefore be a non-invasive alternative for the diagnosis and therapy monitoring in HSAN1.
P45: Glucosylceramide as a modulator of the properties of lipid raft-like membrane domains.
Ana Raquel PINTO VARELA1, André SÁ COUTO2, Anthony FUTERMAN3, Manuel PRIETO4, Liana C. SILVA2,
1Imed. Ulisboa –research Institute For Medicines, Faculty Of Pharmacy, Universidade De Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; Department Of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute Of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel; Centro De Química-física Molecular & In – Institute Of Nanoscience And Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal, 2Ymed. Ulisboa –research Institute For Medicines, Faculty Of Pharmacy, Universidade De Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal, 3Department Of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute Of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel, 4Centro De Química-física Molecular & In – Institute Of Nanoscience And Nanotechnology, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
Objective: Glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is a glycosphingolipid involved in different physiological and pathological events. It is widely accepted that GlcCer is an active participant in lipid domain formation, particularly in lipid rafts. However, the interplay between GlcCer and lipid raft components is still poorly studied. In the present study, we used fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy to investigate the interaction between GlcCer and cholesterol (Chol) in models of biological membranes. To better understand the interplay between these lipids, the results were rationalized by a ternary phospholipid/sphingolipid/chol phase diagram. Our results showed that ternary POPC/GlcCer/Chol mixtures containing low GlcCer content display properties typical of raft-domains, i.e., a liquid-ordered (lo)/liquid-disordered (ld) phase coexistence. However, compared to the canonical POPC/Sphingomyelin/Chol raft-like mixtures, this phase coexistence region is smaller, mainly due to the higher ability of GlcCer to segregate into gel-enriched domains. This results in an extensive 3-phase coexistence region of ld(POPC-enriched)/ lo(Chol-enriched) and gel(GlcCer-enriched). Moreover, the effect of acidification in the properties of these mixtures, was also analyzed. Our data showed that upon acidification GlcCer solubility in the lo phase increases, leading to a larger raft-like coexistence region. Quantitative analyses of the data allowed determination of the phase’s composition at neutral and acidic pH. These results enable to predict GlcCer impact in domain formation and membrane organization in complex biological membranes, and provide background to unravel the role of GlcCer-biophysical properties in its biological action. Acknowledgments: This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal: PTDC/BBB-BQB/0506/2012, SFRH/BD/69982/2010 to ARV and Investigador FCT 2014 to L.C.S.
P46: Funcional lipidomics during oriented mitosis in zebrafish.
Thomas HANNICH1, Howard RIEZMAN1, Marcos GONZALEZ-GAITAN1, Irinka CASTANON1
Biochemistry/University Of Geneva1
Objective: In zebrafish, dorsal epiblast cells are an excellent system to study oriented cell division in a developing tissue. Throughout gastrulation, these cells display divisions that are robustly oriented along the anterior-posterior axis. In these cells, division orientation is under the control of the Wnt/Planar Cell Polarity (PCP) pathway. How the PCP pathway specifies the division plane had been elusive until recently, when we found that the PCP pathway induces the formation of an asymmetrically polarized actin cap. This cortical actin cap triggers the spatial redistribution of the transmembrane protein Anthrax Toxin Receptor 2a (Antxr2a), which becomes enriched at the actin cap and is required to exert torque on the spindle to position it along the embryonic axis. Using a novel interdisciplinary approach combining system-level lipid analysis, high-resolution imaging, and quantitative cellular biology, we found that the PCP pathway controls oriented divisions by regulating lipid homoestasis. We have identified specific lipid species that are modified in Wnt/PCP mutants, where divisions are randomized. Indeed, interfering with the first step in de novo sphingolipid synthesis results in randomized divisions of epiblast cells. In these embryos, epiblast cells still exhibit a normal, asymmetrically polarized actin cap, whereas the asymmetric distribution of Antxr2a is lost. By imaging membrane-order sensing dyes in epiblast cells using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), we will evaluate whether epiblast cell membranes have a homogenous lipid order or are a mixture of different lipid-order microenvironments. We will investigate whether the existence and abundance of ordered lipid domains modulate Antxr2a behaviour.
P47: Hsp70 based treatment of lysosomal storage disorders.
Thomas KIRKEGAARD JENSEN1, Nikolaj H. T. PETERSEN1
1Orphazyme ApS
Objective: Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) often manifest with severe systemic and central nervous system (CNS) symptoms. The existing treatment options are sparse and none of them are effective against the devastating neurological manifestations. We have demonstrated proof-of-concept for heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70)-based strategies as potential pan-LSD therapies. Recombinant Hsp70 improves the binding of several sphingolipid-degrading enzymes to their essential co-factor, bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate, in vitro and reverts lysosomal pathology in primary fibroblasts from 14 patients with eight different LSDs. It penetrates effectively to murine tissues including CNS, inhibits glycosphingolipid accumulation in murine models of Fabry (GLA-/- ), Sandhoff (HEXB-/- ) and Niemann-Pick type C (NPC1-/-) diseases, and effectively alleviates a wide spectrum a disease-associated neurological symptoms in HEXB-/- and NPC1-/- mice. Importantly, oral administration of a clinically enabled small molecule co-inducer of Hsp70, recapitulates the pan-LSD and neurological potential of recombinant Hsp70 encouraging the development of Hsp70-based therapies for LSDs.
P48: Endothelial-derived sphingolipids preserve systemic vascular functions.
Annarita DI LORENZO1,Anna CANTALUPO1, Yi ZHANG1, Hideru OBINATA1, Sylvain GALVAIN1, Mariarosaria BUCCI2, Xiang-Cheng JIANG3, Frank GIORDANO4, Timothy HLA1,
1Weill Cornell Medical College, 2University Of Naples Federico II, 3SUNY Downstate Medical Center, 4Yale Medical School
Objective: Endothelial dysfunction is a critical event in many cardiovascular diseases including hypertension. Although lipid signaling is implicated in endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases, specific molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. The goal of our study was to define the role of locally produced sphingolipids on vascular tone regulation. To this aim, we employed genetic mouse models and assessed blood pressure in vivo by using tail-cuff system, in normotensive and angiotensin-II-hypertensive mice. Vascular reactivity of resistance arteries was evaluated ex-vivo by using the pressure myograph system. We identified endothelial-derived sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) as critical regulator of vascular tone and flow-mediated vasodilation through the activation S1P1-receptor-eNOS signaling axis. We discovered a novel regulation of endothelial sphingolipid de novo synthesis by Nogo-B, membrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum that modulates local sphingolipid production with direct effects on vascular function and blood pressure. Nogo-B inhibits serine palmitoyltransferase, rate-limiting enzyme of the sphingolipid de novo synthesis, controlling endothelial S1P production and its autocrine G-protein-coupled receptor-dependent signaling actions. Mice lacking Nogo-B are hypotensive and resistant to Ang-II-induced hypertension (150.4±2.5 vs. 108.4±1.5 mmHg, compared to WT mice, 24 days after AngII infusion), and preserve endothelial function and nitric oxide release. Pharmacological inhibition of serine palmitoyltransferase with myriocin in mice that lack Nogo-B reinstated endothelial dysfunction and Ang-II-induced hypertension (143.9±1.5 vs. 90.1±1.6 mmHg, myriocin vs. vehicle treated Nogo-A/B-/- mice). Our study identifies Nogo-B as a key inhibitor of local sphingolipid synthesis and indicates that autocrine sphingolipids signaling within the endothelium are critical for vascular function and blood pressure homeostasis.
P49: Effect of sphingosine on the biophysical properties and permeability of raft-mimicking mixtures.
Ana CARREIRA1, Eva ZUPANCIC1, Rodrigo DE ALMEIDA2, Liana C. SILVA1
1Faculty Of Pharmacy, University Of Lisbon, 2Faculty Of Science, University Of Lisbon
Objective: In addition to its several roles as a bioactive lipid, when abnormally accumulated in the lysosomes and late endosomes, sphingosine (Sph) leads to Niemann Pick type C1 (NPC1), one of the most complex storage diseases in terms of molecular phenotype. At the moment little is known about the interaction of Sph with other membrane lipids. It is our aim to characterize the effect of Sph on the biophysical properties of model membranes composed of different lipids, so that new insights into its mode of action might arise. Using an established fluorescence spectroscopy approach we evaluated the effect of Sph in membrane organization and permeability of different 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC)/Sphingomyelin/Cholesterol raft-mimicking mixtures. Our results showed that Sph accumulation leads to the formation of Sph-enriched gel domains in raft mimicking mixtures. These domains are more easily formed at neutral pH mimicking the plasma membrane environment (PM) as compared to the acidic lysosomal membrane environment (LM), where higher Sph concentrations are required. The determination of ζ-potential further revealed that in PM-raft models Sph is mainly neutral, whereas in LM-raft models the positive charge of Sph leads to electrostatic repulsion, reducing Sph ability to form gel domains. It was also shown that the external addition of Sph affects the membrane permeability, being the effect more noticeable in acidic environment. These results support the hypothesis that Sph biological actions, including those related to NPC1, could be exerted through biophysical changes in cellular membranes.
P50: Effect of ceramide-acyl chain structure on the biophysical properties of living cells.
Sandra PINTO1, Alfred MERRILL, JR.2, Manuel PRIETO1, Anthony FUTERMAN3, Liana SILVA4
1Instituto Superior Técnico, 2Georgia Institute Of Technology, 3Weizmann Institute Of Science, 4Faculdade De Farmácia, Universidade De Lisboa
Objective: Ceramide (Cer) is involved in the regulation of several cellular processes by mechanisms that depend on Cer-induced changes on membrane biophysical properties. Accumulating evidence shows that ceramides with different N-acyl chain composition differentially impact cell physiology, which may in part be due to specific alterations in membrane biophysical properties. We now address how the sphingolipid (SL) N-acyl chain affects membrane properties in cultured human embryonic kidney cells by overexpressing different Cer synthases (CerS). Our results show an increase in the order of cellular membranes in CerS2-transfected cells caused by the enrichment in very long acyl chain SLs. Formation of Cer upon treatment of cells with bacterial sphingomyelinase promoted sequential changes in the properties of the membranes: after an initial increase in the order of the fluid plasma membrane, reorganization into domains with gel-like properties whose characteristics are dependent on the acyl chain structure of the Cer was observed. Moreover, the extent of alterations of membrane properties correlates with the amount of Cer formed. These data reinforce the significance of Cer-induced changes on membrane biophysical properties as a likely molecular mechanism by which different acyl chain ceramides exert their specific biological actions.
Acknowledgments: This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal grants PTDC/BBB-BQB/0506/2012 and Investigador FCT 2014 to LCS.
P51: Sphingosine 1-phosphate and renal fibrosis.
Koch ALEXANDER1, Wünsche CHRISTIN1, Huwiler ANDREA2, Pfeilschifter JOSEF1
1Department Of General Pharmacology And Toxicology, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt Am Main, Germany, 2Institute Of Pharmacology, University Of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Objective: Fibrosis is a common end-point of nearly all forms of acute and chronic inflammatory kidney diseases. Here, we summarize our findings about the effect of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) on the expression of connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) as an important mediator of renal fibrosis.
Methods: Using several pharmacological and genetic approaches, we investigated the effect of S1P on the expression of pro-fibrotic CTGF in glomerular cells (podocytes and mesangial cells) and in kidney glomeruli from sphingosine kinase (SK)-1 deficient mice (SK-1-/-) suffering from streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy.
Results: The alteration of CTGF expression in renal cells strongly depends on the localization of S1P. In human mesangial cells endogenous S1P enhances CTGF expression by activation of S1P2, whereas S1P5 seems to be involved in the pro-fibrotic action of phospho-FTY720. Moreover, recent data show that S1P5 is directly involved in the induction CTGF expression by transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-b2). In contrast, activation of SK-1 by TGF-b2 reduces CTGF expression in renal glomerular cells. Our results using SK-1 siRNA, the SK inhibitor SKI II, and “caged” S1P demonstrate that the CTGF lowering effect of SK-1 activation is mediated by intracellularly formed S1P. Additionally, SK-1-/- mice develop a more severe diabetic nephropathy and express higher amounts of CTGF in glomeruli, further demonstrating the anti-fibrotic capacity of SK-1 activation and subsequent formation of intracellular S1P.
Conclusion: Overall, we suggest that the contribution of S1P to renal fibrosis is of Janus-faced nature as S1P exhibits both pro- and anti-fibrotic effects depending on its site of action.
P52: Synovial fluid sphingolipids across species and in human osteoarthritis.
Kosinska M.K.1, Liebisch G.2, Wilhelm J.3, Kaesser U.4, Schmitz G.2, Steinmeyer J.1
1Orthopedic Research Laboratories, Dept. Orthopedics, University Giessen, Germany, 2Dept. Clinical Chemistry & Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Regensburg, Germany, 3Medical Clinic II/IV, University Giessen, Germany, 4Internistisches Praxiszentrum Am Krankenhaus Balserische Stiftung, Giessen, Germany
Objectives: Sphingolipids within synovial fluid (SF) of articular joints can be involved in osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We quantified for the first time the composition of sphingolipids in the SF of knee joints from unaffected controls, patients with early (eOA) and late (lOA) stages of OA, and from patients with RA. Furthermore, sphingolipids of human, canine and equine SF were compared to identify a large animal particularly suited as a model of human lipid metabolism.
Methods: Lipids were extracted from cell and cellular debris free SF of 9 postmortem donors used as healthy controls, 17 eOA, 13 lOA, 18 RA patients as well as from 9 dogs and 14 horses with healthy joints. Sphingolipids were quantified using ESI-MS/MS directly or coupled with HILIC. This study was approved by the ethics committee of our university. The Kruskal-Wallis test, Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment and the Steel-Dwass statistical test were applied.
Results: We provide a novel overview of 35 sphingolipids present in human SF. Based on the fatty acids, 19 sphingomyelin, 6 ceramide, 5 hexosylceramide and 5 dihexosylceramide species were identified in SF. Compared to control SF, all sphingolipids were found to be elevated in OA and RA SF. Across species similar numbers of sphingolipids were observed whereas the ceramide levels appears to be species dependent
Conclusions: Compared to control SF the concentrations of sphingolipids are elevated in eOA, lOA and RA SF which may be used to develop biomarkers. Both large animal species partly reflect the normal human sphingolipid metabolism.
P53: Unravelling the biophysical properties of sphingolipids: from model to cell membranes.
Ester VENTURA1, Raquel VARELA2, Sandra PINTO3, Amelia GONCALVES DA SILVA4, Anthony FUTERMAN5, Liana SILVA6, Manuel PRIETO3
1IMed.UL – Research Institute For Medicines And Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculdade De Farmácia;Centro De Química-Física Molecular, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal, 2IMed.UL – Research Institute For Medicines And Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculdade De Farmácia, Universidade De Lisboa, Portugal; Weizmann Institute Of Sciences, Dept Of Biological Chemistry, Rehovot, Israel; Centro De Química-Física Molecular, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal, 3Centro De Química-Física Molecular, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal, 4Centro De Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal, 5 Weizmann Institute Of Science, Dept Of Biological Chemistry, Rehovot, Israel, 6IMed.UL – Research Institute For Medicines And Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculdade De Farmácia Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Objective: Sphingolipids (SLs) have emerged as an important class of lipids due to their bioactive role in several cellular events and in disease. The evidence that several SL species participate in the formation of lipid domains, and that this might underlie their biological mechanism of action has fostered research in the biophysical aspects of bioactive SLs. This work will focus on two important SLs – ceramide and glucosylceramide – and their interplay with other lipid components in simple and complex membrane models.
Methods: A combination of biophysical methodologies that include fluorescence spectroscopy, confocal and two-photon microscopy, surface pressure-area measurements, were used to elucidate the effects of these lipids on the biophysical properties of membranes with different lipidic components and displaying different phase properties.
Results: Our results showed that lipid-lipid interactions are modulated by alterations in the membrane environment, such as changes in pH. Moreover, small structural differences of these lipids influence their packing properties, membrane shaping and lateral organization. The importance of the headgroup, acyl chain length and unsaturation, on the modulation of membrane properties will be discussed in the framework of results obtained for cellular membranes.
Conclusion: Model membrane systems allow to predict the biophysical and biological implications of these lipids in cellular membranes. Supported by FCT (Portugal) grants PTDC/BBB-BQB/0506/2012 and RECI/CTM-POL/0342/2012, SFRH/BD/69982/2010 to ARV, Investigador FCT 2014 to LCS.
P54: Detection and quantitation of novel sphingolipids by mass spectrometry.
Nadıa RANA1, Yusuf HANNUN1
1Stony Brook University
Objective: Serine Palmitoyl Transferase (SPT) is the enzyme that carries out the condensation reaction between Serine and Palmitoyl Co-A that is known as the committed step of sphingolipid biosynthesis. Dysregulation of this important pathway through its downstream sphingolipid metabolites has been implicated in a variety of human diseases, including diabetes, metabolic syndrome, neuropathy, and cancer, as well as several key regulatory pathways such as apoptosis, inflammatory responses, and autophagy. Recent discoveries from several laboratories have demonstrated SPT exhibits substrate promiscuity, both with other non-canonical amino acids as well as fatty acids, which has led to the uncovering of novel sphingolipid metabolite by-products of this promiscuity such as deoxysphinganine and deoxydemethylsphinganine. We have now developed novel mass spectral-based methods to allow for high sensitivity and accuracy detection and quantitation of this emerging new class of sphingolipids. Preliminary data suggest there may be a regulatory relationship between sphingolipids and amino acid availability that extends beyond the canonical Serine and Palmitoyl Co-A to other amino acids such as Alanine and Glycine, and other Fatty Acids including Stearate. We have employed Multiple Reaction Monitoring on a triple quad mass spectrometer in conjunction with high quality authentic SL standards to identify and measure relative levels of novel SL metabolites, in the absence of derivatization. Development of this quantitative methodology will serve to define novel SLs and their potential roles in signaling, and to define their biological functions in yeast.
P55: Lipid oversupply to cardiomyocytes induces sphingolipid-dependent oxidative stress and induction of mitophagy through ceramide synthase 2.
Brittany A LAW1, L. Ashley COWART2
1MUSC, 2MUSC, VA
Objective: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DbCM) contributes to the high risk of heart failure (HF) in diabetics, but mechanisms underlying DbCM remain unclear. We previously showed that high saturated fat feeding in mice altered cardiomyocyte sphingolipid profiles leading to DbCM and that some of these maladaptations were dependent on autophagy and ceramide synthase 5 (CerS5). In the present study, we sought to further understand the cellular processes in which lipid overload leads to DbCM in in the context of sphingolipids. Mice fed an obesogenic diet and in vitro studies using H9c2 cardiomyocytes were utilized in this study. Increased oxidative stress and apoptosis were identified in the hearts of animals subjected to lipid overload, while animals treated with the sphingolipid synthesis inhibitor myriocin were protected. Similarly, cardiomyocytes treated with palmitate showed a sphingolipid-dependent increase of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitophagy. Treatment with mitochondria-targeted ceramide analogs revealed that very long chain ceramides, but not long-chain ceramides, induced cardiomyocyte cell death, which was exacerbated by inhibiting mitophagy. This suggested that lipotoxicity to cardiomyocytes occurs in part through oxidative stress in a sphingolipid-dependent manner, and mitophagy may occur to prevent further damage. In the observation that only very long chain species led to these outcomes suggested involvement of CerS2. Overexpression of CerS2 showed increased mitophagy in cardiomyocytes and knockdown of CerS2 by CRISPR-CAS9 technology decreased mitophagy. Taken together, our data suggest that lipid overload induces mitophagy as a protective measure in defense from CerS2-induced mitochondrial damage, oxidative stress, and cell death in DbCM.
P56: Caspase 2 is required for sphingosine kinase 1 proteolysis in response to doxorubicin in breast cancer cells: implications to the CHK1-supressed pathway.
Brittany CARROLL1, Achraf SHEMSEDDINE1, Yusuf HANNUN1, Lina OBEID1,
1Stony Brook University
Objective: Sphingosine Kinase 1 (SK1) is a lipid kinase whose activity produces the potent bioactive lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate. Sphingosine 1- phosphate is a pro-survival lipid associated with proliferation, angiogenesis and invasion; subsequently SK1 overexpression has been observed in numerous cancers. Recent studies have demonstrated SK1 proteolysis downstream of the tumor suppressor p53 in response to several DNA damaging agents. Moreover, loss of SK1 in p53 knockout mice resulted in complete protection from thymic lymphoma providing evidence that regulation of SK1 constitutes a major tumor suppresser function of p53. Given this profound phenotype, this study aims to investigate the mechanism by which wild type p53 regulates proteolysis of SK1 by doxorubicin in breast cancer cells. We find that p53-mediated activation of Caspase 2 was required for SK1 proteolysis and that Caspase 2 activity significantly alters the levels of endogenous sphingolipids. As p53 is mutated in 50% of all cancers, we extended our studies to investigate whether SK1 is deregulated in the context of triple negative breast cancer cells (TNBC) harboring a mutation in p53. Indeed Caspase 2 was not activated in these cells and SK1 was not degraded. Moreover, Caspase 2 activation was recently shown to be downstream of the CHK1- Suppressed pathway in mutant p53 cells, whereby inhibition of the cell cycle kinase CHK1 leads to Caspase 2 activation and apoptosis. Indeed knock-down and inhibition of CHK1 led to loss of SK1 in p53 mutant TNBC cells, providing evidence that SK1 maybe the first identified effector of the CHK1-Suppressed pathway
P57: Ceramide limits cell motility in ovarian cancer: potential of ceramide as a metastasis suppressor lipid.
Kazuyuki KITATANI1, Toshinori USUI1, Shravan SRIRAMAN2, Masafumi TOYOSHIMA1, Shogo SHIGETA1, Hideo OGISO3, Toshiro OKAZAKI3, Vladimir TORCHILIN2, Yusuf HANNUN4, Nobuo YAEGASHI1
1Tohoku University, 2Northeastern University, 3Kanazawa Medical University, 4Stony Brook University
Objective: Targeting cell motility, which is required for dissemination and metastasis, has a therapeutic potential for treating ovarian cancer metastasis, and regulatory mechanisms of cell motility needs to be uncovered for developing novel therapeutics. Invasive ovarian cancer cells spontaneously formed protrusions, such as lamellipodia, required for generating locomotive force in cell motility. Small interfering RNA screening identified class II phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase C2β (PI3KC2β) as the predominant isoform of PI3K involved in lamellipodia formation of ovarian cancer cells. Ceramide, one of bioactive sphingolipids, has been emerging as an antitumorigenic lipid, and treatment with short-chain C6-ceramide decreased the number of ovarian cancer cells with PI3KC2β-driven lamellipodia. Pharmacological analysis demonstrated that long-chain ceramide regenerated from C6-ceramide through the salvage/recycling pathway, at least in part, mediates the action of C6-ceramide. Mechanistically, ceramide was revealed to interact with PI3KC2β and affect its compartmentalization, thereby suppressing PI3KC2β activation and its-driven cell motility. Moreover, ceramide treatment suppressed cell motility promoted by epithelial growth factor known as a prometastatic factor. To examine role for ceramide in ovarian cancer metastasis, ceramide liposomes were employed and confirmed to suppress cell motility in vitro. Those ceramide liposomes displayed an inhibitory effect on peritoneal metastasis in a murine xenograft model of human ovarian cancer. Taken together, our studies identified ceramide as a bioactive lipid that limits PI3KC2β-governed cell motility, and ceramide is proposed to serve as a metastasis suppressor lipid in ovarian cancer. Those could be translated into developing ceramide-based therapy for metastatic diseases.
P58: Signaling pathways of sphingosine-1-phosphate in vascular smooth muscle contraction.
Peter Tibor DANCS1, Dorottya MÓRÉ1, Éva RUISANCHEZ1, Margit KERÉK1, Cecília Rita PANTA1, Henrique Martins Aranda CALDEIRA2, Stefan OFFERMANNS3, Zoltán BENYÓ1
1Institution Of Human Physiology And Clinical Experimental Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary, 2Science Without Borders, CAPES, Brasil, 3Max Planck Institute For Heart And Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
Objectives: We aimed to examine the direct effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) on vascular smooth muscle (VSM) contractility and to elucidate the underlying signaling pathways.
Methods: Isometric tension of endothelium-denuded thoracic aorta segments isolated from male wild type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice deficient in S1P2, S1P3 receptor or Gα12/13 was measured in myographs. Vasoactive effect of 10 μM S1P was detected at physiological (4 mM) and elevated (6-124 mM) extracellular K+-concentration [K+]e.
Results: At physiological [K+]e S1P had negligible vasoactive effect. Slightly increased [K+]e (6 mM) failed to influence the vascular tone by itself, but addition of S1P induced marked vasoconstriction that was further intensified if [K+]e was increased to 8 and 10 mM. At higher [K+]e (20-80 mM), K+ increased the vascular tone progressively and attenuated the additional vasoconstriction by S1P. Further experiments on the signaling pathways were performed with 8 mM [K+]e, which enhanced the action of S1P markedly without significantly influencing the resting vascular tone by itself. The vasoconstrictor effect of S1P disappeared in S1P2-KO and Gα12/13-KO vessels, whereas remained unchanged in S1P3-KO mice. S1P-induced vasoconstriction was also abolished by the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 (10 μM) in WT vessels.
Conclusion: S1P induces vasoconstriction in case of moderately increased [K+]e. The effect of S1P is mediated by S1P2-receptor, Gα12/13, and Rho-kinase. This phenomenon may lead to increased vascular tone under conditions of systemic or local elevation of [K+]e surrounding the VSM, like in hyperkalemia or tissue ischemia. Grant support: OTKA K-101775 and MedInProt Protein Science Research Synergy Program.
P59: Regulation of inflammatory cytokine signaling by acid sphingomyelinase.
Benjamin J NEWCOMB1, David PERRY2, Yusuf A HANNUN3
1Suny Stony Brook, 2Medical University Of South Carolina
Objective: Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), which hydrolyzes sphingomyelin to produce ceramide, regulates a key step in the sphingolipid salvage pathway. Ceramides are biologically active lipids that have been linked to cellular stress responses and cytokine production in several model systems, but the mechanism by which ASM regulates cytokine production has not been established. In this work we define a mechanism by which ASM regulates IL-6 production in breast cancer, and demonstrate a role for ASM in tumor progression. We found that down regulation of ASM in two distinct genetic models, reduced IL-6 production in response to the tumor promoter, 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Down-regulation of another ceramide producing enzyme, acid β-glucosidase (GBA), potentiated IL-6 production in response to PMA, whereas knock down of the sphingosine producing enzyme, acid ceramidase (ACD), had no effect. From these data we conclude that spatiotemporal regulation of ceramide production plays a role in its function as a second messenger within the cell, suggesting specific roles for GBA and for ASM derived ceramides. In addition, indirect pharmacologic inhibition of ASM with desipramine blocked both the PMA and TNF-α induced production of IL-6. Inhibition of ASM correlated with a reduction in p38 MAP Kinase phosphorylation, suggesting that ASM is regulating IL-6 production through modulation of MAP Kinase activity. Lastly, we found that inhibition of ASM or of p38 reduced tumor cell migration in matrigel transwell migration assays. Taken together, we have defined a role for ASM in pro-tumor signaling events, and identified a role for ASM in tumor progression.
P60: Neutral sphingomyelinase 2 and hepatic acute phase response.
Mariana NIKOLOVA-KARAKASHIAN1, Daipayan BANERJEE1, Gergana DEEVSKA1, Alexander KARAKASHIAN1
1University Of Kentucky
Objective: Hepatic acute phase response (APR) plays a central role in host response to infection and it is exacerbated in aged animals and humans. In vitro studies indicate that neutral sphingomyelinase 2 (nSMase-2) is essential component of APR. Objectives: The goal of this study is to investigate the role of nSMase-2 in a rat model of inflammation.
Methods: Four- and 21- months old rats were administered with adenovirus encoding a GFP-tagged shRNAi against nSMase-2 or scrambled control and, 6 days later, with LPS (5.6 mg/kg) or saline. Hepatic samples were analyzed 4 hours later for efficiency of infection, nSMase activity, and levels of expression of nSMase-2 and several acute phase proteins.
Results: GFP fluorescence was observed in up to 30% of the cells in the liver but not in other tissues. Livers of LPS-treated animals exhibited 2-to 3-fold higher nSMase-2 mRNA levels than saline-treated animals without significant ageing-associated differences. The mRNA levels of IGFBP1 increased, while those of PEPCK1 decreased in response to LPS in an age-specific manner. These differences were attenuated (by approximately 20-25%) in animals treated with shRNA against nSMase-2.
Conclusions: (i) LPS stimulates hepatic expression of nSMase2 mRNA. (ii) Liver-specific silencing of nSMase-2 is achievable in vivo; (iii) in spite of a relatively moderate efficacy of silencing, a statistically significant reversal of LPS effects on IGFBP1 and PEPCK1 can be detected, confirming the role of NSMase2 in APR and indicating a possible therapeutic use of targeting nSMase-
P61: Comparison of serum sphingosine-1-phosphate levels among euthymic, manic and depressive patients with bipolar disorder.
Yesim OZTAS1, Burcu ESER2, Serdar ATIK2, Ahmet YALCINKAYA1, Murat SEMIZ2, Murat ERDEM2, Husamettin GUL2
1Hacettepe University, 2Gulhane Military Medical Academy
Objective: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a chronic and overwhelming psychiatric condition with manic-depressive episodes. Sphingolipids are biologically active lipids ubiquitously expressed in the CNS. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid acting through G-protein-coupled receptors. It has regulatory roles in endothelial injury, inflammation, and thrombosis in vascular biology. Increase of serum S1P levels was reported to have a role in stress-induced anxiety. In a recent study S1P receptor gene is reported as one of the susceptibility genes in BD. We hypothesized that serum levels of S1P might have been different among patients with manic, depressive or euthymic forms of BD.
Methods: There were three groups in the study involving euthymic (N=14), manic (N=10) and depressive (N=7) patients. Plasma samples (100 μl) were mixed with 500 μl of methanol containing an internal standard (IS) colchicine. Supernatants were separated after centrifugation. An Agilent 1260 Infinity UPLC system was used for chromatography. Total run time was 10 minutes; the flow rate was 0.5 ml/min with solvent A, water (10 mM ammonium acetate, 0.1% formic acid) and solvent B, methanol (0.1% formic acid). The eluent was directly introduced into a mass spectrometer by electrospray. An Agilent 6420 triple quadrupole mass spectrometer was used. S1P and IS were analyzed in positive ion mode and multiple reaction monitoring with ion pairs 380.2/264.3 and 400.2/358.2 respectively.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference between S1P levels among groups.
Conclusion: This is a preliminary study and S1P levels should be investigated in larger number of patients with BD.
P62: A drosophila neurodegenerative autophagy mutant perturbs sphingolipid metabolism, autophagic clearance, and stress signalling.
Rachel KRAUT1, Ishtapran SAHOO2, Sarita HEBBAR3, Kate OSBORNE4, Artur MATYSIK4, Irene ARGUDO1, Dominik Schwudke5
1Tu Dresden, 2Ncbs, Bangalore, 3Mpy-cbg, Dresden, 4Ntu, Singapore, 5Research Cr. Borstel
Objective: We propose that imbalances in ceramide metabolism are a key factor in determining the neurodegenerative severity of a Drosophila autophagy mutant, blue cheese. Shotgun lipidomics on blue cheese mutant brains reveals increased ceramide levels, as well as expected sphingolipidomic changes in n-Ceramidase and n-Sphingomyelinase processing mutants that modify the degeneration in blue cheese. Mutant neurons show defects in autophagic trafficking and clearance of sphingolipids, an imbalance in de novo vs. recycled sources of sphingolipids, and alterations in growth vs. stress signaling by members of the MAPK and insulin cascades. Surprisingly, although total ceramides are higher in blue cheese mutant brains and RNAi-S2 cells, genetic backgrounds that increase the available ceramide pool rescue all phenotypes observed, including neuronal death, ceramide accumulation in autophagosomes, autophagic vesicular trafficking, MAPK signaling defects, and ER stress. Increasing autophagic flux by rapamycin treatment similarly rescues blue cheese degeneration, but also reverses the signaling defects in blue cheese RNAi cells.
P63: Molecular mechanisms of Atg7 and p53 in regulation of sphingolipid-dependent autophagy.
Abigail WASHISPACK1, Sarah RUSSO1, Ashley COWART1
1Medical University Of South Carolina
Objective: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DbCM) is defined as significant changes in the structure and function of the heart in the absence of coronary artery disease and hypertension. Recently our lab found that cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and autophagy play a role in the development of DbCM in a mouse model and that inhibiting de novo sphingolipid synthesis attenuated this process. In vitro studies of fatty acid oversupply revealed that hypertrophy and autophagy are dependent on ceramide synthase 5 (CerS5) and we identified various autophagy-associated genes, including Atg7, that were upregulated in DbCM in a sphingolipid-dependent manner. Interestingly many of these genes are p53 targets. Further cells studies revealed that sphingolipids induced p53, and loss of p53 prevented sphingolipid-dependent autophagy. This indicated that p53, at least in part, mediates sphingolipid-dependent autophagy. Studies from other labs suggest that direct binding of Atg7 to p53 may regulate p53 function under some conditions. Therefore we tested whether Atg7-p53 association is sphingolipid-dependent and/or required for autophagy induction. Using proximity ligation assay technology and confocal imaging we found that Atg7 and p53 association is increased under autophagy-inducing conditions, and that this association is decreased with knockdown of CerS5. Furthermore, we found that nuclear levels of p53 are regulated by sphingolipids. From these results we conclude that Atg7 and p53 are important mediators of sphingolipid-induced autophagy and that their association may be regulated by specific sphingolipid species and in turn regulate sphingolipid-induced autophagy.
P64: Defining regulation of the sphingolipid network in response to doxorubicin.
Justin Snider1, Achraf Shamseddine1, Brittany Carroll1, Christopher Clarke1, Lina Obeid1, Darryl Pappin2, Yusuf Hannun1
1Stony Brook University, 2Cold Spring Harbor
Objective: Sphingolipids have been implicated in numerous cellular biologies, both pro-and anti-growth; however, the study of the enzymes responsible for their metabolism has been hindered by difficulties in detection. Furthermore, these enzymes represent a dynamic network in which a “single” signal results in diverse responses leading to multiple potential biologies, specifically in cancer progression. Our lab is exploring the effects of both lethal and sub-lethal doses of doxorubicin to mimic the decreasing clinical concentrations of chemotherapeutics over time. In MCF7 cells sub-lethal and lethal doses of doxorubicin result in biphasic ceramide generation paralleling two distinct biologies; growth arrest and apoptosis, respectively. While antibodies are available for some of the sphingolipid enzymes, there is a need for a systems approach to examine the role of sphingolipid enzymes, their metabolic products, and the resulting biologies in response to doxorubicin treatment. To this end, LC/MS/MS methods were developed to quantify 32 enzymes central to sphingolipid metabolism and monitor flux in sphingolipid content generated by this enzymatic regulation. The studies presented here will determine the role of sphingolipids and their metabolizing enzymes in response to chemotherapeutics.
P65: Characterization of cholesterol homeostasis in sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase-deficient fibroblasts.
Hans VIENKEN1, Agnes RUDOWSKI1, Nathalie MABROUKI1, Alexander KOCH1, Josef PFEILSCHIFTER1, Dieter LÜTJOHANN2, Gerhild VAN ECHTEN-DECKERT3, Dagmar MEYER ZU HERINGDORF1
1Institut Für Allgemeine Pharmakologie Und Toxikologie, Klinikum Der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt Am Main, Germany, 2Institut Für Klinische Chemie Und Klinische Pharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Germany, 3Membranbiologie Und Lipidbiochemie Einheit Des Life And Medical Sciences (LIMES) Instituts, Universität Bonn, Germany
Objective: Mice lacking sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) lyase have a strongly reduced life span and suffer from multiple organ defects, immunosuppression, and accumulation of S1P and sphingosine in cells and tissues. Interestingly, these mice have enhanced plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides while suffering from strongly reduced body fat. Aim of the study was to further analyze the link between S1P lyase and cholesterol homeostasis using embryonic fibroblasts from S1P lyase-deficient mice (Sgpl1-/–MEFs).
Results and Conclusions: Since we had observed that ABCA1, which transports both S1P and cholesterol, was upregulated in Sgpl1-/–MEFs, we initially speculated that accumulation of S1P triggered reverse cholesterol transport. However, total cholesterol content was not altered in Sgpl1-/–MEFs grown in serum-free medium, and it was even enhanced in the presence of 10 % FCS. In agreement, the uptake of [3H]cholesterol was enhanced while [3H]cholesterol release was unaltered, and the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor was upregulated in the knockout MEFs.These alterations were in line with an upregulation and enhanced proteolytic activation of the transcription factor, sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-2. Interestingly, the expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase was decreased, leading to reduced formation of biosynthetic precursors of cholesterol in Sgpl1-/–MEFs. Expression and phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase was not altered. We conclude that decreased HMG-CoA reductase expression and activity leads to activation of SREBP-2 which in turn induces ABCA1 and LDL receptor and increases cholesterol uptake in Sgpl1-/–MEFs.
P66: Sphingosine kinase 1 regulates adiponectin expression.
Andrea ANDERSON1, Johana LAMBERT1, Ashley COWART1
1Medical University Of South Carolina
Objective: Obesity affects more than 1/3 of the United States population and is associated with various pathophysiological conditions, which may arise in part from increased plasma lipids. Previous studies from our lab showed that palmitate induced sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1), leading to such outcomes as Il-6 production from skeletal muscle. Adipose tissue secretes cytokines and hormones and this is affected by obesity; thus we sought to test a role of SK1 in adipocyte function. We used a combination of methods including: in vitro models of primary adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) isolated from wild type and whole-body SK1-/- mice, in vivo models of adipose-specific SK1 deletion and obesogenic diets, quantification of lipids by LC/LC/MS, qRT-PCR, and western blotting. The adipocyte-specific cytokine adiponectin is a potent regulator of metabolic homeostasis, and we observed an increase in adiponectin mRNA expression in undifferentiated ADSCs isolated from SK1-/- mice compared to wild type, suggesting that SK1 may suppress adiponectin expression. Furthermore, we observed over the course of differentiation, S1P-mediated suppression of adiponectin mRNA compared to control. We then performed an S1P-dose response experiment, and found that S1P effectively suppresses adiponectin mRNA expression at a maximum concentration of 40 nM. This specificity indicated to us that the effects on adiponectin may be mediated through an S1P receptor. S1P receptor expression changed over the course of differentiation. These outcomes are under current investigation in mice with adipocyte-specific deletion of SK1. The involvement of the SK1/S1P axis in adiponectin regulation may present a novel target for obesity-related therapies.
P67: Roles for sphingolipid metabolism in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Michael HARLAND1, L. Ashley COWART1
1Medical University Of South Carolina
Objective: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a progressive disease in which triacylglycerols first accumulate in the liver, and in 10-20% of cases, this progresses to an inflammatory state referred to as nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Factors that promote this progression remain unknown. We developed a mouse model of progressive NAFLD by feeding a high saturated fat diet, which induced profound hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and pro-fibrotic signaling. Previous studies from our lab demonstrated that saturated fatty acids upregulated Sphingosine Kinase 1 (SphK1), and we found elevated SphK1 message in liver in this model and in human NASH samples. Consistent with a role for SphK1 in NAFLD progression, SphK1-/- mice fed a high fat diet were protected from inflammation. In addition to proinflammatory signaling, sphingosine 1-phophate induced ER stress in cultured hepatocytes, and ER stress is increasingly appreciated as a component of NASH. During the course of these studies we found that Ceramide Synthase 6 (CerS6) expression was also increased in the mouse model of NAFLD, yet remained unchanged in SphK1-/- mice. CerS6 expression was also increased following treatment of hepatocytes with sphingosine 1-phosphate, suggesting a possible cross-talk between different sphingolipid metabolic enzymes in NAFLD. We observed regulation of ER stress by manipulating CerS6. We speculate that this novel cross-talk between branches of sphingolipid metabolism may at least in part underlie the relationship between inflammation and ER stress in NAFLD, and regulation of this pathway by saturated fatty acids may promote progression of hepatic steatosis to NASH.
P68: Intracellular SK2-derived S1P mediates EGF-induced ERM phosphorylation and cancer invasion.
Mohamad ADADA1, Daniel CANALS1, Yusuf HANNUN1, Lina OBEID1
1Stony Brook University
Objective: ERM (ezrin, radixin, and moesin) proteins are a group of adaptor molecules linking the cortical actin cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane, and are emerging as critical regulators of cancer metastasis and progression via regulation of cell morphology and motility. Recently, our lab has identified S1P as an acute and potent ERM activator (via phosphorylation) through its action on its receptor S1PR2. We have also demonstrated that S1P-mediated filopodia formation, a first step in cell invasion, is through ERM activation. Growth factors are known activators of ERM proteins; however, it is not known if this involves the newly related S1P/S1PR2 axis as well as upstream metabolites of the sphingolipid pathway. Using pharmacological inhibitors, siRNA technology as well as genetic approaches, we have demonstrated that SK2 is not only essential but also sufficient in EGF-mediated ERM phosphorylation. Surprisingly, and for the first time, we proved that this event, although dependent on S1PR2 activation, does not require extracellular S1P secretion. Finally, we identified SK2 and S1PR2 as two novel and potent targets in the pathway of EGF-driven invasion. In fact, the inhibition of SK2 or S1PR2 eradicated EGF-mediated lamellipodia formation, and subsequent adhesion and extracellular matrix invasion. We also showed that SK2 overexpression increases EGF-mediated adhesion and invasion in an erin dependent manner. In conclusion, this body of work does not only uncover new mechanistic insights for EGF-mediated invasion, it also set the stage for two novel alternative therapeutic targets that could be of utmost importance especially in patients that become resistant to current EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
P69: Neutral sphingomyelinase-2 mediates a protective role by mediating S phase arrest in reponse to doxorubicin.
Achraf SHAMSEDDINE1, Christopher CLARKE1, Michael AIROLA1, Brittany CARROL1, Lina OBEID1, Yusuf HANNUN1
1Suny Stony Brook
Objective: p53 is a tumor suppressor involved in mediating responses such as cell cycle arrest, DNA repair, and apoptosis in response to stress. While mutations in the p53 gene are associated with aggressive cancers, a shift in thought suggests that the presence of mutant p53 in cancer cells leads to better clinical outcomes after chemotherapy. This is based on the rationale that chemotherapeutics are DNA damaging agents and hence mutant p53 impairs endogenous defense mechanisms of cancer cells resulting in death without repair of the damage. However, synergistic inhibition of p53 with chemotherapy is not a viable option, as it would result in side effects. As such, targeting effectors of specific arms of p53 biology would be one avenue to explore. Neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2) generates the bioactive lipid ceramide by hydrolyzing sphingomyelin. It has been implicated in biologies such as cell cycle arrest and apoptosis.
Methods: We use molecular biology techniques of siRNA silencing, flow cytometry, qRT PCR and immunoblotting Results: Here we show that, in MCF7 breast cancer cells, nSMase2 is activated in a dose-dependent manner by doxorubicin to generate ceramide. Moreover, this is concomitant with a p53-dependent S phase arrest that is abolished by knockdown of nSMase2. Finally, this inhibition of S arrest in nSMase2 knockdown cells results in failure to resume growth in these cancer cells following doxorubicin treatment.
Conclusion: Taken together, our data suggest that inhibition of nSMase2 could have synergistic benefits if combined with DNA damaging chemotherapeutics in the context of non-mutant p53 breast cancer.
P70: Deoxysphingolipids as neurotoxic intermediates of systemic taxane treatment.
Katrin Anne BECKER1, Anne-Kathrin UERSCHELS1, Joan COLGLAZIER2, Jacek BIELAWSKI2, Erhard BIEBERICH3, Stefka SPASSIEVA2,
1University Of Essen, Germany, 2Medical University Of South Carolina, USA, 3Georgia Regents University, USA
Objective: Taxanes are chemotherapy drugs widely used for treatment of variety of cancers, such as breast, ovarian, lung, prostate, bladder, Kaposi sarcoma. In some cases taxanes are used as the last line of treatment. A major dose limiting side effect of taxane treatment is peripheral neuropathy compromising its effectiveness. With our study we tested weather the levels of a neurotoxic class of lipids, the deoxysphingolipids, are elevated in the dorsal root ganglia of mice treated with a taxane. We also compared in vitro in neurons, the toxic effect of taxanes and deoxysphingolipids.
Methods: Lipids were extracted from ganglia isolated from mice intraperitoneally injected (three times with four weeks in between intervals) with a taxane (docetaxel) and subjected to quantitative mass spectrometry analyses of sphingolipids. We used immunocytochemistry analyses to compare the effect of taxanes and deoxysphingolipids in neurons.
Results: We observed significant elevation of deoxysphingolipid levels (i.e. deoxydihydroceramide, deoxyceramide, deoxysphinganine, and deoxysphingosine) in the mouse ganglia after the administration of the third taxane injection. Not all deoxysphingolipid species were affected the same way. Interestingly, deoxydihydroceramide and deoxyceramide species with unsaturated fatty acid moieties were not elevated. While ceramide levels were elevated, too, the levels of sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate were not. Importantly, our in vitro data showed that only deoxysphingosine treatment resulted in morphological changes in the neurons; taxane and the sphingosine treatments did not.
Conclusion: taken together our data suggest that in the dorsal root ganglia, deoxysphingolipids are the likely toxic intermediates of the systemic taxane treatment.
P71: Associations between vitamin d and lpa receptor expressions in pregnant women and their infants living in Yozgat region, Turkey.
Ayse Yesim GOCMEN1, Emel KIYAK CAGLAYAN2, Namik DELIBAS3
1Bozok University, Medical Faculty, Biochemistry Dept., 2Bozok University, Medical Faculty, Obstetrics ADept.nd Gynecology , 3Hacettepe University, Medical Faculty, Biochemistry Dept.
Objective: Vitamin D (Vit D) induced phospholipase D (PLD) activity results in the production of diacylglycerol (DAG), which stimulates protein kinase C (PKC). Another consequence of PLD activation is the production of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a bioactive lysophospholipid that has recently been implicated in the regulation of bone and cartilage. These findings implicated LPA as a second messenger in Vit-D-directed signaling. In this study we aimed to study associations between lysophosphatidic acid(LPAR) expressions in pregnant women and their infants at delivery living in Yozgat region, Turkey. We studied 50 pregnant women within a prospective longitudinal study of maternal nutrition and lifestyle before and during pregnancy. Using high-resolution ultrasound, we measured fetal femur length along with head and neck circumference. Vitamin D, Vit D receptor, LPA and LPA receptors levels were measured in serum, placental fluid and tissues samples with ELISA. Pregnant women with serum vitamin D levels less than 5 ng/ml were classified as Vitamin D deficient group (n=14), the rest were controls (n=36). In placental tissue, the levels of Vit D, Vit D receptor, LPA and LPA receptors were all low in deficiency. In placental fluid, the levels of Vit D, Vit D receptor and LPA were all low in deficiency and in serum samples only LPAR levels were decreased in deficiency. In linear regression analysis serum and placental vitamin D and PLA levels were associated with femoral size. Correlation revealed the strength of LPA levels observed associations and their statistical significance in pregnant women. Our results demonstrated that levels of Vit D, LPA and their receptor were reduced in placental tissues in Vitamin D deficiency. Additionally, these reductions in placental tissues might also be associated with the rapid removal of the possible complexes formed by Lpa and autoantibodies by various cells. Further studies should be performed to investigate the role LPA acting in placenta during bone development.
P72: Selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 5 agonists can modulate lipid content in the brain and thereby potentially treat neurodegenerative disorders.
Elizabeth L VAN DER KAM1, Sean C TURNER1, Michael OCHSE1, Jeroen VAN BERGEIJK1, Reinhold MUELLER1, Mario MEZLER1, Katja HEMPEL1, Adrian HOBSON2, Christopher M HARRIS2, Alfred HAHN1, Anton BESPALOV1, Beatrice RENDENBACH-MUELLER1
1AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & CO KG, 2AbbVie Bioresearch Center
Objective: Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) plays an important role as a regulator of signal transduction, cellular plasticity, cell proliferation, membrane stability/BBB integrity, and is proposed to modulate the ceramide-S1P and cholesterol homeostasis. S1P exerts these actions through G protein-coupled receptors, such as the brain-preferred S1P5 receptor. Given these actions, S1P5 agonism could potentially be a beneficial treatment for neurodegenerative disorders.
Methods: AbbVie has developed highly selective S1P5 receptor agonists, such as A-971432. A-971432 has an EC50 of 10 nM on the hS1P5 receptor with a large selectivity window. As the molecule shows excellent pharmacokinetic properties and good brain penentration, it was examined in models to test the hypothesis that selective S1P5 agonists will a) reduce CNS, but not peripheral lipid content, b) improve cognition, and c) change disease progression as assessed in a model mimicking key features of AD.
Results: Sub-acute treatment with A-971432 (7 days) in either T-maze (0.03 mg/kg – 3 mg/kg) or MWM/ORT (0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg) fully reversed the age-related cognitive deficits with a minimale effective dose of 0.1 mg/kg (40 ng/mL). Concomitantly, A-971432 normalizes the age-related CNS sphingolipid imbalance without affecting plasma levels. In a murine model of Niemann Pick C disease (NPC), A-971432 was able to improve the behavioral phenotype (dystonia, motor impairment), promote survival, normalize CNS sphingolipid content, and normalized Amyloid-β levels in the CSF.
Conclusion: These data indicate that S1P5 agonism provides an innovative mechanism for the potential treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as AD and lysosomal storage disorders such as Niemann Pick C.
P73: Ceranib-2, a novel ceramidase inhibitor, induces apoptosis of prostate cancer cells.
Gokhan KUS1*, Selda KABADERE2, Ruhi UYAR2, Hatice Mehtap KUTLU3
1Department of Health Programme, Open Faculty, Anadolu University, 2Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, 3Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Anadolu University, Eskisehir, Turkey
Objective: Ceramide has been identified as an important second messenger that plays important roles in various aspects of inducing apoptosis. We questioned ceranib-2, a novel ceramidase inhibitor, affects the survival of prostate cancer cells (LnCaP and DU145) in vitro.
Methods: The cell viability was determined with MTT and apoptosis with flow cytometry. We examined structural changes both with confocal and transmission electron microscopy.
Results: Comparing to the control 0.1, 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 μM ceranib-2 reduced the percentage of viable LNCaP cells to 84, 80, 64, 56, 40 and 15 after 24 hr and 81, 74, 60, 55, 27 and 11 % after 48 hr, respectively. Treatment of DU145 cells with the same six doses of ceranib-2 lowered numbers of living cell by 84, 82, 63, 50, 41 and 18 % after 24 hr; 64, 42, 30, 20, 8 and 5 % in 48 hr, respectively. Observed early apoptotic rate of LNCaP cells were 5 and 36 % after 24 hr and 15 and 60 % after 48 hr treatments with 25 and 50 μM ceranib-2, respectively. The signs of apoptosis were detected as fragmented nuclei, chromatin condensations and cytoskeleton laceration in the cells.
Conclusions: Ceranib-2 posseses a strong dose and time dependent survival decreasing effect on both prostate cancer cell lines.
P74: Evaluation of an inhibitor of human ceramidases, ceranib-2 induced apoptosis cytotoxicity on MCF7 cells.
H. Mehtap Kutlu1, Djanan Vejselova1, Gokhan KUS1*
1Anadolu University, Faculty of Science, Department of Biology, Eskişehir, Turkey, Department of Health Programme, Open Faculty, Anadolu University
Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the potential cytotoxic effects of ceranib-2 on MCF7 cells and its effects on MCF7 cell structure.
Methods: Cytotoxic effects of ceranib-2 on MCF7 cells was detected via MTT test system. Dilutions prepared from the stock solution (in DMSO) of ceranib-2 was applied on MCF7 cells (1×104 cells/well) for 24 hours at 37 °C and 5% CO2 in air. The plates were read on ELISA reader (ELx808), at wavelength of 540 nm (n=3). For detecting the structural alterations IC50 concentration of ceranib-2was applied on MCF7 cells for 24 hours. Treated cells were stained with Alexa fluor-488 phalloidine and acridine orange and observed under confocal microscope.
Results: Viability percentages and IC50 (13μM) value were determined. Morphological alterations detected on our confocal micrographs were damaged cytoskeleton as hole formation, shrinked cells and fragmented and condensed nuclei as apoptotic hallmarks.
Conclusion: According to our results, ceranib-2 caused structural changes in MCF7 cells morphology. We can conclude that ceranib-2 showed high cytotoxicity on MCF7 cancer cells in low concentrations and may be encouraging in designing of pharmaceutical products helpful in cancer treatment.
P75: Yeast sphingolipid protein intraction network: function annotation for YDL222C.
F. Betul KAVUN OZBAYRAKTAR1
1Bogazici University Department Of Chemical Engineering
Objective: Sphingolipids are both structural and regulatory components of the cell, where they control processes decisive in cell’s fate. The first effort of constructing the protein-protein interaction network of sphingolipids in Saccharomyces cerevisiae enabled us to understand the details of the topological properties of the newly constructed network as well as to assign functions to some of the uncharacterized proteins involving in the network of sphingolipids. The topological analysis of sphingolipid related proteins, especially those under clinical trials for cancer therapy, yielded novel potential drug targets. Novel interactions are predicted using a newly developed integrated methodology employing sequence and structure based computational interaction prediction tools, orthology, expression profiles, co-localization information and Gene Ontology (GO) terms. The sphingolipid network shows topological properties of a scale-free, small-world, and modular structure, as it is the case for biological networks. The function annotation of uncharacterized proteins of the network is performed using a multi-dimensional hybrid method which combines the results from modules and neighbors, and examines them by information gathered from genetic interactions, expression profiles, and sequence similarity. The here constructed sphingolipid network coupled with the newly developed hybrid function annotation method constitutes an efficient platform for function annotation and drug target identification.
Very long chain ceramides interfere with c16- ceramide-induced channel formation: a plausible mechanism for regulating the initiation of intrinsic apoptosis.
Johnny STIBAN1, Meenu PERERA2,
1Birzeit University, 2University Of Maryland
Objective: Mitochondria mediate both cell survival and death. The intrinsic apoptotic pathway is initiated by the permeabilization of the mitochondrial outer membrane to pro-apoptotic intermembrane space proteins. A number of pathways are known to cause the egress of IMS proteins. Of particular interest is the ability of ceramide to self-assemble into dynamic water-filled channels. The formation of ceramide channels is regulated extensively by Bcl-2 family proteins as well as by dihydroceramide, the immediate precursor in the de novo biosynthetic pathway. Here, we present evidence that the chain length of biologically active ceramides serve as an important regulatory factor. Ceramides are synthesized by a family of six mammalian ceramide synthases (CerS) each of which produces a subset of ceramides that differ in their fatty acyl chain length. Interestingly, the presence of very long chain ceramides reduces the potency of C16-mediated permeabilization of mitochondria indicating that the intercalation of the lipids in the dynamic channel is destabilizing. Moreover, cells overexpressing the ceramide synthase responsible for the production of C16-ceramide (CerS5) are more vulnerable to etoposide compared to cells over expressing CerS2 (very long chain fatty acyl ceramides). We also find that co-overexpression of CerS2 and CerS5 reduces the fraction of dead cells upon etoposide treatment, indicating that the product of CerS2 inhibits C16-channel formation in vivo. This interplay between different ceramide metabolic enzymes and their products adds a new dimension to the complexity of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis, and emphasizes its importance as a key regulatory step that commits cells to life or death.
Ceramide-induced biophysical alterations in membranes of live cells.
Ana Ester VENTURA1, Sandra PINTO1, Ana Raquel VARELA1, Anthony FUTERMAN2, Manuel PRIETO1, Liana SILVA3,
1Instituto Superior Tecnico, 2Weizmann Institute Of Science, 3Faculdade De Farmácia
Objective: Ceramides are involved in the regulation of several cellular events and implicated in a number of diseases. It has been hypothesized that their mechanism of action is related to the changes promoted by these lipids in the biophysical properties of cell membranes. The main goal of this study was to evaluate ceramide-induced alterations in membrane biophysical properties of live cells. Formation of ceramide upon treating HEK, HeLa or SW620 cells with TNF-α or bacterial sphingomyelinase (bSMase) led to a marked increase in the formation of intracellular vesicles compared to untreated cells. Analysis of membrane order through the variation of Laurdan generalized polarization (GP) showed that these vesicles are more ordered than the plasma membrane or intracellular membranes, displaying GP values typical of a gel phase. Both the extent and biophysical properties of the vesicles was cell-type dependent. Inhibition of neutral sphingomyelinase yielded a clear decrease in the number of vesicles and in the global order of the membrane. These results further suggest that alterations in membrane biophysical properties are driven by ceramide formation. To further evaluate the biological significance of ceramide-induced vesicles, studies were performed to address whether these vesicles would traffic along the endosomal-lysosomal pathway. A time-dependent increase in the colocalization of those vesicles with the endosomal and lysosomal markers, Rab5 and Lamp1, respectively, was observed. This was accompanied by a time-dependent increase in the order of the vesicles, suggesting that ceramide might be a modulator of the endo-lysosomal pathway by changing the biophysical properties of endocytic vesicles.
Unravelling the biophysical properties of sphingolipids: from model to cell membranes.
Ester VENTURA1, Raquel VARELA2, Sandra PINTO3, Amelia GONCALVES DA SILVA4, Anthony FUTERMAN5, Liana SILVA6, Manuel PRIETO3,
1IMed.UL – Research Institute For Medicines And Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculdade De Farmácia;Centro De Química-Física Molecular, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal, .- 2IMed.UL – Research Institute For Medicines And Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculdade De Farmácia, Universidade De Lisboa, Portugal; Weizmann Institute Of Sciences, Dept Of Biological Chemistry, Rehovot, Israel; Centro De Química-Física Molecular, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal, – 3Centro De Química-Física Molecular, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal, – 4Centro De Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Tecnico, Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal, – 5 Weizmann Institute Of Science, Dept Of Biological Chemistry, Rehovot, Israel, – 6IMed.UL – Research Institute For Medicines And Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculdade De Farmácia Universidade De Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
Objective: Sphingolipids (SLs) have emerged as an important class of lipids due to their bioactive role in several cellular events and in disease. The evidence that several SL species participate in the formation of lipid domains, and that this might underlie their biological mechanism of action has fostered research in the biophysical aspects of bioactive SLs. This work will focus on two important SLs – ceramide and glucosylceramide – and their interplay with other lipid components in simple and complex membrane models.
Methods: A combination of biophysical methodologies that include fluorescence spectroscopy, confocal and two-photon microscopy, surface pressure-area measurements, were used to elucidate the effects of these lipids on the biophysical properties of membranes with different lipidic components and displaying different phase properties.
Results: Our results showed that lipid-lipid interactions are modulated by alterations in the membrane environment, such as changes in pH. Moreover, small structural differences of these lipids influence their packing properties, membrane shaping and lateral organization. The importance of the headgroup, acyl chain length and unsaturation, on the modulation of membrane properties will be discussed in the framework of results obtained for cellular membranes.
Conclusion: Model membrane systems allow to predict the biophysical and biological implications of these lipids in cellular membranes. Supported by FCT (Portugal) grants PTDC/BBB-BQB/0506/2012 and RECI/CTM-POL/0342/2012, SFRH/BD/69982/2010 to ARV, Investigador FCT 2014 to LCS.
Ceramide synthase 4 is involved in the regulation of adult hair follicle stem cell populations.
Franziska PETERS1, Susanne VORHAGEN1, Susanne BRODESSER2, Kristin JAKOBSHAGEN3, Jens C. BRÜNING4, Carien M. NIESSEN1, Martin KRÖNKE3,
1Department Of Dermatology, 2Cologne Excellence Cluster On Cellular Stress Responses In Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD) , 3Institute For Medical Microbiologie, Immunology And Hygiene,4Institute For Genetics
Objective: Ceramides are crucial for skin barrier function but little is known whether stem cell populations that control epidermal regeneration depend on specific ceramide species. Our study shows that ceramide synthase 4 (CerS4) is highly expressed in adult murine epidermis where it is localized in the interfollicular epidermis and specific compartments of the hair follicle where CerS4+ cells co-localize with bulge hair follicle stem cell markers. Inactivation of CerS4 led to precocious activation of hair follicle bulge stem cells. This was manifested in a loss of quiescent label retaining cells and in a continuous growth state of CerS4-/- hair follicles at a time point where CerS4+/+ hair follicles had entered the resting phase. This ultimately led to an almost complete depletion of bulge stem cells in one-year old mice. At the time point where CerS4+/+ hair follicles had entered the resting phase a reduction in BMP target gene mRNA expression was identified in CerS4-/- epidermis, indicating a decrease in BMP signaling. As BMP activity promotes entry into the resting phase and quiescence of bulge stem cells this may explain the inability of CerS4-/- hair follicle stem cells to properly enter the resting phase. Further the reduction in BMP activity likely promoted enhanced Wnt target gene mRNA expression in CerS4-deficient mice. Our data reveal an essential role of CerS4 in the regulation of hair follicle stem and progenitor cell activation and dynamics. In conclusion our data suggest a novel mechanism to hair follicle stem cell activation.
10th Meeting
10th Meeting
Assisi, Italy, June 27-30, 2013
Oral Presentations
OP1
María Garrido1, José Luis Abad1, Alicia Alonso2, Antonio Delgado1,3, L. Ruth Montes2, Félix M. Goñi2
1Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC), Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM). Jordi Girona 18‑26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.2Unidad de Biofísica (CSIC-UPV/EHU), and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Aptdo. 688, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.L. Ruth Montes, Phone: +34 946 018 050, Email: lidiaruth.montes@ehu.es3Universidad de Barcelona, Facultad de Farmacia, Unidad de Química Farmacéutica, Avda. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Ceramide analogues containing azide groups either in the polar head or in the hydrocarbon chains are non-fluorescent. When incorporated into phospholipid bilayers they can react in situ with a non-fluorescent 1,8‑naphtalimide using click chemistry giving rise to fluorescent ceramide derivatives emitting at ≈440 nm. When incorporated into giant unilamellar vesicles, two-photon excitation at 760 nm allows visualization of the ceramide-containing bilayers. This kind of method may be of general applicability in the study of membrane and cell membranes.
OP2
Torretta E. 1, Vasso M. 1,2 , Fania C. 1, Capitanio D. 1, Bergante S. 1,3, Piccoli M. 1,3, Anastasia L. 1,3, Gelfi C. 1,2
1 Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Segrate (Milan), Italy; 2 Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, Cefalù (Palermo) Segrate (Milan), Italy; 3 Laboratory of Stem Cells for Tissue Engineering, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato (Milan), Italy
Glycosphingolipids are a wide class of ubiquitous lipids, characterized by a great structural and functional variety. Altered levels have been correlated with different diseases, suggesting their crucial role in health. To date, characterization is mainly based on TLC, followed by antigen antibody reactions or by radioactive labelling. Recently, new mass spectrometry strategies have been developed. Herein we set up an online HPTLC-MALDI method combining high resolving power and mass accuracy.
Different matrices solutions were tested to set up the best conditions for matrix delivery to improve GSLs detection, resulting in DHB matrix in 50% acetonitrile as the best matrix, 50mg/mL for neutral GSLs and 100 mg/mL for acidic GSLs. Calibration curve of a neutral GSL (Gb3) and of a ganglioside (GM3) were constructed to demonstrate the applicability of HPTLC-MALDI method to quantitative analyses. The aqueous and organic phases extracted from wild-type and overexpressing NEU3 sialidase C2C12 murine myoblasts, were analysed by HPTLC, followed by MALDI-TOF and results compared to [3H]sphingolipids radiolabeled HPTLC. MS resolution allowed to identify several species with similar retention factor on the HTPLC plate, and that could not be resolved with the radiolabelling. Neutral GSLs (SM, Gb3, LacCer, GlcCer) and gangliosides (GM1, GM2, GM3, GD1a) were identified as C16:0, C22:0, C24:1 and C24:0 chains. GM3, the physiological substrate of NEU3, is decreased in NEU3 over-expressing cells, as assessed by radioactive quantitative measurements. Interestingly, by HPTLC-MALDI, spectra indicated that two GM3 isoforms decreased (d18:1 C16:0 and d18:1 C22:0) while d18:1 C24:1 increased.
HPTLC-MALDI is an easy and high-throughput analysis for the qualitative and quantitative characterization of GSLs suggesting its use for their profiling with high specificity and sensitivity.
OP3
Ingrid Nieves1, Ruth Montes2, Jesús Sot2, Alicia Alonso2, José Luís Abad1, Antonio Delgado1,3
1Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Dept. of Biomedicinal Chemistry, IQAC-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain; 2University of País Vasco, Dept. of Biochemistry, Unit of Biophysics, CSIC‑UPV/EHU, Bilbao, Spain
3University of Barcelona, Faculty of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Experiments with bioactive sphingolipids (SLs) in model membranes are currently hampered by a lack of adequate experimental conditions able to mimic the physiological environment. To analyze membrane microdomains that are temporarily enriched in certain lipids, it is necessary to employ high molar concentrations of SLs analogues, or fluorescence tags that strongly influence the properties of lipid bilayers, such as BODIPY or NBD. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a series of GABA-polyene-n‑Doxyl fluorescent probes, specifically designed as biochemical tools to allow the study of model membranes at low lipid concentrations, closer to physiological conditions. These compounds contain a fluorescent polyene system, acylated with an internal n‑Doxyl radical able to act as a fluorescence quencher. This probe has enabled the development of a simple biophysical method to experimentally identify the formation of lipid domains. Thus, fluorescence of the GABA-polyene-n‑Doxyl system depends on the rigidity or fluidity of the lipid environment. The absorption and fluorescence properties of the probes, when incorporated into artificial vesicles, were monitored by espectrofluorimetry (for LUVs) or by fluorescence confocal microscopy (for GUVs). Preparation of rigid‑ordered liposomes with DSPC or DPPC showed a decrease of the fluorescence intensity versus fluid-disordered membranes of DOPC or eggPC. Moreover, it was observed that the conformational mobility of the n-Doxyl group was crucial for intramolecular fluorescence quenching, a property that was used as diagnostic to determine the characteristics of the membrane phosphoglycerolipids.
As a result, GABA-polyene-nDoxyl compounds may be of utility as novel fluorescent lipid probes to identify rigid-fluid domains in model membranes.
OP4
Andrea Lazzarini1,2 Elisabetta Albi1*†, Giuseppina Perrella2† , Remo Lazzarini1, Samuela Cataldi1, Alessandro Floridi1, Emanuela Floridi1, Francesco Saverio Ambesi-Impiombato2, Francesco Curcio2
1 Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, Research Center of Biochemical-Specialized Analyses CRABioN, 06100 Perugia (Italy); 2Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine (Italy)
In cell nucleus the sphingomyelin (SM) cycle is regulated by an exact internal mechanism. In no-stimulated cells exist a balance between neutral-sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) and sphingomyelin-synthase (SM-synthase) activity that maintains constant the SM level, stabilizing the double helix of DNA thanks to the trimethylammonio group that binds to the phosphate group of DNA and apolar fatty acids that bind to the hydrophobic centres of the helical DNA. The increase of the nuclear SM concentration during cell proliferation stimulates the SMase activity during the S phase of the cell cycle, thus favouring the destabilization and the opening of the double helix of DNA and the beginning of its synthesis. The winding of a double helix being restored as soon as DNA synthesis finishes and SM-synthase activity is stimulated. During apoptosis specific the gene expression and DNA fragmentation are accompanied by the change of nuclear SM content. Recently the nuclear N-SMase/SM-synthase ratio was considered a marker of cell function. In fact it was very high in apoptotic cells, medium in pro-apoptotic cells, low in proliferating cells and very low in quiescent cells. Here we studied for the first time whether in thyroid FRTL-5 cells the proton beams could change nuclear SM metabolism by comparing the results with that occurred in nuclei-free lysates (NFL) at the end to identify their role on functional state of the cells. In the nucleus proton beams stimulated 1.09 times N-SMase activity and inhibited 1.9 times that of SM-synthase in nuclei purified from quiescent cells whereas stimulated 12.44 times N-SMase activity and unchanged that of SM-synthase. The effect was very low in NFL lipid enzymes. As a consequence, the nuclear N-SMase/SM-synthase ratio was 1.06 and 1.77 in nuclei of quiescent and proliferating cells respectively, indicating that protons induced quiescent cells in a propaoptotic state whereas its value in proliferating cells was between the proapoptotic state and apoptotic state, as supported by bax expression that was higher in proliferating than in quiescent cells. The analysis of nuclear SM and ceramides by UFLC-MS/MS showed the variation of these lipids after proton treatment. In conclusion, the damage of proton beams on epithelial thyroid cells depends on their physiological state, whether they are stimulated or not with thyrotropin to proliferate. The nuclear SM metabolism is involved in the mechanism of action of protons.
OP5
Gemma Fabrias,1 José Luis Abad,1 Josefina Casas,1 Maria Garrido,1 Ingrid Nieves,1 Pedro Rayo,1 and Antonio Delgado1,2
1Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Barcelona, Spain. 2Universidad de Barcelona (UB), Facultad de Farmacia, Unidad de Química Farmacéutica (Unidad Asociada al CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Progress in the understanding of sphingolipid metabolism and functions has benefited from the contribution of chemistry. Structural analogs, enzyme inhibitors and receptor agonists and antagonists have been employed as pharmacological tools and some of them have reached relevance in a therapeutic context.
An overview of recently reported compounds of use in sphingolipid research is given in this talk. Furthermore, unpublished ongoing studies carried out with novel 1-deoxysphingolipid analogs are presented. Biological screening of these analogs has revealed the appropriateness of some of the compounds as probes to profile ceramide synthase activities in intact cells, while potent and selective neutral ceramidase inhibitory activity has been disclosed by other molecules of the library. Future directions include the development of suitably functionalized derivatives amenable to orthogonal reactions with fluorescence tags for subcellular trafficking studies.
OP6
Carlotta Fabiani 1, Anna Caretti 1, Annalisa Guala 1, Josefina Casas 2, Gemma Fabriàs 2, Riccardo Ghidoni 1, Paola Signorelli 1.
1 , Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital, Italy;2, Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Catalan Institute of Advanced Chemistry (IQAC/CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Sphingolipids have crucial roles in retinal pathologies (Rostein et al 2010). Recently, increase in Ceramides has been correlated with rat retinal light-induced oxidative stress and degeneration (Chen et al. 2013). In a murine model of human Retinitis Pigmentosa (rd10 mutant mice), we demonstrated that inhibition of Ceramide synthesis and accumulation rescued photoreceptors from age-related apoptosis (Strettoi et al. 2010).Our aim is targeting sphingolipid metabolites to reduce oxidative damage in a retinal photoreceptor cell colture, 661W cone-like cells. In this study we focalized our attention on sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and its pro-survival and proliferative activity. We inhibited S1P degradation, by THI treatment, reducing stress response signaling, pro-apoptosis Ceramide accumulation and promoting survival to oxidative stress. Murine 661W cone-like cell line, was treated with 75µM 2-acetyl-4-(1(R),2(S),3(R),4-tetrahydroxybutyl)-imidazole (THI), an inhibitor of S1PLyase, for 2 hours; next, cells were treated with 1mM H2O2 for different times. We showed that enhanced stability of S1P, obtained through THI administration, reduces H2O2 inhibitory effect on cell viability.
The evaluation of Ceramides content by UPLC/TOF analysis, showed an augment in short-chain Ceramides (16:0 and 18:0) in stressed cells, that is contrasted by THI. At the same time, oxidative stress produced a decrease in long-chain Ceramide (24:0), which was not altered by THI. MAP kinase phosphorylation is involved in photoreceptors protection from oxidative stress (German et al. 2006). We demonstrated that THI reverses H2O2 -induced ERK1/2 de-phosphorylation. Activation of AKT plays an important role in cell survival. Specifically phosphorylation of Ser473 was shown to be enhanced under stress in different cell models (Yung et al. 2011), including oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelial cells (Lee et al. 2011). Pre-treatment with THI reduced H2O2 -induced Akt phosphorylation on Ser473.
OP7
Francesca Cingolani, Cindy Nájera, Josefina Casas and Gemma Fabrias
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Barcelona, Spain.
Compound SKI II (4-((4-(4-chlorophenyl)thiazol-2-yl)amino)phenol) is a dual inhibitor of sphingosine kinases 1 and 21exhibiting anti-proliferative activity on several human cancer cell lines with IC50 values in the low µM range (0.9-4.6 µM).2 In their study on the role of sphingosine kinases in the resistance of A2780 ovarian cancer cell line to N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (HPR), Illuzi et al.3 showed that cells treated with SKI II produced significantly more dihydroceramides than controls, although remarkably less than cells treated with HPR alone or in combination with SKI II. On the other hand, Tonelli et al.4 have recently reported that SKI II induces oxidative stress, which is known to inhibit Des1 activity.5 These overall data suggested that SKI II might inhibit Des1, thereby not being specific for sphingosine kinases.
In this communication we report that, at the concentrations used to inhibit sphingosine kinases, SKI II inhibits the desaturation of dihydroceramide-C6NBD to ceramide-C6NBD both in intact cells and in cell lysates. In the first case, SKI II inhibits proliferation of gastric adenocarcinoma HGC27 cells with a concomitant increase in dihydroceramide levels. Similar activities were elicited by the non-phenolic polyaromatic drug celecoxib, also reported to inhibit Des1.6 The effects of both SKI II and celecoxib on autophagy and cell cycIe in correlation with changes in the sphingolipidome are presented and discussed.
In conclusion, SKI II inhibits Des1 and therefore, caution must be taken when interpreting data based on the use of this compound as a pharmacological tool.
OP8 poster
Kira Blankenbach1, Holger Stark2, Josef Pfeilschifter1, Andrea Huwiler3, Dagmar Meyer zu Heringdorf1
1Institut für Allgemeine Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Germany; 2Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Germany; 3Institut für Pharmakologie, Universität Bern, Switzerland
Fingolimod is a novel immunosuppressive drug which has been approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. It is a prodrug of fingolimod-phosphate which acts as superagonist at the S1P receptors, S1P1,3,4,5, and induces lymphopenia by internalizing the S1P1 receptor.
Here, we analysed whether the novel compounds, ST968 and ST1071, which are structurally related to fingolimod, interacted with S1P1-3. Internalization of S1P1, S1P2 and S1P3 was studied with GFP-tagged receptors transiently expressed in CHO cells. After 2 h of exposure, both ST968 and ST1071 (1 µM each) induced internalization of S1P1 and S1P3, but not S1P2, similar to fingolimod. When the cells were incubated for 2 h with the respective agonists, washed, and analysed ~22 h later, S1P1 was still internalized in cells treated with ST968, ST1071, and fingolimod-phosphate, but not in S1P-treated cells. S1P receptor-induced [Ca2+]i increases were analysed in CHO cells stably transfected with GFP-tagged S1P1, S1P2 or S1P3 plus the Gαqi5 protein which links Gi-coupled receptors to Gq signalling pathways. S1P (1 µM) induced [Ca2+]i increases in all three cell lines, while fingolimod-phosphate (1 µM) was active in S1P1– and S1P3-, but not S1P2-expressing cells. ST968 and ST1071 (1 µM each) induced [Ca2+]i increases in S1P3-expressing cells but were inactive in S1P1– or S1P2-expressing cells. In conclusion, ST968 and ST1071 represent interesting novel structures which interact with S1P receptors.
OP9 poster
Pol Sanllehí1, Jordi Bujons2, Josefina Casas1 and Antonio Delgado1,3
1Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Departament de Química Biomèdica, Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), 2Department de Química Biològica i Modelització Molecular, Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), 3Facultat de Farmàcia, Unitat de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Universitat de Barcelona
Accumulating evidence indicate that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) modulates many noxious processes that follow CNS injury. Thus, the discovery of novel neuropretective therapies may arise from interventions on S1P metabolism. S1PL is a PLP-dependent enzyme that irreversibly cleaves S1P into 2‑trans‑hexadecenal and phosphoethanolamine. Despite the capital role of S1PL in controlling the intracellular levels of S1P, the number of available pharmacological tools to modulate its activity is scarce.
A homology model of human S1PL was built using templates derived from the structures of prokaryotic and yeast S1PLs (PDB 3MAD and 3MC6, respectively), which show around 40 % sequence identity with the human protein. The obtained modelled protein allowed a first massive in silico screening of potential S1PL inhibitors. Therefore, MOE’s Lead-Like database of 653.200 compounds was screened against the 3MAD-derived model using standard docking protocols. Among the best scored compounds, a subset of 28 molecules were chosen (mainly based on availability criteria), purchased and tested using our previously reported assays. It is worthy of mention the inhibitory activities exerted by, at least, 4 compounds of the selected set, which were comparable to those of the reference compound FTY-720. Finally, a general pharmacophore for the S1PL inhibitory activity was elucidated regarding the common structural features of the more active compounds. This general pharmacophore led us to the design of a series of new putative S1PL inhibitors.
Herein we present the homology modelling and structure-base drug design (SBDD) studies of human S1PL, which allowed us to find a small series of compounds with promising S1PL inhibitory activity. As a result of the resulting pharmacophore, a family of new potential inhibitors was designed and synthesized.
OP10 poster
1Realini Natalia, 1Pizzirani Daniela, 1Pagliuca Chiara, 1Armirotti Andrea, 1Bandiera Tiziano, 1Marco De Vivo, 1,2Piomelli Daniele
1Unit of Drug Discovery and Development, Italian Institute of Technology, 16163 Genoa, Italy
2Departments of Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-4625
New therapeutic strategies for overcoming chemo-resistance include the stimulation of ceramide accumulation through increased ceramide synthesis or inhibition of ceramide degradation. Acid ceramidase (AC)is an ubiquitous cysteine hydrolase that catalizes the hydrolysis of ceramide into sphingosine and fatty acid within the lysosome. The expression of AC is up-regulated in several types of human cancer, making this enzyme an interesting pharmacological target for cancer therapy. We here report that the anticancer drug, 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (carmofur), is a potent AC inhibitor and that this mechanism may contribute to its anti-cancer properties. Carmofur inhibits native and recombinant rat AC activity in broken cell preparations with a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 29±5 nM (n=4). The effect is partially reversible and occurs through a non-competitive mechanism. Studies in various cancer cell lines (including SW403 and LNCaP) showed that carmofur inhibits AC activity and increases ceramide levels in intact cells. Furthermore, in vivo administration of carmofur in mice resulted in a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of AC activity, which was accompanied by an elevation of ceramide levels in various organs and tissues (Realini et al., Sci. Rep., 2013). A systematic SAR study around the uracil scaffold allowed a first elucidation of critical structural features associated with AC inhibition and the identification of the first single-digit nanomolar inhibitors (Pizzirani et al., J.Med.Chem., 2013). Selected compounds were found to inhibit AC activity and elevate ceramide levels with high potency. Importantly, such compounds displayed a marked synergistic effect with 5-FU and other chemotherapeutic drugs in decreasing colon cancer cell viability.
Our studies identify the first class of potent AC inhibitors. These compounds will be useful to investigate the functions of ceramide in vivo, and may represent a starting point for the development of novel chemosensitizing agents for cancer therapy.
OP11 poster
Alejandro Garanto a,b,c, Nawajes M. Mandal d,e , Meritxell Egido-Gabás f, Gemma Marfany a,b,c, Gemma Fabriàs f, Robert E. Anderson d,e,g, Josefina Casas f, Roser Gonzàlez-Duarte a,b,c
a Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. b Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. c CIBERER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain. d Dean McGee Eye Institute, Oklahoma City, USA. e Department of Ophtalmology, University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA. f Research Unit on BioActive Molecules (RUBAM), Departamento de Química BioMédica, Instituto de Química Avanzada de Catalunya, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain. g Department of Cell Biology, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA
Sphingolipids (SPLs) are finely tuned structural compounds and bioactive molecules involved in membrane fluidity and cellular homeostasis. The core sphingolipid, ceramide (CER), and its derivatives, regulate several crucial processes in neuronal cells, among them cell differentiation, cell-cell interactions, membrane conductance, synaptic transmission, and apoptosis. Ceramide Kinase-Like (CERKL) is a gene causing autosomal recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa and Cone Rod Dystrophy. The presence of a conserved lipid kinase domain and the overall similarity with CERK suggested that CERKL might play a role in the SPL metabolism as a CER kinase. Unfortunately, CERKL function and substrate(s), as well as its contribution to the retinal ethiopathology, remain as yet unknown. In this work we aimed to characterize the mouse retinal sphingolipidome by UPLC-TOF to first, thoroughly investigate the SPL composition of the murine retina, compare it to our Cerkl -/- model, and finally assess new possible CERKL substrates by phosphorus quantification and protein-lipid overlay. Our results showed a consistent and notable decrease of the retinal SPL content (mainly ranging from 30% to 65%), particularly evident in the glucosyl/galactosylceramide species (Glc/GalCer), while the fatty acids, phospholipids and neutral lipids remained unaltered. Moreover, evidence in favor of CERKL binding to GlcCer, GalCer and sphingomyelin has been gathered. Altogether, these results highlight the involvement of CERKL in the SPL metabolism, question its role as a kinase, and open new scenarios.
OP12
Edward H. Schuchman
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
The enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) was first described in rat brain homogenates by Professor Shimon Gatt at the Hadassah Medical Center in Israel in the early 1960s, and was later found to be the enzyme deficient in the lysosomal storage disorder, Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) Types A & B, by Dr. Roscoe Brady at the National Institutes of Health in the United States. Due to its acidic pH optimum and the predominant lysosomal storage of sphingomyelin in NPD patients, ASM was presumed to be an exclusively lysosomal housekeeping protein involved in membrane turnover within this cellular compartment. In the mid-1990s Richard Kolesnick at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York postulated that ASM had an extra-lysosomal function in radiation-induced apoptosis, and also participated in the re-organization of lipid signaling domains in the plasma membrane through the generation of ceramide. This hypothesis was confirmed using mice deficient in ASM activity (ASMKO mice) constructed at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, which were protected from radiation-induced apoptosis. Subsequent studies by numerous investigators have confirmed the broad role of ASM in stress-induced cell signaling, and the importance of the enzyme in diverse diseases such as fibrosis, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and others. Numerous outstanding questions remain, however, including the mechanism of transport of intracellular ASM to the cell surface upon stress induction, and the precise compartment(s) at the cell surface in which it functions. In addition, since recombinant ASM is currently in clinical development as a therapy for NPD patients, the potential of this enzyme for cancer therapy also has been suggested. This overview will discuss the complex biology of ASM and its role in cell signaling and human disease.
OP13
Alessandro Floridi1, Giacomo Cascianelli1, Andrea Lazzarini1,2, Remo Lazzarini1, Emanuela Floridi1, Francesco Saverio Ambesi-Impiombato2, Elisabetta Albi1*
1 Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, Research Center of Biochemical-Specialized Analyses CRABioN, 06100 Perugia (Italy); 2Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine (Italy)
The inner nuclear membrane is internally covered with the nuclear lamina, which comprises a meshwork of intermediate filaments located on the endonuclear surface associated with chromatin transcriptionally active. We have recently demonstrated in inner nuclear membrane the presence of the lipid microdomains that act as platform for active chromatin. Like cell membrane lipid rafts, the nuclear lipid microdomains (NLM) are rich in sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol (CHO) content and appear as a homogenous population of closed, spherical or ovoid vesicle-like structures with an average diameter in the range of 300-600 nm. The marker of nuclear lipid microdomains is the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3. Their plasticity, due to neutral-sphingomyelinase (N-SMase), sphingomyelin-synthase (SM-synthase) and reverse sphingomyelin-synthase (RSM-synthase) activity, influences nuclear function. In cell proliferation the INM play a role as platform for on DNA synthesis and transcription process. It has been supposed that the decrease of SM, due to the activation of N-SMase at the beginning of the S phase of the cell cycle, could be responsible for the destabilization of the double strand DNA, favouring its despiralization and new synthesis. Differently the increase of SM, due to the activation of SM-synthase at the end of the S phase of the cell cycle, could be responsible for the transcription process. Here we have performed for the first time a lipidomic study of the NLM purified from liver nuclei by UFLC-MS/MS mehod.
Our results show that the species of SM more representative of nuclear membrane such as SM 18:1 12:0, SM 18:1 16:0, SM 18:1 18:1, SM 24:0 are present also in NLM but the analysis of the difference of the two structures highlights that NLM is very rich of SM 24:0. Among all ceramide species considered, such as ceramide 18:1 16:0, ceramide 18:1 18:0, ceramide 18:1 20:0, ceramide 18:1 24:0, the level of ceramide 18:1 24:0 is strongly reduced in comparison to that of the nuclear membrane. Also the value of phosphatidylcholine (PC) 16:0 18:1, PC 16:0 20:4 and PC 18:1 18:0 are lower than those present in nuclear membrane. 2-arachidonoyl glycerol is absent in NLM.
OP14
Lília R. Cordeiro Pedrosaa, Albert van Hellb, Regine Süssc, Wim van Blitterswijk e, Ann L.B Seynhaeve a, Wiggert A. van Cappellend, Alexander M.M Eggermonta,e, Timo ten Hagena, Marcel Verheijb,e,f and Gerben A. Koninga
aLaboratory Experimental Surgical Oncology, Section Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC – Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam,3000 CA, The Netherlands bDivision of Biological Stress Response, eDivision of Cellular Biochemistry, and fDepartment of Radiotherapy, The Netherlands Cancer Institute – Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam,1066 CX, The Netherlands cDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg,D79104, Germany, dOptical Imaging Centre, Erasmus MC Center, Rotterdam, 3000 CA,The Netherlands, eInstitut de Cancerologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, Paris, 94800,France
To improve nanoliposomal-doxorubicin (DoxNL) delivery in tumor cells using liposome membrane-incorporated short-chain sphingolipids (SCS) with selective membrane-permeabilizing properties. DoxNL bilayers contained synthetic short-chain derivatives of known membrane microdomain-forming sphingolipids; C8-glucosylceramide (C8-GluCer) C8-galactosylceramide (C8-GalCer) or C8-lactosylceramide (C8-LacCer). Methods: DoxNL enriched with C8-GluCer or C8-GalCer were developed, optimized and characterized with regard to size, stability and drug retention. In vitro cytotoxic activity was studied in a panel of human tumor cell lines and normal cells. Intracellular Dox delivery was measured by flow cytometry and visualized by fluorescence microscopy. For a further understanding of the involved drug delivery mechanism confocal microscopy studies addressed the cellular fate of the nanoliposomes, the SCS and Dox in living cells. In vivo efficacy studies were performed in nude mice bearing human A431 xenografts. Standard and SCS-enriched Dox-NL were administered intravenously via the tail vein and tumor growth and body weight measurements were conducted for a period of 14–20 d. Results: C8-LacCer-DoxNL aggregated upon Dox loading. In tumor cell lines SCS-DoxNL with C8-GluCer or C8-GalCer demonstrated strongly increased Dox delivery and cytotoxicity compared to standard DoxNL. Surprisingly, this effect was much less pronounced in normal cells. Nanoliposomes were not internalized and SCS transfer from the nanoliposomal bilayer to the cell membrane preceded cellular uptake and subsequent nuclear localization of Dox. In vivo efficacy showed treatment of nude mice bearing human A431 xenografts with 6 mg/kg GluCer-Dox-NL almost doubled the tumor growth delay compared with standard DoxNL. A second administration of 5 mg/kg after 3 d induced even 3-fold delay in tumor growth, while no systemic toxicity was found. Conclusion: SCS incorporated in DoxNL selectively improved intracellular drug delivery through transfer to tumor cell membranes by local enhancement.
OP15
Guillaume Poiroux1, Elodie Lafont1, Hervé Benoist1, Toshiro Okazaki2, Thierry Levade1 and Bruno Ségui1
1 INSERM UMR1037-Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, BP84225, 31432 Toulouse cedex 4, France. 2 Department of Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan.
Ceramide, a biologically active sphingolipid, is considered as an anti-oncometabolite, promoting apoptosis and non-apoptotic forms of cell death. The intracellular levels of ceramide are highly regulated via complex metabolic pathways. Sphingomyelin synthases (SMS) 1 and 2 convert ceramide to sphingomyelin (SM), a ubiquitous phospholipid in mammals. Controversy exists in the literature concerning the role of SMSs in stress-induced apoptosis.
We previously reported that SMS1 and, albeit to a lesser extent, SMS2 inhibit CD95-triggered ceramide increase and apoptosis (Lafont et al, 2010 Cell Death Diff.; Lafont et al, 2012 Biochim Biophys Acta). Our unpublished data indicated that SMS1 is also able to partially inhibit TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. Whereas SMS1 overexpression impaired TRAIL-triggered ceramide increase, caspase activation and apoptosis, SMS1 knockdown had opposite effects. One should note however that, under our experimental conditions, sphingomyelin level was not or minimally affected by the modulation of SMS1 expression, most likely as a consequence of sphingolipid metabolism adaptation. We are currently investigating the role of SMS1 and 2 in death receptor signalling, using SV40-transformed mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from SMS1 knockout (KO), SMS2 KO or SMS1 and 2 double KO embryos. Our very recent observations indicate that SMS KO MEFs partially resist CD95L and TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The resistance was associated with profound alteration of sphingolipid composition, including sphingomyelin decrease, as evaluated by mass spectrometry.
On the one hand, SMSs inhibit death receptor signalling, most likely through their ability to convert ceramide to sphingomyelin. On the other hand, complete and sustained inhibition.
OP16 poster
Daniel Canals and Yusuf A. Hannun
Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, US.
Different reports have identified activation of a few proteins by ceramide (e.g. PKC, protein phosphatases, cathepsin D, etc). However, the mechanism of action of ceramide is not known. We have recently published that ceramide and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) differentially regulate the cytoskeletal protein ezrin. Thus, S1P activates ezrin through receptor S1P2, while plasma membrane ceramide drives to ezrin dephosphorylation. We have identified protein phosphatase 1 isoform alpha (PP1a) necessary for the ceramide effect. Resolving how ceramide generation results in PP1a activation will shed some light on the molecular mechanism of ceramide not only on PP1a but also on other proteins known to be directly regulated by ceramide.
After describing PP1a as necessary for ceramide-dependent ezrin dephosphorylation, we have found that PP1a is also activated in vitro by ceramide towards general phosphatase substrates and towards recombinant phosphorylated ezrin. After proving the direct in vitro interaction, we also showed that a pool of PP1a translocate to ceramide-enriched plasma membrane fractions in vivo, and this interaction is dependent of ceramide as we showed by the use of recombinant sphingomyelinase and ceramidase enzymes treatment.
For the last half century, ceramide have been described as a bioactive lipid. However, no molecular mechanism has been described. We found a protein that gets activated in vitro and in vivo by ceramide. This activation seems to occur by direct interaction between the lipid and the phosphatase. If we are able to demonstrate the existence of a ceramide binding motif, it will be the first time to understand the molecular mechanism of how this lipid works.
OP17 poster
María Jose Hernández-Corbacho1, Daniel Canals1, Yusuf A. Hannun1, Lina M. Obeid1, 2
1 Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, U.S.A.; 2 The Northport VA Medical Center, Northport, NY 11768, U.S.A.
In the last decades, the important role of the sphingolipd ceramide as mediator and regulator of cell death has emerged. The enzymes ceramide synthases (CerS) catalyze the N-acetylation of the (dihydro)sphingosine backbone to produce (dihydro)ceramide. In mammals, six different ceramide synthases have been described (CerS1-6), each of which synthesizes ceramides with different acyl chain lengths. We hypothesized that CerSs/ceramide mediate plasma membrane permeabilization during programmed cell death induced by TNFα.
Our group has recently described the role of CerS5 and CerS6 on plasma membrane permeabilization in UV-induced programmed-cell death (Mullen TD et al, J Biol Chem. 2011), and more recently, preliminary data supports the role of Cers on TNFα-induced programmed cell death. Pre-treatment of breast cancer cells MCF-7 with the ceramide synthase inhibitor fumonisin B1 (FB1) protected TNFα-induced cell death (measured by MTT reductase activity) and the lost of plasma membrane integrity (measured by LDH release into the medium as well as by trypan blue dye exclusion). However, the inhibitor of serine-palmitoyl transferase myriocin (Myr), the first step of the de novo pathway, failed to do so. Furthermore, FB1 partially blocked the activation of caspase-7 after TNFα, as well some downstream events such as DNA fragmentation, cell rounding and phosphatidylserine externalization.
These data suggest a key role for CerSs/ceramide regulating TNFα-induced plasma membrane permeabilization, a late event of programmed cell death. Furthermore, CerSs most likely are involved in the salvage pathway and not the de novopathway synthesis of ceramide as FB1, but not Myr, prevented TNFα-induced cell death.
OP18
Paola Bruni, Francesca Cencetti, Chiara Donati
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche,Università di Firenze,Viale GB Morgagni 50 50134 Firenze, Italy
Sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) is a potent lipid signaling molecule that plays a pivotal role in the control of key biological processes including proliferation, differentiation, motility and survival in numerous cell systems. Studies performed in the last 20 years have clarified that S1P metabolism within cells is highly regulated and S1P evokes specific biological responses in a cell-specific manner acting either as intracellular messenger or as ligand of five distinct G protein coupled receptors named S1P1-5.
Past investigation of the biological role exerted by S1P signaling axis in cultured mouse skeletal myoblasts accomplished in our laboratory have clearly demonstrated that exogenous S1P influences key biological parameters. Moreover, S1P metabolism appears to be critical for the control of myoblast proliferation as well as their differentiation. More recently, inside-out S1P signaling has been shown to be required for the signaling of growth factors that physiologically control skeletal muscle regeneration. For example, PDGF and IGF1, are capable of regulating S1P metabolism and, via the engagement of distinct S1P receptors, address their complex biological action towards a reduced proliferation rate and enhanced motility or differentiation. A complex cross-talk between TGFbeta and S1P signaling axis has also been highlighted, that accounts in part for the detrimental pro-fibrotic and pro-apoptotic effects of this cytokine.
Overall these results are in favor of a pleiotropic role of S1P signaling axis in the complex process of skeletal muscle regeneration. Moreover, they suggest that a focused pharmacological intervention could represent an innovative strategy to improve skeletal repair that is impaired in many myopathies.
OP19
Marcin Baranowski1, Agnieszka U. Błachnio-Zabielska1, Fleming Dela2, Jørn W. Helge2
1Department of Physiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland; 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
We have previously reported that exercise acutely increased plasma levels of sphingoid base-1-phosphates. This finding prompted us to examine the possible role of skeletal muscle in this effect.
Ten healthy males were subjected to three consecutive periods of one-leg knee extension exercise separated by 30min of rest. First subjects exercised with one leg for 30min at 25% of maximal workload (Wmax), then with the other leg for 120min at 55% of Wmax, and finally again with the first leg for 30min at 85% of Wmax. The biopsies of vastus lateralis muscle from the working leg, and blood samples from the radial artery as well as from both femoral veins were taken before and after 30, and 120 minutes of exercise. The content of free sphingoid bases, their 1-phosphates and ceramides was determined using an LC/MS/MS.
Muscle sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) level was markedly increased by exercise at both 55 and 85% of Wmax. In the latter case there was also an elevation in sphinganine content. Exercise did not affect venous plasma concentration of the examined sphingolipids in either working or resting leg. On the other hand, arterial plasma S1P level was increased by exercise at 25 and 55% of Wmax. Baseline S1P concentration in the venous plasma was ~29% higher as compared to the arterial one. However, the arteriovenous difference in S1P level in both working and resting leg tended to shift from a negative value before to a positive value after exercise. In addition, exercise at 85% of Wmax decreased the arteriovenous difference in sphingosine level to a negative value (from a positive one at rest) in both legs.
Exercise increases muscle S1P level in a time- and intensity-dependent manner. However, blood drained from working muscles is not enriched in S1P. Nevertheless, our results suggest that during intense exercise muscles may release sphingosine to the circulation which could contribute to enhanced S1P synthesis in blood cells.
OP20
Éva Ruisancheza, Péter Dancsa, Dorottya Móréa, Stefan Offermannsb, Zoltán Benyóa
aInstitute of Human Physiology and Clinical Experimental Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest,Hungary; bMax Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
We aimed to examine the effect of S1P on the vascular tone and to elucidate the underlying signaling pathways. Thoracic aorta segments were isolated from adult male wild type (WT), as well as S1P2, S1P3 receptor and Gα12/13 knock-out (KO) mice and investigated under isometric conditions with myography. The effect of S1P on the basal tone as well as the potential changes in K+– and phenylephrine-induced vasoconstrictions during and after the incubation with S1P were determined.
S1P (10 µM) induced weak contraction in WT segments (9±1% compared to the effect of 124 mM K+, mean±SEM), which was abolished by the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 (2±1%). The contractile effect of S1P was similar in S1P3-KO (11±1%) but was absent in S1P2-KO (0±1%) and Gα12/13-KO (1±2%) vessels. Incubation with 10 µM S1P for 20 minutes enhanced the contractile effect of 20 mM K+ in WT segments (121±8% compared to the mean response before incubation). This potentiation was present in S1P3-KO (132±10%) but not in S1P2-KO (102±5%) and Gα12/13-KO (104±2%) vessels. Interestingly, K+-induced contractions remained elevated even 3 hours after the removal of S1P in WT (136±8%) and S1P3-KO rings (141±9%). This sustained potentiation was absent in S1P2-KO (105±8%) and Gα12/13-KO (108±2%) vessels. Co-incubation with Y-27632 prevented the augmenting effect of S1P on K+-induced vasoconstriction (100±4%) but the potentiation occurred surprisingly after the removal of S1P and Y-27632 (135±5% after 3 hours). Furthermore, the contractile effect of 0.1 μM phenylephrine was also enhanced in the presence of 10 μM S1P (119±7%) and further increased after its removal (158±7% at 3 hours).
S1P enhances the contractile responsiveness of the vascular smooth muscle via S1P2 receptor – Gα12/13 – Rho-kinase signaling. This effect persists for hours after S1P exposition and may contribute to the development of vasospasm under conditions associated with enhanced S1P production.
OP21
Paola Giussani1, Elena Riccitelli1, Clara Di Vito1, Cristina Tringali1, Rossella Galli2, Paola Viani1, Laura Riboni1
1Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20090 Segrate, Milan, Italy; 2Neural Stem Cell Biology Unit, Division of Regenerative Medicine Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is an oncopromoter molecule, favouring growth, invasion, and therapy-resistance of tumours, including glioblastomas (GBM), the most frequent and aggressive human brain tumours. Increasing evidence show that GBM stem-like cells (GSCs), a subpopulation of cells with the exclusive ability to self-renew and maintain the tumor, might contribute to GBM aggressiveness and resistance to therapy. We investigated S1P secretion by GSCs, and its possible role in cell survival. To this purpose we used GSCs isolated from the human U87 glioblastoma cell line (U-SC) and GSCs derived from a primary culture of human glioblastoma (L0627). We found that both GSC models efficiently form neurospheres in mitogen-defined medium, and express high levels of recognized neural-stem cell markers. Moreover, GSCs exhibited resistance to temozolomide, despite not expressing the DNA repair protein MGMT, a major contributor to temozolomide-resistance. Further analyses revealed the presence of S1P, not only inside the cells, but also in the culture medium from both GSCs and U87. Notably the extracellular S1P level was found much higher in GSC models than in U87 cells, and the ratio between extracellular and intracellular S1P was 1:10 and 1:1 in U87 and GSCs, respectively. Enzyme activity assays excluded SKs presence in GSC medium, implicating an efficient secretion of S1P in GSCs. Intriguingly, concomitant treatment with temozolomide and a SKs inhibitor made GSCs sensitive to drug toxicity. Furthermore, S1P administration promoted cell survival after this co-treatment.
Altogether our data implicate GSCs as an important source of extracellular S1P, which might act as an autocrine signal contributing to the survival, stemness and chemoresistant properties of GSCs.
OP22
Mercedes Garcia-Gil1 ,Andrea Lazzarini2, Remo Lazzarini2, Emanuela Floridi2, Elisa Bartoccini2, Alessandro Floridi2, Elisabetta Albi2.
1Department of Biology , University of Pisa, 56127, Pisa (Italy); 2 Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, Research Center of Biochemical-Specialized Analyses, 06100 Perugia (Italy)
Understanding the mechanism of apoptosis is necessary to improve the use of stem cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In HN9 embryonic hippocampal cells, serum deprivation induces apoptosis preceded by sphingomyelinase (SMase) activation and raise of ceramide levels. It is not known so far whether the SMase degrades all the species of sphingomyelins (SMs) in the same way and if it is the only enzyme that uses SM to produce ceramide. In order to begin to address this aspect still unclear about the relationship between SM and HN9.10 apoptosis, we carried out the analysis of the main species of SM and phosphatidylcholine (PC) with the idea that SM could be partly used as a source of phosphorylcholine to synthesize PC. To better investigate this possibility we measured the enzymatic activity of the reverse-SM synthase. In addition, since the ceramides involved in starvation-induced cell death are unknown, we have studied the content of ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate species as metabolites of SM produced by both SMase and reverse-SMsynthase.
Cells have been incubated with 10% (control) or 0.2% fetal calf serum for 48 h (deprived). Lipid species has been separated and measured by ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Reverse-SMsynthase activity was assayed by using 14C labelled SM.
The results show that serum deprivation reduces total SM and in particular 18:1/16:0 SM whereas it increases total PC and in particular 18:1/18:0 PC. There is a 2-fold increase of ceramides 18:1/ 16:0 and 18:1/ 24:0 and of sphingosine-1-phoshate 18:1. Following serum deprivation, the activity of Reverse-SM synthase remains constant for 8 h, increases afterwards up to 3.82 –fold compared to control at 48h. In conclusion, SMase activation might lead to decrease of SM 18:1/16:0, increase in ceramide 18:1/16:0 which can originate sphingosine-1-phoshate 18:1. In addition SM could be a source for PC synthesis with fatty acid rearrangement.
Individual ceramide species regulated by specific pathways in distinct subcellular compartments might execute distinct cellular functions.
OP23
Martin Krönke, Carola Pongratz, Susanne Brodesser, Franziska Peters, Carien Niessen, Jens Brüning
Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Center for Molecular Medicine, Institute for Genetics, and Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-assoiated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Germany
Ceramide (Cer) forms the structural backbone of all sphingolipids and has been implicated in functionally important membrane processes. In mammals, Cer consists of a fatty acid of variable chain length linked by an amide bond to C-2 of the long-chain base, sphinganine, or sphingosine. N-acylation of the long-chain base is catalyzed by a family of six ceramide synthases (CerS), each of which uses a relatively restricted subset of acyl CoAs for N-acylation. The generation of mouse strains deficient for individual CerS genes made it possible to address fundamental questions about specific functions of ceramide species of distinct acyl chain lengths. CerS1 knockout mice display an obvious phenotype as they are significantly smaller than their wildtype littermates and exhibit movement disorders. CerS1-/- mice show a 7-fold decrease of Cer C18:0 in skeletal muscle compared to wt littermates, which is similar to the values of aged mice. CerS1-/- mice displayed significantly smaller femoral muscle relative to whole body mass. Histochemical analysis revealed a loss of predominantly type 2 muscle fibers characteristic of sarcopenia, the most prominent age-related muscle disorder. Muscle cells from CerS1-/- mice spontaneously release TNF secondary to enhanced activity of the TNF-converting enzyme TACE. Mechanistically loss of Cer C18:0 leads to a disruption of membrane microdomains leading to a displacement of TACE in membrane sections where the tight regulation of its activity is unleashed.
CerS4 deficient mice display epidermal thickening and hair loss as they age. Mass-spectrometry of the stratum corneum (the outermost epidermal layer) of CerS4- deficient mice revealed a most prominent reduction of C20:0 and C22:0 non-hydroxylated Cer and hydroxylated 22:0 Cer. These mice develop an increase in thickening of the interfollicular epidermis (IFE) due to altered interfollicular differentiation, whereas the hyper-keratinization of the epidermis is caused by hyper-proliferation. The advent of the LoxP Cre technology makes it possible to generate conditional CerS knock-out mice, which has become a valuable tool for the characterization of tissue- and time-specific functions of individual CerS.
OP24
Mirella Belleri1, Roberto Ronca1, Daniela Coltrini1, Beatrice Nico2, Domenico Ribatti2, Pietro L. Poliani1, Arianna Giacomini1, Patrizia Alessi1, Sergio Marchesini1, Marta Santos3, Ernesto R. Bongarzone3, and Marco Presta1.
1Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy.2Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari, Italy.3Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA.
Globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease) is a neurological disorder of infants caused by genetic deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme β-galactosylceramidase leading to accumulation of the neurotoxic metabolite psychosine in the central nervous system. Angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in the physiology and pathology of the brain.
Here, we demonstrate that psychosine has antiangiogenic properties by causing the disassembling of endothelial cell actin structures at micromolarconcentrations as found in the brain of globoid cell leukodystrophy patients. Accordingly, significant alterations of microvascular endothelium were observed in the post-natal brain of twitcher mice, an authentic model of globoid cell leukodystrophy. Also, twitcher endothelium showed a progressively reduced capacity to respond to pro-angiogenic factors that was restored by lentivirus-mediated murine β-galactosylceramidase cDNA transduction. Finally, RNA interference-mediated β-galactosylceramidase gene silencing causes psychosine accumulation in human endothelial cells and hampers their mitogenic and motogenic response to vascular endothelial growth factor. Accordingly, significant alterations were observed in human microvasculature from brain biopsy of a globoid cell leukodystrophy case.
Together these data demonstrate that β-galactosylceramidase deficiency induces significant alterations in endothelial neovascular responses that may contribute to central nervous system and systemic damages that occur in globoid cell leukodystrophy.
OP26
Marthe-Susanna Wegner, Ruth Anna Wanger, Daniela Hartmann, Nerea Ferreirós, Gerd Geisslinger, Sabine Grösch
Pharmazentrum frankfurt/ ZAFES, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt/ Main, Germany.
Previously, we could show that ceramide synthase 4 and 6 (CerS4, 6) are significantly upregulated in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast tumors in comparison to ER-negative breast tumors. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms leading to CerS increase and its contribution to tumor growth.
The expression of CerS2,4,5 and 6 is in MCF-7 (ERα/ERβ) and MDA-MB-231 (ERβ) cells increased after treatment with 17β-Estradiol. Promoter reportergene assays revealed that only the promoter of CerS4 and CerS5 are responsive to estradiol. Nevertheless, co-treatment of cells with estradiol and Fulvestrant (a selective ERα down-regulator) completely prevented the induction of CerS expression in MCF-7 cells whereas it has no effect in MDA-MB-231 cells. Also CerS activity is slightly affected by estradiol treatment within 4h in both cell lines. Interestingly, the proliferation promoting effect of estradiol in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells could be prevented by the non-selective CerS inhibitor Fumonisin and by the de novo sphingolipid synthesis inhibitor Myriocin but only in part by the acid shingomyelinase inhibitor Desipramine, indicating that the sphingolipid de novo synthesis is important for the tumor promoting effect of estradiol whereas the salvage pathway plays only a minor part.
Our in vitro studies revealed that CerS expression is dependent on estradiol treatment in human breast cancer cells and that an enhancement of sphingolipid de novo synthesis is important for the proliferation promoting effect of estradiol.
OP27
Aneta Dobierzewska, and Lihua Shi, and Mariana Nikolova-Karakashian
University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Lexington KY
The members of the FoxO family of transcription factors play a central role in aging, cancer, type II diabetes, and other pathophysiological conditions. FoxO activity is regulated through reversible translocation between the nucleus and cytosol determined by a growth factors-driven, Akt-1 phosphorylation-dependent nuclear export. The goal of this study was to test the possible role of neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2), the bona fide signaling nSMase, in the FoxO1 nuclear translocation.
IL-1b stimulation of HEK293 cells stably overexpressing IL-1b receptor and primary hepatocytes leads to transient activation of nSMase2, followed by increased nuclear localization of FoxO1. Silencing of nSMase2 using adenovirus-delivered siRNA abolishes the effects of IL-1b on FoxO1, indicating a mediatory role of nSMase2 in the process. Exogenous addition of ceramide, or overexpression of nSMase2 has the opposite effect. As ceramide is known to inhibit Akt-1 pathway, we tested the possibility that IL-1b and nSMase2 induce nuclear accumulation of FoxO1 through interference with the Akt-1-dependent export. However, several lines of evidence suggested that this was not the case: (i) IL1b and nSMase2 lead to FoxO1 nuclear accumulation in the absence of serum, or other inducers of Akt-1, such as insulin; (ii) a mutant FoxO1 lacking all three Akt-1 phosphorylation sites was regulated similarly as the wild type FoxO1. The IL-1b and nSMase2 effects also were not caused by redistribution or new protein synthesis of FoxO1 as changes in neither the cytosolic levels nor the mRNA content of FoxO1 were observed. Instead, PD 980059 and SP600125, inhibitors of ERK-1 and JNK respectively, efficiently prevented IL-1b and nSMase2 – induced FoxO1 nuclear accumulation.
This study delineate a novel , Akt – independent pathway for up-regulation of FoxO1.
OP28
Samy A. F. Morad, Jonathan C. Levin, Myles C. Cabot
John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Tamoxifen (tam), the gold-standard treatment for breast cancer, we show has a number of novel “off-target” actions centering on sphingolipid metabolism: inhibition of ceramide glycosylation and acid ceramidase (AC) and accelerated generation of long-chain ceramides (LCC) from C6-ceramide (C6-cer). Thus, tam is ideal to drive ceramide’s therapeutic benefits. We have therefore designed and tested a drug regimen consisting of C6-cer, selected because it is cell-permeable, and tam.
Tam effectively inhibited the synthesis of glucosylceramide (GC) and synthesis of C6-GC from supplemented C6-cer in a myriad of cancer cell types. Whereas single agent tam and C6-cer were minimally cytotoxic, co-administration produced synergistic cytotoxicity that was accompanied by increased Annexin binding, caspase-3 activation, and enhanced DNA fragmentation. Use of a colon cancer cell line to assess C6-cer-tam-orchestrated signaling revealed upregulated expression of JNK and p53 and downregulation of Akt and survivin. Also, the mix produced cell cycle arrest at G1 and G2. New to the non-genomic activities of tam, we found potent inhibition of AC activity in cancer cells. Mechanism studies showed that tam elicited rapid lysosomal membrane permeability accompanied by dose- and time-dependent proteolytic degradation of AC by cathepsin B. Whereas tam was not cytotoxic, it retarded cancer cell migration. Tamoxifen inclusion also produced a mani-fold increase in production of LCC’s from C6-cer. Interestingly, L-C6-cer, a non-hydrolyzable racemate, yielded no LCC when delivered with tamoxifen, nor did an L-C6-cer-tam regimen produce DNA fragmentation.
This innovative drug regimen allows for delivery of C6-cer along with a unique means to produce high amounts of intracellular LCC’s, tumor suppressor ceramides not otherwise deliverable due to solubility issues, and a mode to suppress AC activity.
OP29
Filipa G. Pinho1*, Jonathan Krell1, Adam E. Frampton2, Heba Alshaker1, Justin Stebbing3, Leandro Castellano1, Dmitri Pchejetski1
1Division of Oncology, Dept. of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine (ICTEM), Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK. 2HPB Surgical Unit, Dept. of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK.
3Dept. of Oncology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, 1st Floor, E Wing, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF, UK.
Sphingosine Kinase 1 (SK1) plays an important role in estrogen-dependent breast tumorigenesis, but its regulation is poorly understood. A subset of microRNAs (miRNAs) is regulated by estrogen and contributes to proliferation and cancer progression. Here, we describe that miR-515-5p is transcriptionally repressed by ERα and functions as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer (BC). Its downregulation enhances cell proliferation, due to an estrogen-dependent increase in SK1 activity, mediated by a reduction of miR-515-p post-transcriptional repression. Enforced expression of miR-515-5p in BC cells causes a reduction in SK1 activity, resulting in reduced cell proliferation and the induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis. Conversely, opposing effects occur with miR-515-5p inhibition and by SK1 silencing. Notably, we show that estradiol (E2) treatment downregulates miR-515-5p levels, whilst the anti-estrogen tamoxifen (TAM) causes a decrease in SK1, which is rescued by silencing miR-515-5p. Analysis of ChIP-Seq data reveals that miR-515-5p suppression is mediated by a direct interaction of ERa within its promoter. The clinical implications of this novel regulatory system is demonstrated as miR-515-5p is significantly downregulated in ER-positive (n=146) compared to ER-negative (n=98) BCs. Overall we identify a new link between ERα, miR-515-5p and SK1 in BC tumorigenesis.
In this study, we have elucidated a new miRNA-mediated mechanism by which estrogen up-regulates SK1 levels. btmiR-515-5p replacement strategies may offer a novel therapeutic approach in hormone resistant ERα-positive BC and as an adjunct to currently available therapies.
OP30
Leyre Brizuela 1,2,3, Claire Martin 1,2,3,, Pauline Jeannot 1,2,3, Isabelle Ader 1,2,3, Guillaume Andrieu 1,2,3, Magalie Bocquet 1,2,3, Bernard Malavaud 1,2,3,4, Roger A. Sabbadini 5, Olivier Cuvillier 1,2,3
1 CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Toulouse, France. 2 Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, Toulouse, France. 3 Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer 4 Hôpital Rangueil, Service d’Urologie et de Transplantation Rénale, Toulouse, France. 5 LPath Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) plays important roles in cell proliferation, differentiation or survival mainly through its five surface G-protein-coupled receptors S1P1-5. Bone represents the major site of metastasis for prostate cancer cells, which rely on bone-derived factors to support their proliferation and resistance to therapeutics. Because of the osteoblastic nature of prostate cancer bone metastasis, we investigated whether S1P could act as a possible osteoblast-derived factor to stimulate proliferation and survival of prostate cancer cells . In the present work we have found that conditioned medium (CM) from the MC3T3 osteoblastic cell line or primary osteoblast-like cells, as well as co-culture with MC3T3 stimulate proliferation of bone metastastic PC-3 and C4-2B prostate cell lines in S1P-dependent manner. In addition, osteoblastic derived S1P induces resistance of metastatic prostate cancer cells to therapeutics including docetaxel-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy in vitro. When S1P release from osteoblastic cells is decreased (pharmacological inhibition of SphK1, knock-down of SphK1 or the S1P transporter, Spns2 by RNA interference) or secreted S1P neutralized with anti-S1P antibody (Sphingomab), the proliferative and survival effects of osteoblasts on PC-3 and C4-2B cells are abolished. Because of the paracrine nature of the signaling, we studied the role of the S1P receptors expressed on prostate cancer cells in the dialogue with S1P secreted by osteoblasts. Strategies aimed at down-regulating S1P1, S1P2 or S1P3 (RNA interference, pharmacological antagonists), established the exclusive role of the S1P/S1P1 signaling between osteoblasts and tumor cells. Bone metastasis is a lethal form of prostate cancer and presents considerable challenges for treatment. Interfering with the interactions between prostate cancer cells and aspects of the bone microenvironment may hold the key to preventing the development of bone metastases or resensitize to therapeutics, and S1P may be a candidate as a target in the treatment of prostate cancer bone metastasis.
OP31
Heba Alshaker1, Jonathan Krell1, Jonathan Waxman1,Ernesto Yagüe1, Dmitry Pshezhetskiy2,3
1 Department of Surgery & Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London; 2 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London 3 School of Medicine, University of East Anglia, Norwich
The prevalence of obesity increases in the modern society. Obesity is a known risk factor in breast cancer patients and has been linked with cancer progression and chemoresistance. Adipose tissue secretes adipokines (e.g. leptin), which affect breast cancer growth, angiogenesis and chemoresistance. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) is an oncogenic lipid kinase that promotes cancer cell growth and has been recently shown to be overexpressed in breast tumours and linked with poor prognosis.
In this study, we explored the effect of leptin on SK1 and its mechanistic contribution to breast cancer progression using qRT-PCR and western blotting in ER-positive and triple negative breast cancer cells. Our findings show for the first time that leptin induces SK1 expression and activation in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines MDAMB-231 and BT-549. Using small molecule inhibitors and siRNA pools to inhibit kinases involved in leptin signalling we have shown that leptin-induced SK1 up-regulation is independent of the major pathways downstream of leptin receptor (LEPR) Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Alternatively, leptin-induced SK1 expression is mediated by activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2). Further investigation showed that in addition to ERK1/2, SK1 up-regulation is mediated by Src family kinase (SFK) pathway where Src-homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2) works as an adaptor protein between SFKs and LEPR. Interestingly, SK1 activation was accompanied with an increase in cancer cell proliferation, which was abrogated by SK1 specific siRNA. Human primary breast tumours and positive lymph node metastases exhibited a strong correlation between SK1 and LEPR expression (Pearson R=0.75 and R=0.72, respectively, p<0.001).
Overall,our data show a new role for leptin-induced up-regulation of oncogenic SK1 highlighting a new pathway regulating obesity driven triple-negative breast cancer. Our findings point to the potential applicability of second generation pharmacological SK1 inhibitors as novel therapies for obesity-driven breast cancer.
OP32
Anna Caretti 1, Alessandra Bragonzi 2, Marcella Facchini2, Ida De Fino2, Camilla Riva2 , Paolo Gasco 3, Claudia Musicanti3 , Josefina Casas 4, Gemma Fabriàs 4, Riccardo Ghidoni 1 and Paola Signorelli 1.
1, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital, Italy; 2 Infections and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; 3, Nanovector S.r.l. Turin, Italy; 4, Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Catalan Institute of Advanced Chemistry (IQAC/CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Sphingolipids take part in immune response and can initiate and/or sustain inflammation. Various inflammatory diseases have been associated with increased ceramide content in mucosa, and pharmacological reduction of ceramide diminishes inflammation damage in vivo. Inflammation and susceptibility to microbial infection are two elements in a vicious circle. Recently, sphingolipid metabolism inhibitors were used to inhibit infection. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is characterized by a hyper-inflammation of lung mucosa and a deregulated immune response. Innate immunity fails to eradicate acute infection and to evolve into adaptive immunity, allowing chronic infections, lung damage, and patient morbidity. Indeed, ceramide pulmonary content is higher in CF mouse models and in patients and a clinical trial with amitriptyline, an inhibitor of sphingomyelinase, reportedly reduced lung infection and inflammation. CF human respiratory epithelium cells were treated with myriocin, an inhibitor of de novo ceramide synthesis. This treatment resulted in reduced basal, as well as TNFα-stimulated, inflammation. Furthermore, myriocin-loaded nanocarrier treatment resulted in a significant reduction of lung infection by P. aeruginosa and a decreased release of host pulmonary inflammation mediators. We speculate that de novo sphingolipid synthesis is constitutively enhanced in CF mucosa and that it represents a pharmacological target for modulating inflammation and restoring effective innate immunity against acute infection.
OP33
Visesato Mor1, Antonella Rella1, Chiara Luberto2, Michael Linke3, Melanie T. Cushion3,4, Margaret S. Collins3,4, Mitchell Mutz5, and Maurizio Del Poeta1
1Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, 2Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794; 3VA Medical Center and 4Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267; and 5Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121.
Fungal glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is a sphingolipid required for the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) to cause a lethal meningo-encephalitis by inhibiting fungal replication in the host environments characterized by neutral/alkaline pH and 5% CO21-4. In addition to be required for Cn pathogenicity, fungal GlcCer is also important for the pathogenesis of other human pathogens, such as Candida albicans5-7 and Aspergillus fumigatus8, and to plant pathogens, such as Fusarium graminearum9. The synthesis of GlcCer seems to be important also during Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), as glucosylceramide synthase transcripts have been found to be abundant at the time of isolation of the fungus from fulminate lung infection10, and for infection caused by dimorphic fungi, as GlcCer is detected only in the lung infective form (yeast) and not in the environmental form (mold) 11-13. Taken together, these studies suggest that the GlcCer pathway is most likely a pan-fungal virulence pathway required in promoting fungal growth in neutral/alkaline and 5% CO2 environments (e.g. alveolar spaces).
Therefore, we looked for inhibitors of GlcCer synthesis by screening a ChemBridge library for compounds that would inhibit Cn replication in an environment similar to the lung: neutral/alkaline pH, 37C and 5% CO2. We identified 2 inhibitory compounds (N’–(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-methylbenzohydrazide (BHBM) and its derivative D0) that significantly decreased the synthesis of GlcCer in Cn but not in mammalian cells. Importantly, 90% of mice daily treated with an intraperitoneal injection of 1.2 mg/kg of BHBM survived a lethal intranasal injection of Cn. The uninfected control mice treated with BHBM appeared to be normal: they maintained a normal weight and showed a normal physical activity throughout the observation period. Blood work showed a slight increase of liver AST (125 ± 75 U/L) in BHBM treated mice compared normal mice (50 ± 9 U/L) but all other blood parameters for liver and kidney functions were normal. Also normal were the number of erythrocytes, thrombocytes, and leucocytes in BHBM treated mice. Histological analysis of lungs, liver, and kidney revealed no difference between the BHBM treated and untreated/uninfected mice. These results suggest that BHBM is a potent antifungal and overall well tolerated in mice with no clinical or hematological/ histological signs.
OP34
Simbari Fabio1, Ceroni Alessandro1, Lear Marissa1, Maizels Rick1 and Buck Amy1.
1. University of Edinburgh, Institute of Infection and Immunology Research, King’s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh (UK) EH9 3JT.
Exosomes are bioactive nanovesicles (50-100nm diameter) secreted by many cell types that are involved in communication between cells. They play diverse functions in important biological processes including host-pathogen interactions, modulation of the immune response as antigen presenting molecules, spreading of virus infection such as HIV. Recently, researchers have also investigated their possible use as therapeutic tools for delivery of small molecules and siRNAs. Different parasites have been shown to secrete exosome-like vesicles (Echinostoma caproni, Fasciola Hepatica,Leishmania). We have identified exosomes in the secretion products of the mouse parasite nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus (H. polygyrus). These vesicles pellet upon ultracentrifugation and, as observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy, are round in shape with a diameter of ~ 100nm. Confocal microscopy studies together with FACS analysis suggest that they are actively uptaken by MODE-K cells (small intestinal epithelial mice cells). In order to better characterise the nature of these vesicles, we performed a comprehensive mass-spec analysis of their lipid content, compared to the rest of the secretion product (supernatant fraction) and the whole worm extract. As expected, the vesicle fraction is enriched in sphingolipids and phospholipids compared to the supernatant. Furthermore, the H. polygyrus derived vesicles show an enrichment in ceramide and sphingomyelin levels when compared with the total worm extract, whereas the phospholipid levels appear similar within the two groups. Taken together these results suggest that H. polygyrus secretes exosomes that are enriched in sphingolipids. Finally, the internalization assays strongly suggest that these vesicles are taken up by the host cells and may therefore play an important role in communication between pathogen and host.
OP35
E. Yücel, K. Ö. Ülgen
Department of Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University, Bebek 34342 Istanbul Turkey
Sphingolipids are one of the subclasses of lipid components of eukaryotic membranes, serving not only as building blocks of membranes and lipoproteins, but also as regulators of various signaling pathways of the cell.
In the present study, a computational framework was recruited for the reconstruction of functional interaction network of sphingolipid metabolism in Baker’s yeast. The Selective Permissibility Algorithm (SPA) was employed to integrate GO annotations with functional interaction data and to reconstruct a protein interaction network (SSN) that has the potential for predicting signal transduction pathways regulating and/or being regulated by sphingolipid biosynthesis in yeast. The reconstructed network was then served as a basis for a case study involving Snf1 kinase complex. By mapping the transcriptome data available in literature onto SSN, the impact and specific action mechanisms of Snf1p on the sphingolipid metabolism were investigated.
The present study emphasizes the important role of sphingolipids as secondary messengers more thoroughly by presenting a detailed map of physical and functional connections that link the sphingolipid metabolism and signaling to other relevant signal transduction networks in S. cerevisiae.
OP36
Shishir Jaikishan
Biochemistry, Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University
Sphingomyelins (SMs) are important sphingolipid molecules found in the exoplasmic leaflet of the cell membrane of animal cells. SMs are rare in plants and microorganisms. Thudicum derived the term ‘sphingomyelin’ from the Greek word ‘sphinx’, when he named the enigmatic molecule he isolated from brain tissue in the late 19th century. The membranous myelin sheath in nerve tissues is particularly rich in SMs, where they take part in the mechanical and electrical insulation of the nerve cell axons. Many physiological abnormalities and associated diseases arise from malfunctions in the metabolism of SMs, for example Niemann-Pick Disease, a fatal inherited metabolic disorder. Recent studies have reported that SM and cholesterol, along with specific proteins, form raft like regions in otherwise fluid cell membranes. Lipid rafts play major roles in many biological processes such as transmembrane signal transduction, membrane trafficking, protein sorting during endocytosis and exocytosis, apoptosis, cell adhesion, migration and synaptic transmission. It is of utmost interest to know why SMs and cholesterol are included into lipid rafts and how these molecules interact with each other. This thesis focuses on the interaction between SMs and cholesterol. To study the membrane biophysical properties of SMs and their interactions with cholesterol, we synthesized novel SM analogs by methylating and hydroxylating SM at different positions. All the SM analogs involved in the study are biologically relevant. We reported that the hydroxyl and amide groups present in SM are important for hydrogen bonding between SM-SM and SM-cholesterol. The substitutions of methyl groups in the N-linked acyl chain or interfacial region of SMs significantly decreased the stability of SM bilayer, and weakened/abolished SM interactions with cholesterol. The stability of SM bilayer and SM-cholesterol interactions with the hydroxyl groups in the N-linked acyl chain of SM depend on the position and configuration of the hydroxyl group. The presence of an additional hydroxyl group in the saturated long chain base of SM stabilized SM bilayers as well as SM-cholesterol interactions.
Posters
P1
S. Cochrane1, S. Moug2, J. Edwards2, N.J. Pyne1, D. MacMillan3, P. Horgan3, R. Bittman4 and S. Pyne1
1. Cell Biology, SIPBS, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0RE 2. Unit of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G11 6NT 3. Academic Unit of Surgery, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G31 2ER, 4. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing, USA
Colorectal cancer remains the third most common killer in the UK. There is growing evidence that sphingosine 1-phosphate and the enzymes responsible for its synthesis, sphingosine kinase 1/2, have a role in cancer. For example, SK1 mRNA and protein expression is increased in 75% of azoxymethane-induced tumours (a rat model of CRC) compared to the normal mucosa. Additionally, data suggests that SK1 expression is associated with disease progression and metastatic potential when analysed in ~60 human colorectal samples.
In this study, using a cohort of 277 patients, we assessed the sub-cellular localisation of SK1 (membrane, cytoplasmic and nuclear) against patient cancer-specific survival. Patients were stratified based on lymph node status, stage of disease and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (a systemic inflammatory marker associated with poor prognosis). Unexpectedly, high cytoplasmic SK1 was associated with increased cancer-specific survival in Stage III disease. Interestingly; this association was lost in patients with node positive disease. In contrast, nuclear SK1 was associated with reduced survival in Stage IV disease. In vitro studies were conducted using SW480 and SW620 cell lines (models of node-negative and node positive disease, respectively) and sphingosine kinase isoform selective inhibitors. Using [3H]-thymidine, we found that pre-treatment of cells with SKi, reduced thymidine incorporation (p<0.05), whereas (R)-FTY720 O-methyl ether (ROMe) had no effect.
Here we show that high cytoplasmic SK1 expression is associated with protection against death in Stage III disease. Conversely, high expression of nuclear SK1 is detrimental Stage IV disease. In vitro studies of colorectal cell lines indicate that SK1 promotes DNA synthesis and SK2 does not.
P2
Alessandra Cinque, Loredana Brioschi, Paola Giussani, Laura Riboni, Paola Viani
Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate (MI) Italy
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor and, despite aggressive therapy, prognosis for patients is poor. Temozolomide (TMZ), the chosen drug in GBM therapy, exerts cytotoxic effects also through an increase of ceramide levels. Perifosine (PF) is currently being tested for treatment of major human cancers, but little is known about its efficacy in gliomas. The aim of this work is to evaluate in GMB cell lines if PF is able to regulate sphingolipid metabolism and to enhance the cytotoxic effect of TMZ.
The results obtained demonstrated that in different GBM cell lines, the treatment with PF led to a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability. In all GBM cells lines, PF promoted a time-dependent decrease of p-Akt levels, with an about 50% decrease after 4 hour treatment. In these conditions, metabolic studies showed that treatment with PF significantly modified sphingolipid (SL) metabolism by inhibiting sphingomyelin (SM) and, in a lesser extent, glycosphingolipid (GSL) biosynthesis with a consequent accumulation of ceramide (Cer). In addition, PF weakly reduced sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) biosynthesis. The treatment with LY294002, in conditions giving an almost complete inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway, only partly mimicked the effects of PF on SL metabolism, suggesting that PF could regulate SL metabolism also through a mechanism other than Akt inhibition. In the same GBM cell lines, the treatment of PF in combination with TMZ had an additive, but not synergistic cytotoxic effect. More of interest, a TMZ resistant cell line, that is characterized by an altered SL profile, a high capacity to release S1P and in which TMZ is unable to accumulate Cer, was still sensitive to PF.
These data suggest that PF can exert its anticancer activity through a marked modulation of sphingolipid metabolism with increased Cer/S1P ratio, where Cer acts as a pro-death and S1P as a survival factor. PF in combination with TMZ could thus improve the treatment efficacy in GBM.
P3
Del Águila Angela, Nieto-Díaz Manuel, Casas Josefina, Fabriàs Gemma, Reigada David, Munoz-Galdeano Teresa, Navarro-Ruiz Rosa, Caballero-Lopez Marcos, Maza Martinez.
Molecular Neuroprotection Group. Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos (SESCAM). Toledo, Spain.Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM). Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC). Barcelona, Spain.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers a complex cascade of biological events that determine its functional outcome. Understanding the molecular bases underlying these events is basic to design therapeutical tools. Sphingolipids are bioactive lipids involved in many of these events, such as astrogliosis, cell death, or pain, among others. Therefore, we here describe the variations of sphingolipid levels in a mice model of SCI, with special attention to the pleiotropic sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P).
We have used UPLC-MS to analyze the sphingolipid levels in spinal cord, blood, and blood serum from five groups of mice: non-injured and 1, 3, 7, and 21 days post injury (dpi). The results show that spinal cord presents a characteristic global sphingolipid pattern, which is preserved following SCI. However, total sphingolipid concentration increases after injury, and 9 species significantly change their levels, mostly at 3dpi, although S1P shows a maximum at 7dpi. Blood samples also have a stable, but different and characteristic general pattern. Nevertheless, levels of 21 sphingolipid species significantly change after SCI -mainly at 1dpi, including S1P-. Variations in sphingolipids levels of spinal cord and blood seem to be unrelated.
Considering the importance of S1P, we have used inmmunohistochemstry (IHC) to characterize its spatial and temporal distribution in the spinal cord. Non-injured mice show immunoreactivity (IR) in motor and interneurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. After injury, neural cell IR shows important temporal changes. Neurons increase and decrease their labeling at different times after SCI, whereas oligodendrocytes lose their IR progressively.
P4
José Luis Abad,1 Ingrid Nieves,1 Pedro Rayo,1 Josefina Casas,1 Gemma Fabrias,1 and Antonio Delgado1,2
1Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Barcelona, Spain. 2Universidad de Barcelona (UB), Facultad de Farmacia, Unidad de Química Farmacéutica (Unidad Asociada al CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Spisulosines are a group of 1-deoxysphingolipids (1-DSLs) of marine origin with antiproliferative activity. In addition, recent evidences of the presence of 1-DSLs as natural metabolites in mammalian cells have been postulated from studies of a mutation in the SPTLC1 gene that is found in human sensory neuropathy type 1 (HSN1). Interestingly, the presence of several 1-DSLs in plasma has also been proposed as a novel class of biomarkers for the metabolic syndrome.
A stereoselective synthesis of spisulosine (ES285) and 4,5-dehydrospisulosine stereoisomers is presented. We report on the design of efficient synthetic protocols for this type of 1-DSLs, with special attention to the stereochemical control at C2 and C3 positions and the presence of a C4-C5 unsaturation as part of the sphingoid backbone. The increasing interest in CerS activity, compartmentalization and function underscores the need for appropriate CerS probes. Characterization of (dihydro)ceramidomes is not a suitable means to profile CerS activities in intact cells, since (dihydro)ceramide populations are the result of the overall activities of ceramide metabolism enzymes. The compounds described here were envisaged as useful tools in CerS activity profiling, as they are inert towards enzymes of 1-O-functionalization. Among the sphingoid bases described in this work, spisulosine (ES285), RBM1-77 and RBM1-73 were the most suitable ones due to their highest acylation rates.
In conclusion, some of the 1-DSLs synthesized should prove useful to study the role of the different ceramide synthases and the resulting N-acyl (dihydro)ceramides in cell fate.
P5
Daniela Hartmann, Marthe-Susanna Wegner, Ruth Anna Wanger, Nerea Ferreirós, Yannick Schreiber, Jessica Lucks, Susanne Schiffmann, Gerd Geisslinger and Sabine Grösch.
Fharmazentrum frankfurt/ ZAFES, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt/ Main, Germany.
Ceramides are synthesized by six different ceramide synthases (CerS1-6), which differ in their specificity to produce ceramides of distinct chain length. We could show that over-expression of CerS4 and CerS6, which was accompanied by an increase in C18:0– and C16:0-Cer, respectively, had anti-proliferative effects in human breast and colon cancer cells. Now we wanted to investigate the impact of CerS-co-transfection on the physiological outcome and ceramide production in HCT-116 cells.
Over-expression of CerS2 had no effect on the level of very long chain ceramide C24:0– and C24:1-Cer. Instead over-expression of CerS2 together with CerS4 or CerS6 increased the activity of CerS2 against very-long-chain ceramides about twofold. In contrast, co-expression of CerS4 with CerS6 inhibited slightly the production of C20:0-ceramide in comparison to cells over-expressing CerS4 alone, whereas the activity of CerS6 seemed not to be affected by other CerS. The production of very long chain ceramides was also affected by down-regulation of the fatty acid elongase ELOVL1, which is one of overall seven fatty acid elongase subtypes (ELOVL 1-7) in humans and mainly responsible for the elongation of C20- to C22-C26-fatty acid. The physiological effect of CerS2/CerS4/CerS6 co-expression became apparent as the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect of long chain ceramides was impeded. Even though we observed a twofold increase in total ceramide levels after co-expression of CerS2 and CerS4/CerS6, we detected no effect on cell proliferation.
These data indicate that an increase in ceramide production per se is not critical for cell survival, but the equilibrium between long and very long chain ceramides and possibly protein/protein interactions determine the fate of the cell.
P6
Juhász Tünde1; Kabai Monika1; Harmat Veronika2; Kardos Jozsef3; Szeltner Zoltan1; Liliom Karoly1
1Institute of Enzymology, RCNS, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest; 2Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös University, Budapest; 3Department of Biochemistry, Eötvös University, Budapest
The brain-specific growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) participates in the regulation of neurite formation, synaptic plasticity, and neuroregeneration. Its funtion is sensitive to intracellular Ca2+ level and has been shown to interact with calmodulin (CaM), the ubiquitous eukariotic effector protein for the second messenger Ca2+, both in vitro and in vivo. It is assumed that their complex is bound to the plasma membrane but the functional outcomes of these interactions are not well clarified.
We have identified selective binding between GAP43 and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), as well as CaM and sphingosine (SPH), utilizing fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry and quartz crystal microbalance. In both interactions, the lipids must be in an associated form to produce high affinity binding. In functional assays SPH binding to CaM inhibited the protein’s ability to activate its effectors. We determined the crystal-structure of CaM-SPH complex, in which the lipids occupy the same place as the protein’s target peptides. Chemical cross-linking, dynamic light scattering, and CD spectroscopy revealed that LPA binding induced the oligomerization and partial structural organization of GAP43, an intrinsically unstructured protein. The phosphorylation of GAP43 modifies its functions. We mimicked this effect by the Ser41Asp mutant, which showed weaker binding to CaM compared to the wild-type protein. In both the absence or presence of Ca2+, the lipids interact with CaM or GAP43 at a higher affinity than the proteins bind to each other, allowing their displacement by each lipid.
The lipid mediators SPH and LPA, via selective high-affinity bindings to CaM and GAP43, respectively, may regulate the complex formation between the proteins, thereby modifying their function in the growth cone and synapses, possibly interconnecting this subsystem with other signaling processes.
P7
Meacci Elisabetta1, Squecco Roberta2, Frati Alessia1, Machala Miroslav3, Francini Fabio2, Vicenti Catia1, Hofmanova Jirina3, Anderloni Giulia1
1 Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università di Firenze-Italy; 2 Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Università di Firenze-Italy; 3Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
Abundant non-dioxin-like organic toxicant PCB153 were found to induce alterations of membrane proteins associated with inhibition of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in rat liver progenitor cells, WB-F344. Since the molecular mechanisms triggered by this a highly lipophilic toxicant is largely unknown, on the notion that GJIC and connexin-43 (Cx43) expression are modulated by sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) in skeletal muscle cells, we hypothesized that the impairment of Cx43-formed GJIC elicited by PCB153 could involve the activation of sphingoid-mediated-signalling pathways.
PCB153 treatment determined changes in the biophysical properties of gap junctional currents, as judged by dual whole cell voltage-clamp, and, in parallel, a time-dependent regulation of sphingosine kinase (SphK) activity, that leaded to an increase of S1P at 1 h and 24h and a decrease of the bioactive lipid at 3h after compound exposure. Similarly, ceramide kinase activity was significantly affected by the toxicant resulting in an increase of ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) and a marked decrease of ceramide after 1-3 h. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition of SphK and PP2A phosphatase and their down-regulation by specific siRNA treatment affected GJIC and prevented GJIC impairment and changes in the Cx43 phosphorylation/expression elicited by PCB153.
Altogether, these findings represent the first evidence of the role played by bioactive sphingolipids in the regulation of GJIC in liver stem-like cells and in the biological action of the environmental toxicant in these progenitor cells. Since malfunctioned GJIC has been thought associated with malignant transformation of normal cells, the finding of the role played by sphingolipids can lead to consider these bioactive molecules as potential targets to prevent the tumorigenic action of PCB153 and other dioxin and non-dioxin like persistent environmental pollutants.
P8
Christiane Mühle1, Hagen B. Huttner2, Silke Walter3, Martin Reichel1, Fabio Canneva4, Piotr Lewczuk1, Erich Gulbins5, Johannes Kornhuber1
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany; 2Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany; 3Department of Neurology, University of the Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany; 4Experimental Therapy, Franz-Penzoldt-Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany; 5Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
As a key enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism, acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) is involved in the regulation of cell fate and signaling via the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to form ceramide. While increased activity of the lysosomal form has been associated with various pathological conditions, there are few studies on secretory ASM limited only to cell models, plasma or serum.
We have established a sensitive quantitative assay based on a fluorescent substrate to measure the ASM activity in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and characterized the enzyme’s properties. CSF localized ASM resembles plasmatic ASM with respect to protein stability and Zn2+-dependence. However, the assays differ considerably in the optimal detergent concentration. The optimized assay was applied to CSF samples collected from mice and from 42 patients who were classified as controls based on normal routine CSF values. Significantly increased activities in the CSF of ASM transgenic mice and undetectable levels in ASM knock-out mice prove that the measured ASM activity originates from the ASM-encoding gene SMPD1. In humans, CSF localized ASM activities were comparable to corresponding serum ASM levels at their respective optimal reaction conditions, but no correlation was observed. The large variance in ASM activity was independent of sex, age or analyzed routine CSF parameters.
Human and mouse CSF contain detectable levels of secretory ASM, which are unrelated to serum ASM activities. Further investigations will help to elucidate the role of this enzyme in human disease and to assess its value as a potential biomarker for disease type, progress or therapeutic success.
P9
Yeonju Lee, Sergiy Oliynyk, Seikwan Oh
Department of Neuroscience and TIDRC, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 158-710, Korea
The function and the role of glucosylceramide have not been well studied in the central nervous system. This study was aimed to investigate the possible roles of glucosylceramide in memory function in aged mice.
Glucosylceramide (50 mg/kg, p.o.) showed memory enhancing activity after 3-month treatment in the aged mice (C56BL/6, 18-20 month-old) through Y-maze, novel objective test and Morris water maze test. Long-term treatment of glucosylceramide decreased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in the brain of aged mice. The LPS-induced mRNA level of iNOS, COX-2, IL-1bband TNF-aawas reduced by the acute treatment with glucosylceramide in adult mice.
These results suggest that glucosylceramide plays an important role in anti-inflammatory and memory enhancement, and it could be a potential new therapeutic agent for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
P10
Adem ÖZKAN1, Funda YILDIRIM2, Mehmet KAYILI2, Ömür ÇELİKBIÇAK2, Erdal COŞGUN3, Fatma Müjgan SÖNMEZ4, Meral TOPÇU5, Bekir SALİH2, Hatice Asuman ÖZKARA1
1Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, 06100 Ankara, Turkey; 2Hacettepe University Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Ankara, Turkey;
3Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, 06100 Ankara, Turkey;
4Fatih University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara, Turkey;
5Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Neurology unit,06100 Ankara, Turkey
Sphingolipids are ubiquitous elements of the plasma membrane. They are synthesized in ER and Golgi. Their degradation are made by lysosomal enzymes in lysosome. Defective lysosomal enzymes cause lysosomal storage diseases. Accumulation of undegraded substrates in the nervous system leads to severe impairment of neurological function with a fatal outcome. The aim of this study is to find out sphingolipid/s for predicting clinical phenotype and rate of disease progression.
In this study, sphingolipids were extracted from serums of patients with gangliosidoses and Metachromatic Leukodystrophy which are the most common sphingolipid storage diseases in our country. Their mass spectrums are taken by MALDI-ToF-MS. Sphingolipids that make difference between groups and clinical findings were determined by cluster analysis. Internal standards were used for quantitative analysis by LC-ESI-MS/MS. After evaluation by cluster analysis of the obtained sphingolipid profiles, sphingosine and sphinganine 1-P in gangliosidoses group, sialic acid and phosphatidylcholine in Metachromatic leukodystrophy group were found as differentiated molecules. Phosphatidylcholine and sialic acid in bradykinesia, sphinganine 1-P and amino group containing fatty acids in spastic tetraparesis were found as molecules that make difference in gangliosidoses. Results of quantitative analysis supported the statistical analysis. In addition increased ceramide and ceramide 1-P were detected in gangliosidoses group.
Validation of a new epigenetic-based prognostic blood test to predict prostate cancer aggressiveness
P11
Emily Corfield1, Heba Alshaker2, Constantine Alifrangis2, Jane Mellor3, Yoshiaki Kawano4, Masatoshi Eto4,Philip Jordan1, Aroul Ramadass1, Alexandre Akoulitchev1 and Dmitri Pchejetski2
1. Oxford BioDynamics Limited, 26 Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 2NP, UK; 2. Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK; 3. Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; 4. Department of Urology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Japan
Sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) plays has been reported to be elevated in many cancers including prostate, but its regulation is poorly understood. Chromosome conformation patterns represent early changes in epigenetic regulation during tumourigenesis.
Results: To investigate epigenetic regulation of SK1 and other cancer-associated genes, 80 treatment naive patients with localised, locally advanced or metastatic PCa were recruited into this prospective study. Upon diagnosis blood samples were collected and chromosomal conformation patterns were determined. Multivariate analysis using relevance vector machine based algorithm was used to identify the epigenetic signatures.
We identified 28 chromosomal conformation markers, in the loci of several PCa-related genes, including SK1, MYC, PSMA, PTEN, SMAD4, and SAM68, and correlated them with Gleason score, age or disease stage as predictors of survival probability and PCa aggressiveness. The test was trained on 64 samples and cross-validated on 16 independent samples. The final EpiSwitchTM test can accurately predict PCa aggressiveness status in both training and validation sets, with a combined accuracy of 98.6% (95% CI, 93% – 99%).
In Addition to stratification of PCa patients this prognostic, non-invasive test has the potential to be used for making treatment decisions, monitoring and predicating for PCa mortality. The EpiSwitchTM platform technology can be extended to address other clinical questions in diagnostics and theranostics.
P12
Cosima Rhein, Christiane Mühle, Martin Reichel, Johannes Kornhuber
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) catalyses the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin into ceramide, which acts as a lipid messenger regulating important cellular functions, ranging from differentiation to apoptosis. Dysregulated ASM activity was reported for different neuro-psychiatric disorders. ASM features an exceptional polymorphic part located in the region coding for its signal peptide, which is characterized by a three- to eight-fold repeat of the hexanucleotide GCTGGC and associated with the SNP c.107T>C. We investigated the role of these polymorphisms for intact enzymatic functioning.
In our in vivo study investigating healthy individuals, alleles with 5 and 6 repeats were found with a much higher prevalence compared to 4 and 8 repeats. ANOVA revealed a significant impact of genotypic repeat configuration on the secretory (S-ASM) but not on the lysosomal (L-ASM) enzyme activity in peripheral mononuclear cells: ASM activity in plasma was significantly lower in individuals homozygous for 4 repeats compared to those homozygous for 5 or 6 repeats. To further test the significance of the varying repeat genotype, we performed overexpression studies in cultured cells. Plasmids carrying ASM cDNA varying from 1 to 9 repeats combined with either allele of the c.107T>C polymorphism were generated by site-directed mutagenesis. Our in vitro results showed that the ratio of S- to L-ASM activity was significantly decreased for the extreme repeats 1, 2 and 8, 9 compared to the reference variant with 6 repeats, indicating that the length of the polymorphic region is critical for the proper secretion of ASM. The SNP c.107T>C, on the contrary, led to a significantly increased ratio of S- to L-ASM activity. Interestingly, the natural occurring ASM variants feature a specific composition of repeat length and SNP manifestation that varied only modestly regarding their S- to L-ASM activity. Thus, the combination of the two genetic variations seem to be subjected to evolutionary selection to balance their impact on ASM trafficking.
We conclude that the signal peptide polymorphisms significantly impact the trafficking of ASM. Since secreted and lysosomal localized ASM enzymes seem to differ in their function and their correlation with pathologic states, this genetic effect should be considered when treating associated diseases.
P13
Éva Ruisanchez, Zsuzsa Straky, Dávid Korda, Adrienn Párkányi, Levente Kiss, Zoltán Benyó
Institute of Human Physiology and Clinical Experimental Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
The first step of sphingolipid biosynthesis from sphingomyelin is catalyzed by sphingomyelinase (SMase) enzymes which are reportedly upregulated in certain cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. We aimed to analyze the effects of neutral SMase on the regulation of the vascular tone in wild type (WT), as well as inknock-out (KO) mice for sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors S1P2 or S1P3, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1) or thromboxane-receptor (TP).
Thoracic aorta segments were isolated from adult male mice and investigated after precontraction with phenylephrine under isometric conditions in myographs. SMase evoked a biphasic vascular reaction in WT vessels with an initial contraction and subsequent relaxation. These effects were dose-dependent and submaximal responses were reached by 0.2 U/ml SMase. S1P2– and S1P3-KO vessels showed both the contractile and relaxant components of the SMase response. In eNOS-KO vessels, however, enhanced contractile effects were observed while the vasorelaxation disappeared. In contrast, COX1-KO vessels showed diminished contractions and enhanced relaxations. Neither eNOS-KO vessels treated with the COX-inhibitor indomethacin, nor COX1-KO vessels treated with the NOS-inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) responded with significant changes of the vascular tension upon administration of SMase. Interestingly, TP-KO vessels showed similar reactions to those observed in COX1-KOs: the contractile effect was diminished while the relaxant enhanced. In TP-KO vessels treated with L-NAME SMase failed to induce any significant vasoactive effects.
SMase induces biphasic changes of the vascular tone with an initial contraction and subsequent relaxation. The contractile effect is mediated by COX1-dependent production of thromboxane A2 (or a related prostanoid), while the relaxation is due to endothelial nitric oxide release.
P14
Vladimir Voccoli*, Ilaria Tonazzini*, Chiara Cerri§, Manuela Allegra§°, Matteo Caleo§ and Marco Cecchini*
*NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, § Istituto di Neuroscienze del CNR, ° Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa.
Globoid cell LeukoDystrophy (Krabbe disease) is a childhood leukodystrophy triggered by deficit of galattosyl-ceramidase (GALC) activity. GALC is a lysosomal enzyme which catalyzes the intracellular degradation of galactosyl-ceramide and galactosyl-sphingosine (psychosine, PSY). GALC loss of activity causes PSY accumulation and cell death. Little is known about the intracellular pathways affected by PSY accumulation. Here, we address the role of exogenous PSY in intracellular Ca2+ dynamics during cell death.
MO3.13 cells (human oligodendrocyte model) were treated for 24h with PSY in 0%FBS. As expected, PSY induced apoptosis, as revealed by chromatin fragmentation. In order to evaluate if PSY affects Ca2+ kinetics, cells were loaded with Fluo3 and the mitochondrial dye, TMRM. A fast Ca2+ increase occurred after PSY administration, followed by a slower one preceding mitochondrial permeabilization. PSY was found to induce also necrosis: indeed in the 12,6% of dying cells a strong Ca2+ increase occurred coupled to fast cell death. To understand if Ca2+ increase involves mitochondria, cells were transfected with the mtcD2CPV Ca2+ probe and stained with TMRM. A rapid mitochondrial Ca2+ peak was detected after treatment, followed by a later increase preceding mitochondrial depolarization. Then, we treated cells with PSY in presence of EDTA: this had no effect on the intracellular Ca2+ increase but extended cell survival and abolished necrosis. Finally, cells were loaded with Fluo3 and MitoTrackerROS, an indicator of mitochondrial oxidative stress. Upon PSY administration, ROS production increased subsequent to the first Ca2+ increase while its maximum corresponded to the second Ca2+ increase.
PSY induces Ca2+ mediated cell death involving mitochondria. It induces increase of mitochondrial Ca2+ and ROS, and their depolarization. Blocking Ca2+ influx by EDTA can extend cell life but does not block Ca2+ kinetics, leading to hypothesize a role of PSY on Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ kinetics.
9th Meeting
9th Meeting
Favignana, Italy, Sept 28 – Oct 1, 2011
Jaspine B and analogues: synthesis and activity.
L1
Josefina Casas1, Fabio M. M. Simbari1, Cristóbal Muñoz1, José Luis Abad1, Vincenzo Gagliostro2, Paola Signorelli2, Riccardo Ghidoni2, Gemma Fabriàs1, Antonio Delgado1,3
1RUBAM, Depto. Química Biomédica, Instituto de Química Avanzada de Cataluña (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain – 2Dept. Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, San Paolo Hospital Medical School, University of Milan, Italy – 3Unidad de Química Farmacéutica (Unidad Asociada al CSIC), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
Jaspine B (JB), a natural anhydro phytosphingosine, is cytotoxic against several cell lines at a nanomolar level. JB and some of its diastereoisomers caused cell death in A549 cells in a dose dependent manner, and this effect was prevented by 3-MA, an autophagy inhibitor. Moreover, cell death was accompanied by a build-up of DHCer’s, but not Cer’s. Collectively, these results suggest that DHCer-mediated autophagy might be involved in the cytotoxicity of JB. On the other hand, it has been also reported that JB caused apoptosis in melanoma cells by acting on sphingomyelin synthase activity. The synthesis and biological activity of JB and new analogues in human gastric cancer cell line HGC27 is reported. Incubation of HGC-27 cells with JB results in a a general 3-4 times increase in the dHCer’s, sphinganine and sphinganine-1-phosphate levels. That increase appears to be less pronounced for epi-JB and JB-C8 derivatives, whereas other analogues didn’t show any effect in the sphingolipidome profile. A significant increase (about 3.5 times) in the LC3-II expression was also observed upon JB treatment and this accumulation augmented when cells were co-incubated with E64d protease inhibitor, indicating an enhancement of autophagic flux. Moreover, the results of inhibition of several enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism, namely, dihydroceramide desaturase, sphingosine kinases, ceramide synthases, sphingimyelin syntheses, glucosylceramida synthase, ceramidases, sphingomyelinases and glucocerebrosidase, both in intact cells and cell lysates are presented.
In HGC27 cells JB produces cells death trough the autophagy pathway. The enhancement of autophagy flux is accompanied by an increase in dHCer’s species, although in vitro and in vivo enzymatic activity assays have demonstrated that this increase was no linked to JB-mediated Des1 inhibition.
A Novel Method for Quantitation of (2E)-hexadecenal by LC/Q-TOF Tandem Mass Spectrometry.
L2
Anja Lüth, Corinna Neuber, Burkhard Kleuser
Institute of Nutritional Science, Dept. Nutritional Toxicology, University of Potsdam, Germany
Background Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SPL) is the only known enzyme that irreversibly cleaves sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) into phosphoethanolamine and (2E)-hexadecenal in the terminal step of sphingolipid catabolism. Since an alteration of the SPL activity can be associated with pathophysiological processes, the quantification of the S1P degrading product is of exceptional interest.
Results To characterize the SPL activity we developed a technique for a modern analysis of (2E)-hexadecenal, one of the two products of the S1P break-down reaction. After separation by Rapid Resolution Liquid Chromatography (RRLC) the analyte was detected and quantified by a very sensitive tandem mass spectrometry (MS) procedure. By the reason that (2E)-hexadecenal as long chain aldehyde is not ionizable by Electrospray Ionization (ESI) we investigate 2-diphenylacetyl-1,3-indandione-1-hydrazone (DAIH) as derivatization reagent. DAIH transforms the aldehyde into an analogue with excellent ionization properties for quantitative analyses. Our optimized conditions ensure an outstanding limit of detection (LOD) of 1 fmol per sample (30 µL). To confirm our new method we analyzed for the first time the levels of (2E)-hexadecenal in different cell lines as well as in human plasma. Furthermore we treated HT-29 cells with a competitive inhibitor of pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P5P), an essential cofactor for the activity of SPL and observed a significant decrease of (2E)-hexadecenal in comparison to untreated cells.
Conclusion In our study we present a very sensitive and specific method by RRLC/MS/MS for quantification of the S1P cleaving product (2E)-hexadecenal as its azine derivative. In this manner it is possible to characterize the kind of degradation way of S1P and to make a conclusion about the degree of it.
A ceramide analog directly inhibits cytosolic pla2 activity and consequent PGE2 formation in LPS-stimulated macrophages.
L3
Meir Goldsmith a, Ala Daka a, Nadia F. Lamour b, Roi Mashiach c, Michael M. Meijler c, Charles E. Chalfant b, Tsaffrir Zor a
a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Life Sciences Institute, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv 69978, Israel – b Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University-School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298-0614; Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249; and The Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA 23298 – c Department of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Be’er-Sheva 84105, Israel
Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is an important mediator of the inflammatory response. The sphingolipid ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) stimulates PGE2 production via its positive regulation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2) activity. Phospho-ceramide analogue-1 (PCERA-1) was previously reported to modulate pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production. We hypothesized that PCERA-1 would also regulate cPLA2 activity and PGE2 production. We show here that PCERA-1 inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated PGE2 production in RAW264.7 macrophages, without affecting cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. PCERA-1 efficiently suppressed arachidonic acid (AA) release in response to LPS, but not in response to zymosan. Moreover, PCERA-1 was ineffective when AA formation was induced by a co-stimulus of LPS and zymosan, indicating that the mechanism of PLA2 activation by zymosan is dominant over its mechanism of activation by LPS. The dephosphorylated derivative of PCERA-1, ceramide analogue-1 (CERA-1), mimicked the inhibitory effect of PCERA-1 on AA release and PGE2 production in macrophages. Importantly, PCERA-1 and C1P stimulated the enzymatic activity of cPLA2 in an in-vitro assay, whereas CERA-1 and ceramide inhibited both basal and C1P-stimulated cPLA2 activity. Collectively, these results indicate that CERA-1 suppresses AA release and subsequent PGE2 production in LPS-stimulated macrophages by direct interaction with cPLA2, and suggest that ceramide may similarly counteract C1P effect on cPLA2 activity in cells.
Short chain sphingolipids for enhanced cellular uptake of liposomal doxorubicin: optimal formulation and in vitro study.
L4
Lília R.C. Pedrosaa*, Albert van Hellb, Wim van Blitterswijkb, Ann Seynhaevea, Alexander M.M. Eggermonta, Timo L.M. ten Hagena , Marcel Verheijb,c, and Gerben A. Koninga
aLaboratory Experimental Surgical Oncology, Section Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC – Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands bDivision of Cellular Biochemistry, and c Department of Radiotherapy, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Background: Short chain sphingolipids (SCS) have been described to enhance cellular uptake of amphiphilic drugs in free or liposomal form and it is hypothesized that SCS induce domain or pore formation in the plasma membrane. The aim of this study is to establish an optimized formulation of SCS enriched liposomal formulation of doxorubicin (dox) and investigate the drug uptake process, when using different short chain sphingolipids to enhance intracellular delivery of liposomal doxorubicin.
Results: Liposomes were loaded with dox using an ammonium sulfate gradient. SCS-enriched pegylated liposomal doxorubixin (PLD) had sizes <100 nm, pdi <0.1 and drug leakage was below to 20% at 4ºC, for longer periods than 30 days, retaining their contents under culture conditions (10% serum). An optimal drug to lipid ratio of 01:1 was established, considering loading efficiency and stability. PLD enriched with 10 mol% of SCS in the lipid bilayer proved to be more stable than 15 mol% which showed tendency to aggregation.
In vitro anti-tumor activity was studied towards a panel of human tumor cell lines as well as endothelial cells and fibroblasts. In tumor cells, SCS-enriched-PLD (C8-Glucosylceramide-PLD and C8-Galactosylceramide-PLD) exerted increased cytotoxicity compared to standard PLD. This effect was not observed with endothelial cells and fibroblasts. SCS-enriched-PLD enhanced the intracellular drug uptake relatively to the non-enriched formulation as measured by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. To elucidate drug delivery mechanism confocal microscopy was performed. The liposomal fluorescence surrounded the cells but was not found associated with the cells, in contrast to dox.
Conclusion: 10 mol% SCS enriched-PLD at a starting drug to lipid ratio of 0.1:1 was set as optimal formulation with the lowest IC50 and highest stability. Modification of standard liposomal formulations with SCS can be used to improve PLD with regard to enhanced drug uptake and improved therapeutic efficacy.
Rational design, synthesis, biological evaluation and labelling of selective cannabinoid cb2 receptor agonists as anticancer agents.
L5
Saccomanni G.1, Bertini S.1, Castelli F.1, Del Carlo S.1, Lucchesi V.1, Tuccinardi T.1, Bifulco M.2, Malfitano A.M.2, Di Marzo V.3 , Ligresti A. 3, Pascali G.4, Salvadori P.A.4, Macchia M.1, Martinelli M.1, Manera C1.
1 University of Pisa, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 56126 Pisa, Italy – 2University of Salerno, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 84084 Fisciano, Salerno, Italy – 3Endocannabinoid Research Group, Istituto di Chimica Biomolecolare of CNR (IFC), 80078 Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy – 4Institute of Clinical Physiology of CNR, 56124, Pisa, Italy.
The endocannabinoid system includes two pharmacologically distinct receptors (the CB1 and CB2 receptor) and it is implicated in a growing number of physiological functions, both in the central and peripheral nervous systems and organs. Pharmacological studies conducted in vitro and in animal models have highlighted the role of CB2 receptor activation in apoptosis induction and inhibition of tumour cell growth which are related to an increase of ceramide levels. Our research is focused on the design and synthesis of selective CB2 cannabinoid receptor agonists to minimize/avoid the typical marijuana-like psychoactive effects mediated by CB1 receptor. The development of new lead characterized by heterocyclic core have been developed having recourse to molecular modeling and binding assay data. Until now some of the molecules developed show an appreciable selectivity and an high affinity (in the nanomolar range) towards CB2 receptor. The most promising ligands obtained were tested in vitro and in vivo models to evaluate its anticancer activity. Recently for some fluorinated leads, using innovative approaches, we have synthesized [18F]-labelled analogues to evaluate its in vivo biodistribution through PET imaging. These [18F]-labelled compounds represent a starting point for research on new potential imaging biomarkers for pathological conditions characterized by an overexpression of CB2 receptor. Furthermore all these studies have allowed to obtain significant information for the development of new selective CB2 ligands as candidates for cannabinoid-based anticancer therapy and to investigate the involvement and signaling pathway of this receptor in several diseases.
Fluorogenic substrates of acid ceramidase: metabolic fate in cancer cells.
L6
Francesca Cingolani1, Luz del Carmen Camacho1, Carmen Bedia1, José Luis Abad1, Toni Celià3, Josefina Casas1, Antonio Delgado1,2, Timothy M. Thomson3 and Gemma Fabriàs1
1RUBAM, Depto. Química Biomédica, Instituto de Química Avanzada de Cataluña (IQAC-CSIC), 2Unidad de Química Farmacéutica (Unidad Asociada al CSIC), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Barcelona, 3Laboratory of Cell Signaling and Cancer, Institute for Molecular Biology of Barcelona (IBMB-CSIC), Barcelona Science Park.
The cytotoxic and/or antiproliferative effect of many antitumor strategies involves a raise in ceramide levels in several tumor cell lines. Increasing evidence points to important roles of acid ceramidase (AC) in cancer development and response of tumors to therapy, supporting the interest of AC as a biomarker of diagnostic and/or prognostic value, as well as a valuable indicator for personalized treatment. Therefore, the implementation of tests for easy and rapid AC screening in biological samples is of great interest. The potential of the reported AC fluorogenic substrates RBM14 in this field is reported. Amongst the differently N-acylated analogs of the original compound, the N-C12 derivative is the best AC substrate. Despite all the RBM14 compounds are also substrates of the neutral ceramidase (NC), both AC and NC activities can be differentiated using specific inhibitors. Screening of a small panel of cancer cells revealed the occurrence of different AC activities, which in some cases could be correlated with the tumor aggressiveness. The metabolic fate of the RBM14 compounds, as analyzed by LC/MS, showed that the transacylation products were the main metabolites. Both the extent of transacylation and the distribution of the different N-acylated products depend on the cancer cell line. The fluorogenic AC substrate RBM14C12 appears a valuable tool in oncology. Its use in biological fluids is currently under development.
Mammalian ceramide synthases — why so many and what do they all do?
L7
Tony Futerman
Department of Biological Chemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
Ceramide is synthesized by the Ceramide Synthase (CerS) protein family, with each of the CerS generating ceramide with a highly selective fatty acid composition. We have recently generated a CerS2 null mouse. Ceramide and downstream sphingolipids were devoid of very long (C22-C24) acyl chains, consistent with the substrate specificity of CerS2 towards acyl CoAs. CerS2 null mice develop severe non-zonal hepatopathy from about 30 days of age, the age at which CerS2 expression peaks in wild type mice, and display increased rates of hepatocyte apoptosis and proliferation. In older mice there is extensive and pronounced hepatocellular anisocytosis with widespread formation of nodules of regenerative hepatocellular hyperplasia. Progressive hepatomegaly and non-invasive hepatocellular carcinoma are also seen from ~10 months of age. Even though CerS2 is found at equally high mRNA levels in kidney and liver, there are no changes in renal function and no pathological changes in the kidney. High throughput analysis of RNA expression in liver revealed up-regulation of genes associated with cell cycle regulation, protein transport, cell-cell interactions and apoptosis, and down-regulation of genes associated with intermediary metabolism, such as lipid and steroid metabolism, adipocyte signaling and amino acid metabolism. In addition to the liver pathology, we see a severe encephalopathy, which may be largely due to reduced galactosylceramide (GalCer) levels, and in particular, reduced levels of non-hydroxy-C22-C24-GalCer and of 2-hydroxy-C22-C24-GalCer. Noteworthy brain lesions develop with a time-course consistent with a vital role for C22-C24-GalCer in myelin stability. Myelin degeneration and detachment was observed, as was abnormal motor behavior originating from a sub-cortical region. Additional abnormalities included bilateral and symmetrical vacuolization and gliosis in specific brain areas, which corresponded to some extent to the pattern of CerS2 expression, with astrogliosis considerably more pronounced than microglial activation. Based on these results, we propose a functional rationale for the synthesis of sphingolipids with very long acyl chains in liver and brain homeostasis and in cell physiology.
Cone rescue after pharmachological inhibition of ceramide biosynthesis in a mouse model of inherited photoreceptor degeneration.
L8
I. Piano1, E. Novelli1, P. Gasco2, R. Ghidoni3, E. Strettoi4 and C. Gargini5
1G.B. Bietti Foundation, Rome, Italy; 2Nanovector srl, Turin, Italy; 3DMCO, San Paolo Medical School, Milan, Italy; 4Neuroscience Institute CNR, Pisa, Italy; 5Dept. Psychiatry, Neurobiology, Pharmacology and Biotechnologies, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
Background: Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) comprises a group of genetic defects causing photoreceptor death and blindness. Although RP mutations occur in rod-specific genes, cones eventually die out. We previously investigated the involvement of the sphingolipid pathway in the process of rod apoptosis and tested the effects of inhibiting the biosynthesis of ceramide by using myriocin on rd10 mutant mice. We showed that the treatment slows down rod deathand preserves retinal function.To get further insights into the relation between the death of rods and cones we tested whether and how prolonging rod survival delays the secondary death of cones.
Results: Retinal structure and visual function were compared in three groups of animals: a) wild type mice b) rd10 mice treated with myoricin c) myoricin untreated, rd10 mice. From 14 to 60 days of age, mice of the b) group wereadministered daily with an eye drop formulation of myoricin loadedinto Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLN). Mice of the c) group, treated with unloaded SLN, were used as control. At P60 the total number of cones/retina was estimated in the b) and c) groups by counting these cells in retinal preparation after cone opsin antibody staining. Opsin levels were measured by Western Blot. Retinal function of mice was assessed by flash ERG recording in photopic conditions; visual acuity was determined behaviorally. At P20 the amplitude of the photopic flash ERG in rd10 mice is similar to that of age match wt animals but the kinetic is markedly slower suggesting that the cone response is affected very early. The amplitude of the photopic ERG starts decreasing at around P30 and completely abolished by P80. In myriocin-treated mice, cone survival is substantially prolonged, as shown by a 70% higher number of cones and by a corresponding maintenance of both the ERG response and of the visual acuity.
Conclusions: These results indicate that inhibition of ceramide de novo biosynthesis extends cone survival and function, thus opening new perspective for RP therapy.
Cardiomyocyte specific deficiency of serine palmitoyltransferase reduced ceramide but led to cardiac dysfunction.
L9
Su-Yeon Lee1, Jung Ran Kim1, Yunying Hu2, Raffay Khan2, Su-Jung Kim1, Cheol-Soo Choi1, Kalyani G. Bharadwaj2, Mercy M. Davidson3, Woo-Jin Park4, In-Sun Park5, Xian-Cheng Jiang6, Ira J. Goldberg2, Tae-Sik Park1*
Lee Gil Ya Cancer and Diabetes Institute1, Department of Molecular Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Incheon, Republic of Korea. Department of Medicine2, Department of Neurology3, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA, 10032. Department of Life Science4, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, Gwangju, Republic of Korea. Department of Anatomy5, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Republic of Korea. Department of Cell Biology6, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, USA, 11203.
Background: Serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) contributes to de novo ceramide biosynthesis and modulates tissue ceramide levels. Ceramide is implicated in development of cardiac dysfunction of lipid-driven cardiomyopathy. To test whether creation of cardiomyocyte-specific deficiency of Sptlc2, a subunit of SPT, would reduce ceramide levels and improve cardiac function.
Results: We created cardiomyocyte-specific Sptlc2 deficient (hSptlc2 KO) mice and assessed cardiac lipid concentrations and function in these animals. As expected, hSptlc2 hearts had decreased ceramide. Sphingomyelin and diacylglycerol levels were unchanged, but surprisingly phospholipids and acyl CoAs contained increased long chain fatty acids. hSptlc2 KO mice had decreased fractional shortening and thinning of the cardiac wall. While the genes regulating glucose and fatty acid metabolism were not changed, expression of cardiac failure markers and the genes involved in the formation of extracellular matrices were upregulated in hSptlc2 KO hearts. In addition, ER-stress inducers were upregulated leading to increased apoptosis. Histological analysis showed glycogen accumulation and interstitial fibrosis.
Conclusions: Cardiac Sptlc2 deficiency causes cardiac dysfunction. This is associated with reduced ceramide, ER stress, and increased long chain saturated fatty acids in acyl CoAs and phospholipids.
Acid sphingomyelinase, syntaxin 4 and nitric oxide: how regulation of exo-endocytic pathways is implicated in tumour chemotherapy.
L10
Cristiana Perrotta1, Emma Assi1, Laura Bizzozero1, Denise Cazzato1, Lara Campana2, Cristina Martelli3, Luisa Ottobrini3, Giovanni Lucignani3, Patrizia Rovere2, Erich Gulbins4, Patrizia Rosa5, Emilio Clementi1,6
1Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Department of Clinical Sciences, University Hospital “Luigi Sacco”, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy; 2H. San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy; 3 Department of Biomedical Sciences and Technologies, Section of Radiological Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; 4Department of Molecular Biology and Center for Medical Biology, 45122 Essen, Germany; 5Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche Institute of Neuroscience, Milano, Italy.6E. Medea Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
Background: Acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) plays an important role in death receptors and chemotherapeutic drugs-induced apoptosis and its activation involves a process of exocytosis from its intracellular compartments to the plasma membrane through as yet unidentified pathways.
Results: We found that A-SMase is localized under resting conditions in (CatD- and Lamp-1-positive) vesicles, as already established, and early/recycling endosomes, where it co-localizes with syntaxin 4 (synt 4), a protein known to shuttle between these organelles and the plasma membrane. Using CD95 as the A-SMase-activating receptor, we demonstrated that A-SMasetranslocates to the cell surface after receptor activation. Such translocation is mediated by an exocytic pathway in which synt 4 is required, and leads to release of CatD in the medium. In addition, we demonstrated that translocation of A-SMase is required for its activation because the silencing of synt 4 inhibited A-SMase activation. and the ensuing inhibition of A-SMase. One of the player in the apoptotic event is the gaseous messenger Nitric Oxide (NO) that inhibits apoptosis through the generation of cyclic GMP (cGMP). We also found that synt 4 is a target of the antiapoptotic messenger Nitric Oxide (NO). NO phosphorylated synt4on serine 78via generation of cGMP and activation of G-kinase. This phosphorylation triggered proteasome-dependent degradation of synt4, leading to inhibition of A-SMase translocation and its biological effects.
Conclusions: A-SMase mediates cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs and its deletion promotes tumour growth. The identification of the interaction among ASMase, synt4 and NO, reveals an important mechanism of action of NO relevant in cancer and indicates synt-4 as a novel target for antitumour strategies.
The role of an acid sphingomyelinase in the maturation of the fly respiratory system.
L11
M Strigini1
1Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FORTH, Iraklio, Crete, Greece
Background: The Drosophila respiratory system, the trachea, consists of an epithelial tubular network. A functional trachea is air-filled, but in the embryo its lumen is filled with fluid. As in lungs, a process of maturation leads to the replacement of lumenal liquid with gas. In flies, this maturation involves three steps in a strict developmental order: i) secretion deposits proteins into the lumen and expands it; ii) solid lumenal material is removed by endocytosis; iii) liquid is cleared.
Results: I study a predicted acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase) specifically expressed in the trachea. I generated mutants for this enzyme, transgenic flies for over-expression and rescue experiments and an antibody. aSMase mutants fail to fill their trachea with air, and expression of aSMase in tracheal cells is sufficient to rescue the phenotype. In light of recent findings that sphingosine and sphingosine metabolism enzymes may modulate vesicular trafficking, I am assessing the role of aSMase in the control of epithelial secretion and/or endocytosis during maturation of the fly airways, by looking at the localization and trafficking of lumenal markers in the mutant and at the interaction of aSMase with known membrane trafficking genes.
Conclusions: This work may establish a suitable system for further genetic analysis of sphingolipid function in membrane dynamics.
Role of acid sphingomyelinase in melanoma development.
L12
L. Bizzozero1, D.Cazzato1, C. Verdelli1, E. Assi1, D. Cervia3, A. Monno2, E. Clementi1,4, C. Perrotta1
1Department of Clinical Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy; 2 San Raffaele Scientific Institute, University of Vita-Salute-San Raffaele, Italy, 3Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy. 4E. Medea Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Italy
Background: Defective apoptosis represents one of the major causative factors in the development and progression of cancer. The ability of tumor cells to evade engagement of apoptosis can play a significant role in their resistance to conventional therapeutic regiments. Recently, preclinical and clinical studies have indicated ceramide and the enzymes of its metabolism, in particular Acid Sphingomyelinase (A-SMase), as key players in tumor physiopathology.
Results: In this work we investigated the role of A-SMase in melanoma development and in response to chemotherapy. First, by the analysis of human biopsy we found a progressive down regulation of the enzyme from common nevi to melanoma at a higher grade, strongly supporting the fundamental role of A-SMase down regulation in malignant melanoma progression. We then investigated the specific role of A-SMase expressed by melanoma B16 cells which show different tumorigenic and metastatic properties dependent on their melanin content. We isolated several B16 clones on the basis of their pigmentation, indicating the pigmented clones as “black”, and the not-pigmented as “white” and we observed a higher expression and activity of A-SMase in the white B16 clones. In vivo and in vitro experiments showed that the black clones are more aggressive in terms of growth rate, metastatic capacity and histological characteristics in association with a decreased sensitivity to the treatment with cisplatin. This relationship was confirmed in four human melanoma cell lines.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrated that A-SMase is a fundamental for melanoma cells phenotype and behavior determination and that its down regulation leads to an increase of malignancy, so it can be considered a “marker” of malignant progression and be useful as prognostic factor of melanoma.
Melanoma progression: the role of acid sphingomyelinase and mitochondria.
L13
D.Cazzato1, C. De Palma1, L. Bizzozero1, E. Assi1 , E. Clementi1,2, C. Perrotta1
1Department of Clinical Sciences L Sacco, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy; 2Medea Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Italy
Background: Melanoma is composed by subpopulations of cells with various degrees of pigmentation, that correlate with metabolic changes and malignancy. Ceramide plays a key role in melanogenesis as it decreases melanin production through the down regulation of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor. One of the ceramide generating enzymes Acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase), for its role in tumour biology, is a good candidate as link between melanogenesis, mitochondrial metabolism and tumour behaviour.
Results: A white and a black melanoma B16 clones, showing different tumour growth, were isolated on the basis of pigmentation and investigated for A-SMase expression and mitochondrial metabolism. First, we found a high respiratory capacity in terms of oxygen consumption, in the black B16 clone, expressing low level of A-SMase, and, on the contrary, an increase in glycolitic ATP production, that correlates with a low respiratory capacity, in the white B16 clone, expressing a high amount of A-SMase. In addition, we observed a relation between A-SMase expression and mitochondrial morphology, indeed the black clone shows a very well organised mitochondrial network that corresponds with high mitochondrial membrane potential and expression of mitofusin 1 and 2 (Mfn1/2), the proteins involved in mitochondrial fusion process, while the white clone has fragmented mitochondria, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and low expression of Mfn1/2. Of importance silencing of A-SMase in this clone reverts its “mitochondrial phenotype” to that of the black clone, supporting the fundamental role of the enzyme in this event.
Conclusions: In cancer cells mitochondria are altered and play a pivotal role in tumour initiation and progression. Our data suggest a relationship among metabolic characteristic, A-SMase expression and tumour aggressiveness and might help in identifying new molecules relevant in tumour prognosis and in therapy.
Ceramide in beta cells apoptosis induced by gluco-lipotoxicity: possible role of cer flow for the biosynthesis of complex sphingolipids.
L14
P. Giussani1, H. Le Stunff2, E. Gjoni1, J. Veret2, L. Riboni1, P. Viani1
1Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate (MI) Italy – 2Unité Biologie Fonctionnelle et Adaptative – EAC CNRS 4413, Laboratoire de Biologie et Pathologie du Pancréas Endocrine, Université PARIS- DIDEROT (7),4, rue Marie-Andrée Lagroua Weill-Halle, 75205 PARIS Cedex 13 France
Background: In type 2 diabetes the detrimental effects of chronic exposure to NEFA, in particular palmitate, on beta cell function and viability have been correlated to hyperglycaemia. De novo synthesis of ceramide (Cer) and ER stress are among the molecular pathways and regulators involved in these negative effects. In order to gain insight into the molecular mechanism(s) of gluco-lipotoxicity we studied the effect of palmitate and high glucose concentrations on ceramide metabolism in INS-1 cells.
Results: The results obtained demonstrated that in INS-1 cells palmitate and glucose taken separately did not induce cell death, whereas the combined treatment with both nutrients resulted in an extensive cell apoptosis and this was associated to a significant increase of Cer levels. The presence of fumonisin-B1 partially reversed the apoptosis induced by the combined treatment with palmitate and glucose thus suggesting a role for ER-associated Cer in gluco-lipotoxicity in INS-1 cells. Metabolic studies show that treatment with palmitate results in the inhibition of Cer utilization for SM biosynthesis. Fluorescence microscopy studies suggest a reduced ER to Golgi flow of Cer. To evaluate if Cer accumulation could be due to a defect in the vesicular and/or CERT-mediated transport of Cer, we studied Cer metabolism in INS-1 cells silenced for CERT incubated with glucose in the presence or not of palmitate. In downregulated cells palmitate inhibited Cer utilization for SM biosynthesis; these results indicated that the vesicle-mediated transport is involved in the reduced ER to Golgi flow of Cer.
Conclusions: Altogether these data suggest that the accumulation of Cer can be due to a decrease in utilization of newly synthesized Cer for SM biosynthesis thus supporting a role of ER-associated Cer in the regulation of beta cell death induced by gluco-lipotoxicity.
Sphingosine mediates TNF-induced lysosomal permeabilization and cell death in hepatoma cells.
L15
Chiara Ullio1, Josefina Casas2, Ulf T. Brunk3, Giusy Sala4, Gemma Fabriàs2, Riccardo Ghidoni4, Gabriella Bonelli1, Francesco M. Baccino1 and Riccardo Autelli1
1Department of Experimental Medicine and Oncology, University of Turin, Italy; 2Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Department of Biomedicinal Biochemistry, Barcelona, Spain; 3Division of Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Linköping, Sweden; 4Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, San Paolo University Hospital, University of Milan, Italy.
Background. The tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is one of the most potent apoptosis inducers, which causes death by caspase-dependent and independent mechanisms. We previously described that in HTC, a rat hepatoma cell line, the TNF plus cycloheximide (CHX) trigger an apoptotic-like death, which requires and is mediated by the lysosomal compartment. Since lysosomal intervention in death was associated to alterations in sphingolipid levels, we investigated whether this occurred in our conditions as well.
Results. TNF/CHX determine the permeabilization of lysosomal membranes (LMP) and death in HTC cells, which was accompanied by a marked upregulation of lysosomal ceramide and sphingosine. Sphingolipid changes were mainly due to activation of the acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase) pathway, which provides a possible explanation of the lysosomal involvement in TNF-induced death. However, exogenous ceramide, as well as its lysosomal accumulation induced by desipramine (Dpm), account for neither LMP nor any of the lethal effects determined by the cytokine. By contrast exogenous sphingosine, endowed with membrane-solubilizing properties, causes LMP and lysosomal-cytoplasmic relocation of GFP-cathepsin B. In addition, LMP and death are markedly attenuated by Dpm, which effectively reduces the level of sphingosine. Death by TNF/CHX is brought down by siRNAs targeting aSMase or acid ceramidase (aCDase), which also prevent LMP. Preliminary experiments evidenced that TNF/CHX trigger LMP also in the human hepatoma cell lines HepG2, Huh7 and SK-HEP-1, but only the latter are effectively protected by aCDase silencing.
Conclusions. The results demonstrate that TNF/CHX upregulate both ceramide and sphingosine in hepatoma cells. However, RNA interference evidenced that only the latter is important in determining LMP and ensuing cell death. The reasons for the TNF/CHX-induced sphingolipid degradation remain to be elucidated.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate, a novel player in alzheimer’s disease .
L16
Gerhild van Echten-Deckert, Nadine Hagen, Irfan Tamboli* and Jochen Walter*
LIMES Institute for Membrane Biology & Lipid Biochemistry, University Bonn, Germany.
*Dept. of Neurology, University, Bonn, Germany.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) regulates a wide range of cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, motility, cytoskeleton rearrangements and calcium homeostasis [1]. Although S1P promotes cell survival in peripheral tissues, increased S1P levels appear to be toxic in terminally differentiated primary neurons [2]. Intriguingly, S1P dependent neurotoxicity shows similarity to that of the amyloid ß-peptide (Aß) [3], which constitutes amyloid plaques, that are characteristic for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In addition S1P induces tau hyperphosphorylation [3], an essential process in the formation of neurofibrillary tangles, that constitute a second hallmark of AD.
Preliminary experiments demonstrate a functional relation of S1P and the ß-amyloid precursor protein (APP). The accumulation of S1P in S1P-lyase deficient cells induces increased expression of APP and affects its proteolytic processing.
The main focus of the presentation will be on our current understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the S1P-dependant neuronal death.[1] Y.A. Hannun, L.M. Obeid, Principles of bioactive lipid signalling: lessons from sphingolipids, Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 9 (2008) 139-50.[2] N. Hagen, P.P. Van Veldhoven, R.L. Proia, H. Park, A.H. Merrill, Jr., G. van Echten-Deckert, Subcellular Origin of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Is Essential for Its Toxic Effect in Lyase-deficient Neurons, J Biol Chem 284 (2009) 11346-53.[3] N. Hagen, M. Hans, D. Hartmann, D. Swandulla, G. van Echten-Deckert, Sphingosine-1-phosphate links glycosphingolipid metabolism to neurodegeneration via a calpain-mediated mechanism, Cell Death Differ (2011).
Human mesoangioblasts favour vascular regeneration. role of the differentiating effect of sphingosine 1-phosphate.
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Chiara Donati1,2, Francesca Cencetti1,2, Simona Serratì3, Caterina Bernacchioni1,2, Giuseppina Marseglia4, Alberto Magi4, Gabriella Fibbi3, Silvia Brunelli5,6, Mario Del Rosso3, Francesca Torricelli4, Giulio Cossu5,7, Paola Bruni1,2
1Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Firenze, 50134 Firenze, 2Istituto Interuniversitario di Miologia (IIM), 3Dipartimento di Oncologia e Patologia Sperimentali, Università di Firenze, 50134 Firenze, Italia, 4SOD di Diagnostica Genetica, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria, 50134, Firenze, 5Divisione di Medicina Rigenerativa, Istituto Scientifico H San Raffaele, 20132 Milano; 6Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università di Milano-Bicocca, 20052 Monza, Italia; 7Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Milano, 20130 Milano, Italia
Background: Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) control fundamental functions such as arterial tone and vascular resistance. Recent studies have shown that circulating, SMC progenitor cells can contribute to neointima formation and repair following vascular injury. Mesoangioblasts (Mb) are a new type of progenitor mesenchymal cells capable of differentiating into many mesoderm cell types.S1P has recently been shown to have important effects on vascular development and SMC growth and migration.
Results: In this study, based on a previous cDNA microarray performed to establish transcriptional profiles of human Mb treated with 1µM S1P, we investigated in detail the role of GATA6 as target gene regulated by the sphingolipid crucial for its differentiating effect. Indeed, we found that S1P-induced GATA6 up-regulation was responsible for the enhanced expression of SM-specific proteins. Moreover, by gene silencing GATA6 appeared to be critical for the pro-differentiating activity of TGFβ and the pharmacological inhibition of endogenous S1P formation in response to TGFβ abrogated GATA6 up-regulation. Notably, differentiation of Mb in a 3D matrigel culture was strongly impaired when endogenous S1P formation was pharmacologically inhibited. Co-cultures of human Mb with endothelial cells differentiated into “neovascular-like” networks. Interestingly, conditioned medium of endothelial cells significantly stimulated Mb migration at the same extent of S1P alone. When endothelial cells were pre-treated with the SphK inhibitor SKI-2, the chemo-attractant properties of the conditioned medium was significantly reduced.
Conclusions: This study individuates novel players in the complex transcriptional regulation of Mb differentiation into SMCs and highlights a role for S1P to favour vascular regeneration.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate as a regulator of hypoxia-induced factor-1a in thyroid follicular ml-1 carcinoma cells.
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Veronica Kalhori1*, Kati Kemppainen1*, Nina Bergelin1,2, Panu Jaakkola3 and Kid Törnquist1,2
1Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; 2Minerva Foundation Institute, Helsinki, Finland; 3Turku Centre for Biotechnology, Turku, Finland
*V Kalhori and K Kemppainen contributed equally to this work.
Background: Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid which regulates several cancer-related processes including cellular motility and angiogenesis. S1P strongly induces migration of ML-1 follicular thyroid cancer cells. Hypoxia-induced factor-1 (HIF-1) is a transcription factor whose target genes help cells and tissues adapt to low oxygen levels through increased survival, motility and angiogenesis. HIF-1 activity is controlled by the regulatory HIF-1a subunit.
Results: We found that S1P treatment increases HIF-1a expression in ML-1 cells. Next we studied the signaling involved in S1P-induced HIF-1a expression and whether S1P-induced migration is mediated by HIF-1. Inhibition or knockdown of HIF-1a attenuated S1P-induced migration of ML-1 cells. A cycloheximide chase experiment pointed to S1P increasing HIF-1a synthesis instead of stability. Also, we saw no S1P-induced decrease in hydroxylation of HIF-1a on Pro564, a modification which mediates HIF-1a degradation. S1P did not affect HIF-1a mRNA expression. These results suggest that S1P regulates HIF-1a translation. Inhibition of the promigratory S1P3 receptor, Gi proteins, MEK, PI3K or mTOR prevented S1P-induced HIF-1a expression. Downstream of these lie eukaryotic initiation factor 4E (eIF-4E) and p70S6 kinase (p70S6K) which are known to regulate HIF-1a translation. We found S1P to induce phosphorylation of eIF-4E and its inhibitor 4E binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) in a MEK- and PI3K-dependent manner. Both phosphorylations lead to eIF-4E activation. S1P induced phosphorylation of p70S6K and inhibition of p70S6K prevented both S1P-induced HIF-1a expression and S1P-induced migration.
Conclusions: We identify for the first time S1P as a non-hypoxic regulator of HIF-1a in thyroid cancer cells. Importantly, we show S1P-induced HIF-1a expression to mediate S1P-induced migration. We also suggest a signaling pathway leading from extracellular S1P to increased HIF-1a translation.
TGF1-induced apoptosis is dependent on the modulation of s1pr expression in C2C12 myoblasts.
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Donati C.*°, Bernacchioni C.*°, Cencetti F.*°, Calise S.*, Blescia S.*, Bruni P*°.
*Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Viale G.B. Morgagni 50, Firenze, °IIM Istituto Interuniversitario di Miologia
Background: Skeletal muscle regeneration involves resident stem cells called satellite cells, that are usually quiescent and become activated after tissue injury. The recovery of skeletal muscle is altered by fibrosis, in which transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) plays a prominent role. Recent studies have shown that some effects elicited by cytokines are dependent on regulation of sphingosine kinase (SK).
Results: We recently identified a new mechanism by which TGFβ1 enhances muscle fibrosis that involves the induction of SK1/S1P3 expression in C2C12 myoblasts; interestingly, the cytokine was also found capable of up-regulating S1P4 mRNA, even though this effect was disengaged from TGFβ1-induced pro-fibrotic effect. In this study the role exerted by S1P4 in TGFβ1-treated myoblasts was investigated. TGFβ1 challenge (5 ng/ml) of serum-deprived or staurosporine-treated myoblasts for 24 h exerted a remarkable apoptotic effect, as assessed by caspase-3 activity assay and Poly-ADP-ribose Polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Notably, myoblasts stably transfected with a plasmid encoding S1P4 were more responsive to TGFβ1-induced apoptosis, in comparison with empty vector-myoblasts. In agreement, when S1P4 was specifically silenced, TGFβ1-induced apoptosis was dramatically decreased. In order to study the signaling pathways triggered by S1P4, the activation of downstream effectors, ERK1-2, Akt, p38MAPK, was also analyzed: interestingly, in S1P4-overexpressing myoblasts Akt phosphorylation induced by 1 μM S1P was significantly lower, in line with a pro-apoptotic role of this receptor subtype.
Conclusion: These findings increase the knowledge of the molecular mechanisms involved in muscle regeneration, that are crucial for the improvement of new therapies for degenerative muscle disorders.
S1P2 receptor and skeletal muscle regeneration.
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Germinario E1,2, Peron S1, Betto R2,3, Donati C2,4, Bruni P2,4, Danieli-Betto D1,2
1 Dipartimento di Anatomia e Fisiologia Umana, Università di Padova, Italia 2 IIM, Istituto Interuniversitario di Miologia, 3 Istituto di Neuroscienze del C.N.R., Padova, Italia, 4Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Firenze, Italia.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) modulates muscle growth through its interaction with specific cell membrane receptors of muscle fibers and satellite cells. This study explored the role of S1P2 receptor during in vivo regeneration in S1P2-null mice and in control mice submitted to intraperitoneal injection of JTE-013 (JTE), a potent and selective S1P2 receptor antagonist. Degeneration was induced by injecting notexin into the soleus muscle of untreated control, S1P2-null and in JTE-treated mice.
The mean cross sectional area of 4-day regenerated fibers was significantly smaller in S1P2-null and JTE-treated muscles compared to controls. The addition of exogenous S1P directly to the regenerating muscle stimulated the growth of untreated soleus, while it was ineffective in the JTE-treated muscle. Vice versa, the neutralization of circulating S1P, by the systemic injection of a specific antibody, reduced the growth of regenerating untreated muscle whereas did not affect that of S1P2-null fibers. The reduced growth of JTE-treated soleus was associated to the decreased expression level of myogenin, a specific transcription factor that coordinates skeletal muscle differentiation. Moreover, activation of Akt, a key kinase regulating muscle growth, was significantly smaller in the JTE-treated regenerating soleus compared to the untreated regenerating control. Interestingly, 1 µM S1P promoted differentiation into myotubes of satellite cells isolated from tibialis anterior muscle grown to confluence and maintained in a serum-depleted medium, but the pro-myogenic effect of S1P was abrogated in satellite cells isolated from S1P2-null mice.
These results indicate that the absence or inactivation of S1P2 receptor delay the regeneration process suggesting that S1P2 receptor might play a critical role in myogenesis.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 controls venous endothelial barrier integrity in zebrafish.ù
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1Tobia C., 1Nicoli S., 1Dell’Era P., 1Buraschi S., 1Chiodelli P., 1Mitola S., 2van Loenen P.B., 2Alewijnse A. E., and 1Presta M.
1Dept. Biomedical Sciences & Biotechnology, University of Brescia, Italy; 2Dept. Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapy, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Background: The interaction of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) with endothelial S1P receptor 1 (S1P1) modulates vascular permeability by enhancement of endothelial barrier. Yet the molecular bases of the impact of the S1P/S1P1 receptor system on endothelial barrier integrity remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we characterized the zebrafish ortholog zS1P1 receptor functions during vascular development.
Results: zS1P1 is transiently expressed in the dorsal aorta (DA) and posterior cardinal vein (PCV) of zebrafish embryos between 24 and 30 hours post-fertilization. Down-regulation of zS1P1 expression results in minor changes in vascular development. Nevertheless, zS1P1 morphants consistently showed early pericardial edema, lack of blood circulation, and a dramatic generalized edema at 4-6 days post-fertilization. Also, zS1P1 morphants were characterized by down-regulation of vascular endothelial cadherin (VE-cadherin) and Eph receptor EphB4a expression and by disorganization of the Zonula Occludens 1 (ZO1)+ endothelial junctions in PCV endothelium, with no alterations of DA endothelium. VE-cadherin knockdown results in similar vascular alterations, whereas VE-cadherin overexpression was sufficient to rescue venous vascular integrity defects and EphB4a down-regulation in zS1P1 morphants. In keeping with these observations, the assembly of ZO1+ intercellular contacts triggered by S1P in human umbilical vein endothelial cells was prevented by the selective EPHB4 receptor antagonist TNYL-RAW peptide.
Conclusions: The data demonstrate a nonredundant role of S1P1 in the regulation of venous endothelial barrier and identify a novel S1P1/VE-cadherin/EphB4a pathway that controls venous vascular integrity in zebrafish.
Identification of the mechanism of sphingosine kinase 1 – mediated prosaposin regulation in prostate cancer cells.
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Lysann Sauer, Dmitry Pshezhetskiy
Tumour Microenvironment and Chemotherapy Group, Division of Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
Background: Prosaposin is a neurotrophic secreted protein that stimulates specific G-coupled receptors and is involved in cancer progression, metastasis and chemoresistance through activation of the Raf-MAPK and uPA/uPAR pathways. Here we have investigated the crossregulation of prosaposin and sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) pathways in hormone refractory prostate and breast cancer (PCa and BCa) models.
Results: Prosaposin knockout mice exhibited an involution of the prostate gland which correlated with a significant reduction of prostate SK1 activity. In PCa and BCa cell lines SK1 activity correlated with the amount of secreted, but not intracellular prosaposin, indicating a role for the prosaposin/GPCR signalling. The specific knockdown of prosaposin in PCa and BCa cells induced a significant decrease in SK1 activity and expression on mRNA and protein level. Additionally, a short prosaposin peptide TX14A enhanced SK1 activity and up-regulated SK1 mRNA expression via ERK1/2-mediated mechanism. Cytokine array showed that TX14A induced a significant upregulation of MIF and PAI-1 secretion, which was abrogated by pretreatment with psap- or SphK1-specific siRNA. Increased prosaposin secretion was detected in metastatic PCa and BCa cells lines and associated with increased cancer cell motility.
Subsequently, SK1 activation was essential for prosaposin secretion and expression during serum deprivation. The effect was further amplified upon overexpression of SK1 and was drastically abrogated by specific knockdown or SK1 inhibitors, which could also abrogate prosaposin-induced cancer cell migration. Analysis of PCa and BCa patients plasma samples revealed increased levels of circulating prosaposin in comparison to cancer-free controls.
Conclusion: these data provide evidence that SK1-dependent prosaposin secretion promotes cancer cell migration and has potential diagnostic/prognostic and therapeutic value in PCa and BCa patients.
Sphingosine kinase 1 inhibitors induce proteasomal degradation of sphingosine kinase 1 in prostate cancer cells.
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Francesca Tonelli, Robert Bittman/, Viswanathan Natarajan//, Evgeny Berdyshev//, Nigel J. Pyne and Susan Pyne
Cell Biology Group, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 161 Cathedral Street, Glasgow, G4 0RE, UK. / Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing, New York 11367-1597, USA. //Department of Pharmacology, University of Illinois at Chicago, South Wolcott Av, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA.
Sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) is an enzyme that catalyses the phosphorylation of sphingosine to form the bioactive lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). S1P has a critical role in promoting survival, growth and migration of mammalian cells. Moreover, alterations in SK1 function have been implicated in prostate cancer, being involved in the acquisition of a chemoresistant phenotype and in the progression to androgen independence, two major factors associated with poor prognosis.
Here, we investigated the effect of the SK1 inhibitors, SKi (2-(p-hydroxyanilino)-4-(p-chlorophenyl)thiazole) and (S)-FTY720 vinylphosphonate, on androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and -independent (LNCaP-AI) prostate cancer cell survival. We provide evidence that SKi activates the ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation pathway, by tilting the sphingolipid rheostat toward ceramide. As a consequence, SKi induces the proteasomal degradation of SK1a and SK1b (with an N-terminal 86 amino acid extension compared to SK1a) in LNCaP cells, and this is associated with the onset of apoptosis. In contrast, SKi only induces the proteasomal degradation of SK1a (with no effect on SK1b) in LNCaP-AI cells, and these cells do not undergo apoptosis. Therefore, SK1b appears to evade the proteasomal degradation machinery in LNCaP-AI cells, and this confers resistance to apoptosis. However, (S)-FTY720 vinylphosphonate overcomes this resistance to induce the proteasomal degradation of both SK1a and SK1b in LNCaP-AI cells, causing apoptosis in these cells.
Thus, this study provides the first evidence that SK1b might control chemotherapeutic resistance of prostate cancer cells, and that targeting both SK1a and SK1b might be a successful therapeutic approach for the treatment of androgen-independent prostate cancer.
S1P-lyase-deficiency increases sphingolipid formation via recycling pathway on expense of de novo biosynthesis and doubles the amount of cholesteryl-esters in neurons.
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Nadine Hagen1, Dieter Lütjohann2, Hyejung Park2, Alfred H. Merrill, Jr.2, Gerhild van Echten-Deckert1
1LIMES Institute Membrane Biology & Lipid Biochemistry, University Bonn, 53121 Bonn, Germany. 2Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Clinics Bonn, Germany. 3School of Biology and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0230, USA
Background: Sphingosine-1-phosphate-lyase (SPL) irreversibly cleaves sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in the terminal step of sphingolipid catabolism. As S1P is a bioactive lipid that modulates a wide range of physiological processes, its concentration must be tightly regulated within intracellular environments. Indeed, several studies have implicated enzymes involved in S1P metabolism in the regulation of numerous physiological processes. We now asked the question whether and how SPL-deficiency affects the metabolism of (glyco)sphingolipids and cholesterol, two lipid classes which could be involved in the neurodegenerative processes observed in these mutants.
Results: Apart of a considerable increase in free and especially phosphorylated sphingoid bases and of cholesterol esters in SPL-deficient neurons, the mass of (glyco)sphingolipids as well as of free cholesterol persisted at wild type levels. Nevertheless, the inability of s1p-lyase-deficient neurons to degrade s1p was accompanied by a reduction of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis and a simultaneous increase of the salvage pathway. This readjustment in sphingolipid metabolism is apparently driven by the accumulation of free and phosphorylated sphingoid bases.
Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate once more functional interactions and regulatory links between sphingolipid and cholesterol metabolism and Alzheimer pathology.
Signaling complexes at the membrane interface: a possible role for lysophospholipid mediators.
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Karoly Liliom, Attila Baksa, Balazs Besztercei, Monika Kabai, Andrea Varga, Henriett Pal-Gabor, and Erika Kovacs
Institute of Enzymology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences Budapest P.O.Box 7, H-1518 HUNGARY
Signal transduction involves interactions of protein domains with receptors, with each other, and with membrane lipid components. Several membrane-associating domains are described which directly bind to individual phospholipids. Our attention turned to the physiologically important lipid mediators sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC), sphingosine (Sph), and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), to investigate if they participate in such interactions.
When seeking for intracellular protein partners of lysophospholipid mediators, we observed the binding of SPC to calmodulin, leading to its inhibition. We also showed that LPA binds to beta-2-microglobulin. Both interactions occur in vitro only above the critical micelle concentration (CMC) of the lipids. We hypothesized that this common feature represents the selective binding of several protein domains to membranes containing lysophospholipid mediators. Next we investigated if pleckstrin homology (PH) domains could bind to LPA as it is suggested for gelsolin. We expressed in E. coli and purified the PH domains of gelsolin and Grp1. Similarly to our previous findings, titration of the PH domains with the lipids yielded selective interactions above their CMC values, characterized with nanomolar affinity. We also carried out live-cell microscopy with GFP-tagged PH domains of gelsolin and Grp1 in SK-OV-3 cells. We observed changes in spatiotemporal localization of these constructs when cell were treated with UTP, known to increase the intracellular level of LPA, contrasting the treatment of cells with EGF.
Our results support our hypothsis that signaling lysophospholipid metabolites can act on membrane surfaces via recruiting protein domains. LPA, in a clustered form mimicked by micelles in vitro, can bind to at least some PH domains with high affinity, revealing new aspects of lysophospholipid-protein interactions.
Ceramide-1-phosphate stimulates glucose uptake in macrophages.
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A Ouro, L Arana , P Gangoiti, A Gomez-Muñoz
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain
Ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid that is implicated in the regulation of cell growth and survival, as well as in the control of cell migration and inflammation. All of these actions require enhancement of glucose uptake by the cells in order to maintain the intracellular ATP levels above a threshold, below which apoptosis is initiated. Therefore, we hypothesized that C1P might stimulate glucose uptake and metabolism so that cells could accomplish these vital biological functions.
Using RAW 264.7 macrophages we show here that C1P stimulated the incorporation of glucose into the cells in a manner that was time and concentration dependent. C1P-stimulated glucose uptake involved stimulation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt) pathway, whereas the mitogen activated protein kinases ERK and JNK, or protein kinase C were not involved. It is known that glucose uptake is mediated by a family of facilitative glucose transporters known as GLUT. There are thirteen members in the GLUT family with the isoforms involved depending upon cell type. We observed that among all of the glucose transporters, GLUT 3 was highly expressed in RAW 264.7 cells, and found that C1P caused a significant decrease in the apparent Km for substrate transport by GLUT 3. In addition, we observed that this process was inhibited by pertussis toxin, a potent Gi protein inhibitor that is commonly used to block cell signaling through activation of Gi protein-coupled receptors.
Taken together, these results show that C1P-stimulated glucose uptake is dependent upon activation of the PI3K/PKB pathway, and that it might involve interaction of C1P with a plasma membrane receptor that is coupled to Gi proteins.
This work was supported by grants BFU2009-13314 from “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” (Madrid, Spain) and SA-2010/00013 from “Departamento de Industria, Comercio y Turismo” (Basque Government, Spain).
The mitotic rate of immortalized hippocampal neuroblasts is controlled by the protein scamper, an intracellular sphingolipid receptor.
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Grazia Della Sala,(a) Vladimir Voccoli,(a) Roger Sabbadini(b) and Laura Colombaioni(a)
(a)CNR Neuroscience Institute, Pisa, Italy – (b)Lpath, Inc. San Diego, CA—USA.
Sphingolipids control crucial cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation or programmed death interacting with specific extracellular or intracellular receptors. The extracellular receptors of various sphingolipids are known in detail. In contrast, the identification of the intracellular sphingolipid receptors has been more complex. In the present study we evaluate the role of the protein SCaMPER (the sphingolipid Ca2+-release-mediating protein of the endoplasmic reticulum) in controlling the intracellular calcium balance also examining its physiological effect on cell functions. SCaMPER could be a novel ion channel or a ion channel-regulatory protein. It has been characterized and cloned by different research groups and a debate is open on its structure and function. Depending on cell types SCaMPER is activated by sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) or sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P).
The current study investigates the expression and function of SCaMPER in neuronal cells. The cell line HN9.10e (obtained by fusion of neuroblasts from embryonic mouse hippocampus and N18TG2 neuroblastoma cells) has been employed as a model of central neurons. Since SPC has been reported to be a SCaMPER activator, we tested its effect on the intracellular calcium balance of HN9.10e cells. As the free Ca2+ level within endoplasmic reticulum (ER) has been demonstrated to be essential for cell signaling, we investigated whether the ER Ca2+ content was modulated by SPC treatment in HN9.10e cells. We used the novel fluorescent Ca2+ indicator ERD1CPV, genetically encoded, based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer between two mutants of GFP, to analyze the ER Ca2+ content. We found that SPC reduces the ER Ca2+ and that this decrease correlates with the mitogenic stimulation of the hippocampal neuroblasts. The functional knockdown of the SCaMPER protein selectively abolishes a particular long lasting component of ER Ca2+ release also blocking the mitosis in HN9.10e neuroblasts. This suggests that SCaMPER could be a Ca2+ channel or a Ca2+ channel regulator.
In conclusion, our data indicate that SPC controls the mitosis and the intracellular Ca2+ balance in neuronal cells through the activation of the SCaMPER protein.
Dihydroceramide induces autophagy, er stress and delays g1/s transition.
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Gagliostro V.*, Casas F.†, Caretti A*, Tagliavacca L. ‡, Ghidoni R.*, Fabrias G.†, Signorelli P*§.
*, Lab. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, San Paolo University Hospital, Medical School, University of Milan (Italy); †, Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Departament de Química Biomèdica, Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC), CSIC, Barcelona (Spain); ‡,Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo NY (US)
Dihydroceramide, the precursor of ceramide along with the de novo sphingolipid synthesis, has been recently implicated in active signalling and silencing the expression of dihydroceramide desaturase was shown to arrest cell cycle (Kraveka et al., J.B.C. 2007; Zhou et al.,Mol Carcinog.2009). We previously demonstrated, in gastric carcinoma cells line HCG27, that dihydroceramide accumulation, in response to dihydroceramide desaturase inhibitor XM462 treatment, induces autophagy with no sign of cell death (Signorelli et.al., Canc.Letters 2009). We now demonstrate that XM462 treatment induces a transient increase in dihydroceramide that is successively metabolized in other sphingolipids. Dihydroceramide accumulation is associated with cyclin D1 expression modulation, delayed G1/S transition of cell cycle and increased autophagy. Moreover XM462 treatment induces ER stress via the activation of the translation inhibitor eIF2a and the pro-survival transcriptional factor Xbp1. Exogenously added short chain analogue of dihydroceramide, d2-C8-dihydroceramide, reproduces the effect of endogenous accumulation of dihydroceramide, causing cell cycle delay of the G1/S transition, autophagy enhancement , eIF2a activation and Xbp1 splicing. Blocking autophagy by 3-methyl-adenine abrogates the effect of XM462 on cell cycle and reduces cell survival to XM 462 treatment. Our data suggest a potential role of dihydroceramide in regulating cell proliferation and survival.
Deoxysphingolipids in health and disease.
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Daniela Ernst1, Karthik Sathiyanadan2, Anke Penno3, Alaa Othman1, Heiko Bode1, Arnold von Eckardstein1, Thorsten Hornemann1
1Department of Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland – 2Theodor Kocher Institute, University of Bern, Switzerland – 3LIMES-Institute Bonn, Germany
Background: Serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) is catalyzing the first step of the de novo synthesis of sphingolipids typically metabolizing serine and palmitoyl-CoA to sphinganine. SPT can also use alanine as an alternative substrate which results in the formation of deoxysphingolipids (dSLs). These atypical SPT products lack the C1 hydroxyl group of sphinganine and can therefore neither be converted to complex sphingolipids nor be degraded by the classical pathway.
Results: Highly elevated dSL levels are a hallmark of hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type I (HSAN1) –a rare inherited neuropathy – which is linked to various point mutations in SPT. Increased dSL plasma levels have been detected also in patients with certain metabolic disorders such as glycogen storage disease, metabolic syndrome and diabetes, although SPT is not mutated in these conditions. In order to identify a regulatory mechanism that leads to a switch in the substrate specificity of SPT, we focussed on the role of two reported, but not yet characterized phospho-sites (S384 and Y387) in the SPTLC2 subunit. For this purpose we analyzed several SPTLC2 mutants by either mimicking a constitutively phosphorylated or un-phosphorylated state of the enzyme.
Mimicking a phosporylation at serine (S384D) resulted in a 2 fold reduced sphinganine formation and a 2-3 fold increased dSL generation compared to the control. In contrast, a constitutively un-phosphorylated mutant (S384A) showed no specific increase in dSL formation. No effect on dSL generation could be observed in the Y387 mutants.
Conclusion: Phosphorylation at SPTLC2 might cause a molecular switch, shifting SPT specificity to alanine thus resulting in dSL formation. This finding establishes dSLs-not only as potential neurotoxic lipids-but also as molecules that might be involved in regulative mechanisms in the sphingolipid pathways.
Deoxy-sphingoid bases in peripheral neuropathies.
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A. Penno1, F. Eichler2, T. Hornemann1
1University Hospital Zürich, Rämistrasse 100, CH-8091 Zürich, Switzerland – 2 MGH Neuroscience Center, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School
Background: Sphingoid bases are the building blocks for sphingolipids and commonly formed from the precursors L-serine and palmitoyl-CoA – a reaction which is catalyzed by the serine-palmitoyltransferase (SPT). Several SPT missense mutations are associated with the inherited sensory neuropathy HSAN1 (OMIM162400) – an inherited sensory neuropathy which is associated with several missense mutations in SPT
Results: We showed recently that SPT is not strictly depending on serine but also metabolizes alanine and glycine to a certain extent. This promiscuous activity is greatly increased in HSAN1. The conjugation of palmitoyl-CoA with alanine or glycine results in the formation of an atypical class of deoxy-sphingolipids (dSL) which lack the C1 hydroxyl group. They are therefore not converted into complex sphingolipids nor degraded by the normal catabolic pathway. Consequently, these lipids are elevated in cells which express the mutant forms of SPT. Highly elevated dSL levels were found in plasma from HSAN1 patients and transgenic HSAN1 mice. We showed furthermore that a simple oral serine supplementation suppresses dSL formation and could be an effective therapy in HSAN1.
Clinically, HSAN1 is very similar to the frequent diabetic sensory neuropathy (DSN). Alanine and serine metabolism is functionally linked to the carbohydrate metabolism. In two independent studies we therefore analyzed the sphingoid base profile in diabetic patients. In both studies we found significantly elevated dSL levels in the diabetes groups whereas normal sphingoid bases were not altered.
Conclusions: Our results show that pathologically elevated dSL levels are the cause for HSAN1 but might also be involved in the course and progression of the diabetic sensory neuropathy. A simple oral serine supplementation could be a therapeutic approach to suppress the formation of neurotoxic dSL’s.
β-Galactosylceramidase deficiency: neurovascular implications.
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1Belleri M., 1Coltrini D., 2Nico B., 2Ribatti D., 1Ronca R., 1Alessi P., 1Zizioli D., 3Poliani P.L., 1Marchesini S., 4Bongarzone E., and 1Presta M.
1Dept. Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology and 3Dept. Pathology, University of Brescia, Italy; 2Dept. Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari, Italy; 4Dept. Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA.
Background: Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD), or Krabbe’s disease, is a neurological disorder caused by genetic b-galactosylceramidase (b-GAL) deficiency. This results in the accumulation of the neurotoxic metabolite psychosine in the CNS paralleled by oligodendrocyte apoptosis, demyelination, and formation of microglial globoid cells.
Results: We cloned two b-GAL orthologues in Zebrafish (Danio rerio) and studied their spatial and temporal expression in Zebrafish embryos. Morpholino-mediated knock-down demonstrates that b-GAL plays a key role in CNS development in Zebrafish. Neovascular disfunctions may contribute to neurodegeneration. We have found that endothelial cells (ECs) express b-GAL and that psychosine has antiangiogenic properties in vitro and in vivo by causing the disassembling of EC actin structures. Accordingly, defects in brain vascularization were observed in Twitcher mice, an authentic mouse model of human GLD. Also, ECs from Twitcher mice show a remarkable impairment in their capacity to mount a neovascular response when challenged in vivo and ex-vivo by angiogenic growth factors. Furthermore, b-GAL silencing via shRNA lentiviral transduction affects human endothelial cell proliferation and motility.
Conclusions: Taken together, these data point to a previously unrecognised role of b-GAL in EC biology and implicate neurovascular unit damage in the pathogenesis of GLD.
Human embryonic stem cell differentiation: role of glycosphingolipid structure.
L32
Yuh-Jin Liang, Chien-Huang Liao and John Yu
Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, and Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 115, Taiwan
Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are ubiquitous components of cell membranes that can act as mediators of cell adhesion and signal transduction, and can possibly be used as cell type-specific markers. A systematic survey of expression profiles of GSLs in human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines and various differentiated derivatives was carried out using immunofluorescence, flow cytometry, and MALDI-MS and MS/MS analyses. In the undifferentiated hESCs, in addition to the well-known hESC-specific markers, SSEA-3 and SSEA-4, we identified several globosides and lacto-series GSLs, previously unrevealed in hESCs, including Gb4Cer, Lc4Cer, fucosyl Lc4Cer, Globo H, and disialyl Gb5Cer. During hESC differentiation into embryoid body (EB) outgrowth, MS analysis revealed a clear-cut switch in the core structures of GSLs from globo- and lacto- to ganglio-series. To further clarify alterations is correlated with lineage-specific differentiation, we analyzed changes in GSLs as hESCs differentiated into neural progenitors or endodermal cells. During differentiation into neural progenitor cells, we found that the core structures of GSLs switched from globo- and lacto- to mostly ganglio-series dominated by GD3. On the other hand, when hESCs differentiated into endodermal cells, patterns of GSLs were totally different from those observed in EB outgrowth or neural progenitors. The most prominent GSL identified by MALDI-MS and MS/SM analysis was Gb4Cer, without any appreciable amount of SSEA-3 and 4 antigens, or GD3, in endodermal cells. We also demonstrated that such a switch in GSL profiling was attributable to altered expression of key glycosyltransferases (GTs) in the biosynthetic pathways, suggesting a close association of GSLs with lineage specificity and differentiation of hESCs. Therefore, these results provide new insights into the unique stage-specific transition and mechanism for alterations of GSL core structures during hESC differentiation.
Cancer immunotherapy with tumor-associated glycolipids as target and nkt stimulatory glycolipids as adjuvant.
L33
AL Yu1.2 on behalf of Children’s Oncology Group, JC Yu3, WW Chang1, RT Hung1, CH Wong1
1Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taiwan; 2Departiment of Pediatrics, University of California in San Diego, USA, 3Institute of Cellular & Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Taiwan
Tumor associated antigens are preferred targets for cancer immunotherapy. GD2 is highly expressed in neuroblastoma, melanoma and small cell lung cancer. A human-mouse chimeric anti-GD2, ch14.18, has shown preclinical and early phase clinical activity for neuroblastoma, with enhanced preclinical efficacy when combined with GM-CSF or IL2. A phase III trial was conducted to determine if adding ch14.18 + GM-CSF + IL2 to standard therapy of 13-cis-retinioic acid may improve outcome for high-risk NB patients.Event-free survival at 2-year was significantly higher (p=0.0115) for 113 patients randomized to immunotherapy (66% vs 46%) than 113 patients randomized to standard therapy. Overall survival was also significantly higher (p=0.0223) for immunotherapy (86% vs 75%). This is the first mAb targeting a sphinogolipid shown to be effective for cancer immunotherapy. A clinical trial of an anti-idiotypic antibody against anti-GD2, mAb1A7, serving as a surrogate GD2 antigen, was conducted in 31 patients with high risk neuroblastoma. Immunization with mAb1A7 induced anti-mAb1A7, which was active in mediating CDC and ADCC activities. These findings indicated thatmAb1A7 vaccine may be useful as GD2 vaccine for neuroblastoma. Another potential target for cancer immunotherapy is Globo H, a hexasaccharide which is overexpressed on a variety of epithelial cell tumors including ovarian, gastric, pancreatic, lung, breast cancers, etc. Analysis of 53 human breast cancer specimens showed Globo H to be expressed in breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), although much less than non-BCSCs. In addition, Gb5, the pentasaccharide precursor of Globo H, was expressed in BCSCs from >60% of tumors. Immunization of mice with Globo H-KLH with NKT stimulatory glycolipids as adjuvants induced antibody reactive with not only Globo H but also Gb5, suggesting that Globo H-based immunotherapy will target Globo H and Gb5-expressing tumor cells. These findings provide further impetus for a clinical trial of Globo H vaccine in metastatic breast cancer, which is ongoing.
Galacto configured aminocyclitol phytoceramides are potent in vivo invariant natural killer t cell stimulators.
P1
Youssef Harrak,a Carolina Barra,c Antonio Delgadoa, b, Raúl Castaño,c, Amadeu Llebariaa
a) Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Departamento de Química Biomédica, IIQAC-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, España; b) Universidad de Barcelona, Facultad de Farmacia, Unidad de Química Farmacéutica (Unidad Asociada al CSIC), Avda. Joan XXIII s/n; 08029 Barcelona, España; c) Institut de Biotecnología i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Invariant Natural Killer T (iNKT) cells are a distinct lymphocyte class that regulates a broad range of immune responses.1 They recognize glycolipid antigens presented by the MHC class I-like protein CD1d.2 iNKT cells are involved in the regulation of autoimmunity,3 the response to tumors 4 or microbial infections.5 The glycolipid a-galactosylceramide (aGC) is the prototypical lipid antigen presented by CD1d that stimulate the invariant T cell receptor (TCR) expressed by iNKT cells. However, the exceptional potency of aGC on iNKT cell stimulation is associated to different side effects, arising from the simultaneous production of Th1 and Th2 type cytokines, which have opposite cell polarizing functions, followed by an unresponsive phase before recovering homeostatic equilibirum. This has prompted the design and synthesis of aGC analogues to improve its biological properties and modulate the strong induced response.
Mouse and cell culture studies identified aminocyclitol phytoceramide compounds that could be useful as vaccine adjuvants. In invariant NKT (iNKT) cells, one of the aminocyclitol phytoceramides induced interferon-γ (Ifng; Ifn-γ) and Il-4 production. In mice, intraperitoneal injections of the compound increased serum Ifn-γ and Il-4 levels compared with injections of negative controls. Next steps include synthesizing and optimizing new generations of aminocyclitol phytoceramides. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS E. Dalmau for HRMS analysis and Dr, M. Egido-Gabas and Dr. Amaya Castro for analytical support. Y.H. thanks MICINN for a Juan de la Cierva fellowship.REFERENCES (1) Bendelac, A.; Savage, P. B.; Teyton, L. Annu. Rev. Immunol. 2007, 25, 297-336, (2) Matsuda, J. L.; Mallevaey, T.; Scott-Browne, J.; Gapin, L. Curr. Opin. Immunol. 2008, 20, 358-368. (3) Ronchi, F.; Falcone, M. Front. Biosci. 2008, 13, 4827-4837. (4)Molling, J. W.; Moreno, M.; van der Vliet, H. J.; van den Eertwegh, A. J.; Scheper, R. J.; von Blomberg, B. M.; Bontkes, H. J. Clin. Immunol. 2008, 129, 182-194. (5) Brigl, M.; Brenner, M. B. Semin. Immunol. 2010, 22, 79-86.
Biological activity of novel ceramide analogues with the (E)‑2‑amino‑4‑(tridecylthio)but‑3‑en‑1‑ol backbone.
P3
Josefina Casas1, Fabio M. M. Simbari1, Luz del Carmen Camacho1, María Garrido1, José Luis Abad1, Gemma Fabriàs1 and Antonio Delgado1,2.
1RUBAM, Depto. Química Biomédica, Instituto de Química Avanzada de Cataluña (IQAC-CSIC), 2Unidad de Química Farmacéutica (Unidad Asociada al CSIC), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Barcelona.
The cytotoxic and/or antiproliferative effect of many antitumor strategies involves a raise in ceramide levels in several tumor cell lines. Increasing evidence points to important roles of acid ceramidase in cancer development and response of tumors to therapy. The relevance of dihydroceramide desaturase in this context is also emerging. Therefore, the development of inhibitors of sphingolipid metabolism as anticancer drugs, either alone or in combination with other therapies, is of importance.
The biological activity of the new ceramide analogues RBM2-1B/D in two different human adenocarcinoma cell lines, namely lung A459 and colon HCT116, is reported. The results of inhibition of several enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism, namely, dihydroceramide desaturase, acidic and neutral ceramidases, acidic sphingomyelinase and glucocerebrosidase, both in intact cells and cell lysates are presented. Compounds inhibit both the acidic ceramidase and dihydroceramide desaturase, although their potency on each enzyme is related to their N-acyl group. The effect of both compounds on the cellular sphingolipidome agrees with their activity as enzyme inhibitors. Both compounds induce apoptotic cell death.
A simplification of the ceramide backbone has led to the identification of a novel family of analogs with activity as modulators of sphingolipid metabolism and inducers of cell death.
Functional comparison of all HSAN1 associated SPT mutations.
P4
Heiko Bode1, A. von Eckardstein1, T. Hornemann1
1University Hospital Zürich, Wagistrasse 14, CH-8952 Zürich, Switzerland
Background: Serine-Palmitoyltransferase (SPT) catalyzes the condensation of palmitoyl-CoA and L-serine, the initial step in the generation of sphingolipids (SLs). Several mutations in SPT are associated with the inherited neuropathy HSAN1. HSAN1 mutations have a reduced activity with L-serine but an increased activity with L-alanine and L-glycine. This gives rise to the generation of the atypical class of deoxysphingolipids (dSLs), which are neurotoxic and play a crucial role in the pathomechanism of HSAN1.
Results: We compared the enzymatic properties of all reported SPT-mutations in cell culture based assays using mutant expressing HEK293 cells. SL and dSL de-novo synthesis was analyzed after inhibiting ceramide synthase with FB1 for 24 hours. These results were compared to the total SL/dSL content within the mutant-expressing cells. Furthermore SL and dSL generation was stimulated by supplementation with serine or alanine. We observed clear differences in the regulation and activity between the various SPT mutants. Compared to the wt SPT-expressing cells the HSAN1 mutants (C133W, C133Y and V144D) showed a reduced activity for SL formation and an increased activity for dSL generation. Total SL levels were slightly reduced. The SPTLC1-S331F mutant, as well as two of the recently reported SPTLC2-mutants (G382V and I504F), showed a similarly reduced generation of SLs (70-88% less) whereas the total SL and dSL content was highly increased in these mutants. In comparison to the wt SPT, the S331F-expressing cells accumulated up to 3 times more total SL’s within 24 hours. In addition, the suppressive effect of serine supplementation on dSL formation was less pronounced for these three mutants.
Conclusions: Pronounced accumulation of SLs in combination with a reduced canonical SPT activity in the S331F and I504F mutants argues for a yet unknown metabolic feedback inhibition. This inhibition seems to be impaired in those mutants resulting in a slow but constant build up of sphingolipids in these cells.
Activation of neutral sphingomyelinase in liver cancer cells by selenite and sensitization to cytotoxicity by inhibition of sphingosine kinase 1.
P5
Rundlof AK1#, Chatzakos V1,2#, Bojang S1, de Verdier P1,2, and Flygare J1
#the authors contributed equally to this abstract
1 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. 2Urology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery Karolinska Institutet and Department of Urology, Karolinska University Hospital Stockholm
High doses of selenite have earlier been shown to induce cell death in acute myeloid leukemia and lung cancer cells without affecting the corresponding normal cells. In this study, we investigated a possible connection between selenite and sphingolipid metabolism in the liver cancer cell line HuH7. Using XTT assay, neither desipramine nor myriocin, inhibitors to acid sphingomyelinase and serine palmitoyl transferase within the de novo ceramide synthesis pathway, respectively, affected the decrease in viability induced by an IC50 dose of selenite. However, 3-O-methylsphingosine, which inhibits neutral sphingomyelinase, significantly reduced the cytotoxic effect of selenite in HuH7, indicating that a substantial part of the cytotoxicity excerted by selenite is mediated by conversion of sphingomyelin to ceramide. An observed increase in sphingomyelinase activity following treatment with selenite corroborates this assumption. The sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) inhibitor SK1II caused a decrease in the amount of sphingosine kinase 1 protein, while selenite treatment did not alter the SK1 protein level as visualized by western blotting. This raised the possibility to sensitize the HuH7 cells to selenite through inhibition of SK1. Preincubation with SK1II followed by treatment with a dose of selenite that is non-toxic when used alone generated a 50% reduction of viability. Furthermore, cotreatment with SK1II and selenite caused an additive effect on cell death measured as trypan blue exclusion. In conclusion, selenite activates neutral sphingomyelinase in HuH7, and inhibition of the sphingosine-converting enzyme SK1 sensitizes this liver cancer cell line to cytotoxic treatment with selenite.
Acid sphingomyelinase expression and its role in tumour microenvironment.
P6
Assi E.1, Cazzato D.1, Bizzozero L.1, Clementi E.1,2, Perrotta C.1
1Department of Clinical Sciences L Sacco, Università di Milano, Milano, Italy; 2Medea Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Italy
Background: In tumour microenvironment macrophages are associated with tumour progression and metastasis. In melanoma we found the coexistence of cells with diverse Acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) expression representing melanoma at different stages, including cells with macrophage-like traits that are the most metastatic. We hypothesize that A-SMase and its modulation are relevant in macrophages attraction and differentiation by melanoma cells and eventually in the fusion with them.
Results: We isolated two clones of B16 murine melanoma cells that differ for their A-SMase expression: the high expressing, W6 clone and the low expressing, B9 one. We demonstrated that both clones are able to recruit monocytes from circulation releasing the chemoattractive factors MCP-1 and MG-CSF and to promote their proliferation and differentiation towards macrophages through M-CSF production. Interestingly, we observed that W6 clone has major ability in stimulating monocytes/macrophages proliferation and differentiation. Moreover W6 triggers macrophages polarization towards the pro-tumoural M2 phenotype more than B9 one.
Since A-SMase is involved in the fusion machinery, finally we assayed the capacity of the two clones to fuse with macrophages, a key event in the acquisition of the metastatic capacity. We demonstrate that W6 cells have a major ability to fuse, as they show an higher expression of the macrophages marker F4/80 compared to B9. Of importance the silencing of A-SMase in W6 clone results in a decrease of their fusion ability, comparable to that of B9.
Conclusions: From these data we hypothesized the possibility that A-SMase is highly expressed in melanoma at a lower stage and is fundamental for macrophages recruitment, proliferation, differentiation and for their fusion with tumour cells.
Dual-mode of hypogravity action controls the sphingomyelin of thyroid gland.
P7
Elisabetta Albi*, Francesco Curcio°, Renza Spelat°, Andrea Lazzarini*, Ivana Ferri§, Elisabetta Loreti§, Remo Lazzarini*, Francesco Saverio Ambesi-Impiombato°
*Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Physiopathology section, University of Perugia, Via Enrico dal Pozzo Pad.W, 06100 Perugia (Italy); § Institute of Pathologic Anatomy and Histology, University of Perugia (Italy); °Department of Medical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, P.le Kolbe 4, 33100 Udine (Italy)
Background: We have previously demonstrated that enzymes of sphingomyelin (SM) metabolism, sphingomyelinase (SMase) and sphingomyelin-synthase (SM-synthase) were different in proliferating, quiescent, pro-apoptotic and apoptotic thyroid cells. Because the N-SMase/SM-synthase ratio was indicative of the functional state of the cells, it was proposed as marker of cell damage during space missions in which the cells delayed cell growth and entered in a proapoptotic state.
Results: The study was aimed to investigate the change of amount and localization of SMase and SM-synthase in thyroid gland in hypogravity condition to understand the role of weightlessness during the spaceflight on SM metabolism of thyroid gland. Therefore we participated to the Space Shuttle/ISS 90 days mission inside the Mice Drawer System (MDS) facility developed by the Italian Space Agency. We have found that long-term exposure to real microgravity environment induced changes of thyroid gland structure with more ordered follicles and reduction of interfollicular space with respect to the gland of mice of the same species, sex, and age housed in MDS for 3 months as the ground controls and mice housed in normal vivarium cage as the laboratory controls. In comparison to the controls, the spaceflight animal thyroid gland presented increase of SMase expression and reduction of SM-synthase expression with their different distribution in both follicles and interfollicular space.
Conclusions: Hypogravity influences SM metabolism by acting in dual-mode, via SMase and via SM-synthase. Modifications of the SM content reflect changes of ceramide content and are responsible for modifications of thyroid function and consequently of other systems, such as cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, immunity and nervous systems, regulated by thyroid gland.
The integrity of specialized nuclear lipid microdomains enriched in sphingomyelin and cholesterol is necessary for nuclear vitamin D3 uptake and differentiation of embryonic hippocampal cells.
P8
Mercedes Garcia-Gil *, Elisa Bartoccini°, Francesca Marini°, Eleni Damaskopoulou°, Remo Lazzarini°, Samuela Cataldi°, Giacomo Cascianelli°, Elisabetta Albi°
*Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Italy, °Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Physiopathology section, University School of Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy.
Background: Despite recent advances in understanding the role of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3) in the central nervous system, the mechanism of action remains obscure. We previously reported that 1,25-(OH)2D3 is rapidly incorporated in embryonic hippocampal HN9 cells, moves into the nucleus, and then returns to the cytoplasm; 100 nM 1,25-(OH)2D3 in 10% fetal calf serum induces differentiation while serum deprivation induces cell death.
Results: We have investigated the presence of nuclear lipid microdomains enriched in sphingomyelin and cholesterol (NLM) in HN9 cells and we have found that part of 1,25-(OH)2 D3 receptor and 1,25-(OH)2 D3 are localized in them suggesting a possible interaction ligand-receptor. Sphingomyelinase treatment reduces both 1,25-(OH)2 D3 receptor and labelled 1,25-(OH)2D3 content in NLMs. In order to investigate whether conditions that alter lipid content in NLMs could modify 1,25-(OH)2D3-induced differentiation, serum deprived cells have been incubated with 1,25-(OH)2D3. Serum deprivation activates sphingomyelinase and modifies the composition of NLMs which loose the 1,25-(OH)2 D3 receptor while the treatment with 400 nM 1,25-(OH)2D3 during serum withdrawal increases the lipid content in the NLM, allows the interaction of 1,25-(OH)2D3 with its receptor and results in cell differentiation. In contrast, 100 nM 1,25-(OH)2D3 in serum deprived-cells has a protective effect against serum deprivation-induced apoptosis in HN9.10 cells but does not induce cell differentiation.
Conclusions: Modifications of the lipid composition in NLMs induce changes in their content of both 1,25-(OH)2D3 and its receptor. The differentiative action of 1,25-(OH)2D3 but not its protective action against apoptosis appears to require the presence of 1,25-(OH)2D3 and its receptor in NLMs.
The significance of matrix metalloproteinases for sphingosine-1-phosphate induced migration.
P9
Veronica Kalhori1,2, Darielle Lönnblad2, Nina Bergelin1,2 and Kid Törnquist1,2
1Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland; 2Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Helsinki, Finland
Background: Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid, which regulates a variety of cellular functions, including migration and angiogenesis. S1P has been studied in thyroid carcinoma cells and we have shown that S1P induces migration of follicular thyroid ML-1 cancer cells. In addition, interesting results have shown that S1P enhances VEGF-A secretion and VEGF-A induces haptotaxis of our cell model. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade the extra cellular matrix and thereby facilitate cell migration, invasion and adhesion. MMP2 and MMP9 are the important MMPs in thyroid cancer and since they are important for migration, we asked whether MMP2/9 could play a role in ML-1 cell migration. In our present study we have investigated the role of MMP2 and MM9 for migration.
Results: Our results indicate that S1P enhances the expression of MMP2. Additionally, results show that sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1), the enzyme responsible for S1P production, is an inducer of MMP2, as the protein levels of MMP2 were elevated in SK1-over-expressing cells. In addition, interesting results show that both S1P-induced migration and VEGF-A induced haptotaxis are mediated by MMP2 and MMP9 since SB-3CT, the MMP2/9 inhibitor, abolished the effect of S1P and VEGF-A.
Conclusions: Collectively, our results prove MMP2 and MMP9 to be downstream effectors of S1P-signaling, and participate in S1P-induced migration of ML-1 cells.
Keywords: sphingosine-1-phosphate, sphingosine kinase 1, thyroid cancer, migration and matrix metalloproteinases.
A new human neuronal stable cell model for Niemann-Pick C disease.
P10
Laura Rodríguez-Pascau1, Maria Josep Coll2, Josefina Casas3, Daniel Grinberg1 and Lluïsa Vilageliu1
1 Dept. Genètica, Universitat de Barcelona, IBUB, CIBERER, Barcelona, Spain; 2 Institut de Bioquímica Clínica, Hospital Clínic, CIBERER, Barcelona, Spain; 3 Dept. Química BioMédica, Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya, IQAC-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
Niemann-Pick type C disease is a fatal autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused, most commonly, by mutations in the NPC1 gene. At the cellular level, the disease is characterized by the lipid storage in the endosomal-lysosomal system, including free cholesterol, glycosphingolipids, sphingomyelin and sphingosine. Therapeutic options for NPC disease are relatively limited. One drawback for the development of novel therapies is the lack of suitable human neuronal cell models.
In this work, a stable SH-SY5Y cell model for NPC disease was generated using short hairpin RNAs. The NPC1 knockdown was confirmed at the RNA and protein level. To characterize the stable cell line generated, cholesterol levels were measured in the NPC1-knockdown SH-SY5Y cells by filipin staining and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, showing a significant accumulation of free cholesterol in relation to wild-type cells. Moreover, sphingolipids were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and an increase in ganglioside GM2 levels was observed.
The stable NPC1-knockdown SH-SY5Y cell line generated in the present study provides a human neuronal cell model for this lethal disease that could be a valuable tool for the study of future therapeutic approaches.
Bioactive sphingolipids are involved in the control of skeletal muscle atrophy.
P11
Battistini C1., Marinelli C2., Bini F1.,Frati A1., Fontani F.1, Migliorini M2. and Meacci E1.
1Dept.of Biochemical Sciences–Viale GB Morgagni 50-University of Florence; – 2Laboratorio Merceologico CCIA-Florence – Italy
BACKGROUND. Skeletal muscle exhibits great plasticity. Decrease or waste of muscle mass (atrophy) and up-regulation of muscle specific ubiquitin ligase Atrogin-1/MAFbx have been observed in several conditions, such as cancer (cachexia), neuromuscular disorders, disuse and aging. Sphingolipids represent a class of bioactive molecules able of modulating the destiny of many cell types, including skeletal muscle cells. At the present, the investigation of the role of these bioactive lipids in the control of muscle mass is missing.
RESULTS. Here, we report that the decrease of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) activity by specific gene silencing or pharmacological inhibition drastically reduced the size of C2C12 myotubes, the number of myonuclei per cell, and significantly increased Atrogin-1/MAFbx expression. Moreover, the atrophic phenotype of C2C12 differentiated cells treated with dexamethasone (Dexa) and of EDL muscle, obtained from cachectic BalbC mice inoculated dorsally with C26 adenocarcinoma cells, were characterized by reduced levels of membrane-associated active SphK1, further supporting the important role of S1P synthesis in the maintaining of the normal phenotype.
Notably. the total extract of sphingolipids obtained from sweet chestnut flours produced from 7 geografic area of Tuscany, compared with the total extract of tocopherols and polyphenols, was able to counterbalance C2C12 myotube atrophy, attenuating the increase in muscle-specific ubiquitin ligase expression.
CONCLUSIONS. Altogether, these findings provide the first evidence of the role played by S1P/SphK1 axis in counteracting skeletal muscle atrophy. Moreover, the bioactivity of the sphingolipids extracted by tuscan chestnut sweet flour demonstrated in atrophc myotubes, may help in designing appropriate “nutritional therapeutic approaches” in skeletal muscle mass control.
Bacillus Calmette Guerin treatment of bladder cancer cells induces sphingosine kinase 1.
P12
Chatzakos V1,2, Flygare J1, Wiklund NP2 and de Verdier PJ2
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Division of Pathology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, Stockholm, Sweden. 2Urology Laboratory, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery Karolinska Institutet and Department of Urology, Karolinska University Hospital Stockholm
Bladder instillation with Bacillus Calmette Guerin (BCG) is an established treatment modality for superficial urinary bladder cancer and bladder carcinoma in situ (CIS). BCG is regarded the most successful immunotherapy agent for bladder cancer to date. Although it is well established that its mode of action includes a strong non-specific inflammatory reaction, the biological details behind its functions remain largely unknown. Around 30% of patients undergoing BCG treatment either relapse within the first five years after treatment or fail to respond entirely. The observation that radical surgery in BCG non-responders may have a less favourable prognosis than those undergoing immediate cystectomy, call for the identification of prognostic markers to identify patients at risk for BCG failure. A growing body of literature supports a pleiotropic role for sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) in the inflammatory cascade. S1P is generated by phosphorylation of sphingosine by sphingosine kinases (SKs). Using conventional western blot techniques, we found a clear induction of SK1 protein in bladder cancer cells after BCG treatment. SK1 protein induction was specific to BCG treatment and not induced by for example Lipopolysacharide and Interferon gamma treatment. Induction of SK1 was not affected by inhibitors of either the MAP-kinase or the AKT–pathways. The involvement of Sphingolipid metabolism in response to BCG instillations provides a new and interesting approach to understanding the biological mechanisms behind the success or failure of BCG treatment. An important issue to address is whether inhibition of S1P formation will improve or reduce the effects from BCG treatment.
Sphingosine kinase regulation by decursin inhibits vascular endothelial cells migration.
P13
Yong-Moon Lee1, Kyong-Oh Shin1, Cho-Hee Seo1, Eun-Sil Lee1, Hyung-Rae Kim2
1College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Chongju 361-763; Korea – 2KRICT OASIS program, Taejeon, Korea
Inhibition of angiogenesis is an attractive strategy for the treatment of angiogenic diseases, such as cancer. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid mediator activating vascular angiogenesis. Therefore, the activity control of sphingosine kinase (Sphk) which produces S1P is of important to manipulate angiogenesis in cancer. Here, we introduce a pyranocoumarin compounds, decursin and its analogs decursinol and decursinol angelate isolated from Angelica gigas. Decursin and its analogs have known to possess potent anti-inflammatory activities. However, little is known about its anti-angiogenic activity. First, we screened and determined the structure-activity relationship on Sphk inhibition with 65 synthetic decursin analogs. Six decursin analogs having cinnamyl- or 3-(phenyl)propionyl derivatives showed strong inhibitory potential was observed. In addition, decursin inhibited Sphk-induced angiogenic processes in vitro, including proliferation, migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). By decursin treatment, intracellular and extracellular S1P was reduced in HUVEC. The amount of pro-apoptotic sphingolipids, total ceramide and sphingosine was increased. The Sphk-I expression was also reduced by decursin. However, mRNA level was not significantly changed. The Sphk-I activity in HUVEC treated with decursin for 24hr was significantly decreased (43%) while Sphk-II activity was mildly increased (1.6 fold). Our data suggests that decursin might be a potent anti-angiogenic agent regulating Sphk-I and Sphk-II activities. “This work was funded by the KRICT OASIS Project from Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology”
Sphingosine-1-phospate regulates the endocytotic capacity of langerhans cells.
P14
Lukasz Japtok1, Susann Fayyaz1, Burkhard Kleuser1
1Institute of Nutritional Science, Dept. Nutritional Toxicology, University of Potsdam, Germany
Background Recently, we have figured out in an animal model that topical administration of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is useful for the treatment of atopic dermatitis. However, the molecular mechanism how S1P mediates this action is not well defined. The initial step of atopic dermatitis is the capture of antigens by Langerhans cells (LC) in the skin. Therefore, we have examined the influence of S1P on immature LC´s endocytosis.
Results Indeed, measurement of endocytosis by flow cytometry revealed that S1P drastically reduced the ability of the Langerhans cell line XS52 to capture dextran-FITC. Thus, S1P decreased macropinocytosis of LC´s in concentration-dependent manner via an inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway. To figure out whether this effect is mediated by a specific S1P receptor subtype, different agonists/antagonists were used. These experiments indicated that the S1P2 receptor subtype may be essential for the inhibition of macropinocytosis. To further substantiate this result, the S1P2 was downregulated by the use of siRNA. Most interestingly, silencing of S1P2 not only diminished the S1P-induced inhibition of macropinocytosis, but also increased the endocytotic capacity of untreated cells suggesting an autocrine regulation of macropinocytosis by released S1P. Pharmacological inhibition of ABCC1 resulted in an increase of macropinocytosis indicating that this transporter is essential for the export of S1P as a part of the autocrine mechanism.
Conclusion Our present study indicates that S1P inhibits macropinocytosis of LC´s by modulation of the PI3K-pathway via the S1P2 receptor subtype. Thus, decreasing endocytotic capacity by S1P could be a part of the molecular mechanism involved in improving inflammatory skin diseases by this sphingolipid.
Extracellular sphingosine-1-phosphate provides a survival advantage over autophagic death in human glioblastoma cells.
P15
P. Giussani, L. Brioschi, F. De Zen, E. Riccitelli, P. Viani, L. Riboni
Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, LITA-Segrate, University of Milano, Italy
Background: Glioblastomas are the most frequent and deadly human brain tumors, their intrinsic/acquired resistance limiting therapy effectiveness. Increasing evidence supports that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is implicated in sustaining cell survival, and in the development of drug-resistance in cancer cells. We investigated the possible involvement of S1P in the resistance of glioblastoma cells to temozolomide (TMZ), a pro-autophagic drug currently used as the mainstay of chemotherapy for this cancer.
Results: We selected a TMZ-resistant cell line from the T98G glioblastoma cell one, and found that its S1P levels were significantly higher than in the parental sensitive line. This feature was also associated with a higher expression of the sphingosine kinase-1. In addition, the exposure of resistant cells to sphingosine kinase inhibitors restored cell sensitivity to TZ, thus reverting their TMZ resistance. Immunofluorescence studies revealed that sphingosine kinase-1 was mainly localized in the cytosol of T98G cells, but preferentially in the plasma membrane of TMZ-resistant cells. Interestingly, this surface localization was associated with an efficient extracellular release S1P by the TMZ-resistant cells. Moreover, extracellular S1P, but not intracellular one, was able to protect T98G cells from temozolomide toxicity, and this was reverted by the inhibition of Gi-coupled receptors.
Conclusions: Altogether our data suggest that S1P secretion and signalling play an important role in glioblastoma drug-resistance, by providing a survival advantage over TMZ-induced autophagic death.
Generation of reactive oxygen species is a key factor for promotion of macrophage proliferation by ceramide 1-phosphate.
P16
Arana L, A. Ouro, P. Gangoiti, M. Trueba, A. Gomez-Muñoz.
Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.
Ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid involved in the regulation of cell growth and survival of different cells types. Some of the pathways implicated in the stimulation of cell proliferation by C1P are stimulation of MEK/ ERK1-2, PI3K/PKB, JNK and PKCα. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are also important regulators of cell proliferation and apoptosis. Therefore, we examined whether ROS generation is a relevant factor for stimulation of macrophage proliferation.
In this work, we demonstrate that production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a major mechanism by which C1P stimulates macrophage growth, but has no effect in reversing apoptosis. ROS generation in the macrophages was dependent upon prior activation of NADPH oxidase, and blockade of this enzyme with selective inhibitors (DPI, or apocynin) abrogated ROS production and macrophage growth. These observations suggest that the axis NADPH oxidase/ROS is essential for the mitogenic effect of C1P. In addition, we observed that NADPH oxidase can be blocked by protein kinase C (PKC) or cytosolic phospholipase A2 (PLA2) inhibitors thereby implicating these two enzymes in the mechanism whereby C1P stimulates NADPH oxidase.
It can be concluded that activation of NADPH oxidase and the subsequent generation of ROS are essential processes required for stimulation of macrophage proliferation by C1P, and that PLA2 and PKC are crucial components of this pathway.
This work was supported by grants BFU2009-13314 from MCINN and SA2010-00013 from “Departamento de Industria, Comercio y Turismo del Gobierno Vasco” (Spain).
Plasma 1-deoxysphingolipids as biomarkers in the metabolic syndrome.
P17
Alaa Othman1, Markus F. Rütti2, Daniela Ernst1 , Arnold von Eckardstein1, Thorsten Hornemann1
1 Institute for Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland – 2 Division of Internal Medicine, Hospital Wil, Wil, Switzerland
Background: Metabolic syndrome represents a cluster of cardio-metabolic risk factors including; type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), insulin resistance, hypertension, dyslipidemia and obesity. Increasing evidence suggests that sphingolipids play a role in the pathogenesis of both insulin resistance and T2DM. In the `atypical` do novo sphingolipid biosynthesis pathway; alanine, instead of serine, is condensed with a palmitoyl-CoA forming 1-deoxysphingolipids.
Results: In a case-control study, we measured the sphingoid base backbones levels in healthy humans and in patients with metabolic syndrome. Sphingoid base backbones were liberated after subjecting the extracted plasma sphingolipids to acid and base hydrolysis and measured using LC/MS. ATP III guidelines were used to classify the subjects into controls and metabolic syndrome with or without T2DM.Univariate analysis revealed a significant elevation of plasma 1-deoxysphingoid base backbones levels in patients with metabolic syndrome with or without type 2 diabetes mellitus (p = 1.1E-5). Orthogonal partial least squares modelling showed that 1-deoxysphingoid bases contributed the second most to the metabolic syndrome state model, just next to triglycerides and above many of the traditional components of metabolic syndrome. Moreover, 1-deoxysphingoid bases correlated strongly with triglycerides (rho= 0.677, p= 2.6E-11). ROC curve analysis showed the potential use of deoxysphingoid bases in diagnosing metabolic syndrome versus healthy controls (AUC = 0.875, p =5.37E-6).
Conclusion: Taken together, our findings strongly argue for the potential use of 1- deoxysphingolipids as a new class of biomarkers for metabolic syndrome.
8th Meeting
8th Meeting
Glasgow, Great Britain, Nov 14-16, 2010
Partecipants:
1.Elisabeth Schmitz 2. Lide Arana 3. Noemi Jimenez 4. Ilaria Piano 5. Gemma Fabrias 6. Karoly Liliom 7. Paola Bruni 8. Gerhild van Echten-Deckert 9. Anna Pshezhetskiy 10. Francesca Tonelli 11. Yong-Moon Le 12. Dimitry Pshezhtskiy 13. Laura Martin 14. Betul Kavun Ozbayraktar 15. Alberto Ouro16. Joao Nunes 17. Hervé Le Stunff 18. José Luis Abad 19. Lingaraju Marlingapla Halasiddappa 20. Chiara Donati 21. Alice Aòessenko 22. Susan Pyne 23. Giuseppina Perella 24. Carolyn Loveridge 25. Elisabetta Meacci 26. Mercedes Garcia Gil 27. José Fernandez-Checa 28. Nicolas Loiseau 29. Laura Bizzozer 30. Denise Cazzato 31. Jenny Flygare 32. Lysann Saue 33. Julien Veret 34. Christine Wirrig 35. Carmen Bedia 36. Antonio Gomez-Muñoz 37. Sonia Hernandez 38. Elita Avota 39. Astrid Alewijnse 40. Nigel Pyne 41. Erich Gulbins 42. Marya Shupik 43. Keng Gat Lim 44. Carole Mooney 45. Manola Peverini 46. Kati Kemppainen 47. Stephanie Schwalm 48. Dagmar Mayer zu Heringdorf 49. François Paris 50. Riccardo Ghidoni 51. Thierry Levade 52. Guillermo Velasco 53. Keith Mascall 54. Graeme Nixon 55. Gerald Dubois 56. Stephan Peters 57. Michael Jakobi 58. Anja Lüth 59. Iris Fischer 60. Burkhard Kleuser 61. Kid Törnquist 62. Christoph Arenz 63. Nina Bergelin 64. Seikwan Oh 65. Frederik Claas
Attending but not on photo:
1. Stephan Ladish 2. Masa Tada 3. Sandrine Pizette
Regulation of pulmonary inflammation in cystic fibrosis by ceramide.
I1
Erich Gulbins, Yang Zhang, Katrin Anne Becker
Dept. of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany
Cystic fibrosis (CF), caused by mutations of the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) molecule, is characterized by chronic pulmonary inflammation, reduced mucociliary clearance, and increased susceptibility to infection. We have recently demonstrated an important role of sphingolipids in CF. Cftr-knock-out or B6.129P2(CF/3)-CftrTgH(neoim)Hgu mice that produce low levels of Cftr accumulate ceramide in their lungs. This ceramide triggers enhanced cell death of respiratory epithelial cells, release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the lung, release of DNA into the mucus, chronic inflammation and high sensitivity to P. aeruginosa infections. Human post-mortem specimens also have high levels of ceramide in lung tissue of CF patients. Using mass spectrometry, fluorescence microscopy and biochemical measurements, we show an accumulation of ceramide also in alveolar macrophages, the trachea and intestinum of CF mice. Ceramide induces a constitutive activation of caspase 1 and an increased rate of cell death in CF mice, which might result in inflammation and increased susceptibility of CF mice. Heterozygosity of the acid sphingomyelinase or systemic application or inhalation of inhibitors of the acid sphingomyelinase reduced ceramide levels in bronchial epithelial cells of CF mice. Normalization of ceramide levels prevented inflammation in the lung of CF mice and infection with P. aeruginosa. These studies indicate a central role of ceramide in the pathophysiology of CF and suggest the acid sphingomyelinase as a novel target to treat cystic fibrosis.
Glycosylation and signaling: glycosphingolipids get their share.
I2
Sandrine Pizette1
1Institute of Developmental Biology and Cancer, Universite de Nice Sophia Antipolis, France
Studies of the Notch receptor have shown that glycosylation of the receptor or its ligand is a means to regulate ligand-receptor interaction. To address whether glycosylation is a general mechanism controling signaling, we undertook the characterisation of two Drosophila genes, egghead (egh) and brainiac (brn), which harbor sequence similarities to genes encoding glycosyltransferases. In addition, mutations in these genes result in phenotypes reminiscent of alterations in Notch and EGFR signaling.
Using in vitro enzymatic assays, we first demonstrated that Egh and Brn are glycosyltransferases that catalyze the synthesis of disaccharides specific to the glycosphingolipid (GSL) pathway. We then showed by biochemical analysis of GSL species and by immunofluorescence with an antibody specific to a short form of GSL, that the egh and brn mutant animals accumulate truncated GSLs. This indicates that Egh and Brn act on GSL biosynthesis in vivo. Finally, we made use of the egh and brn mutants to investigate the role of GSLs in signaling in vivo. We found that during oogenesis, GSLs shape the extracellular gradient of the Drosophila TGFa-like EGFR ligand by controling its diffusion. These results thus reveal an unexpected role for GSLs in signaling.
I will discuss the molecular mechanism underlying this novel function, and will present preliminary data indicating new in vivo roles for GSLs at both the organismal and subcellular level.
Ceramide kinase, ceramide-1-phosphate: roles and regulation.
I3
Frederic Bornancin
Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
It has been almost a decade since ceramide kinase (CERK) was cloned. Phosphorylation of ceramide by CERK remains the only known mechanism for production of ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P). There is, however, mounting evidence for an as yet unidentified alternative C1P producing pathway. Therefore, the knowledge acquired using C1P as active principle may only partially reflect modulation of CERK. Nevertheless, CERK appears to be key for controlling ceramide levels, and C1P produced by CERK has emerged as a genuine signaling entity.
The current understanding of CERK at protein level as well as some insights into the regulation of ceramide metabolism by CERK will be presented, including new data on the modulation of CERK in innate immunity.
Tumor gangliosides condition the microenvironment and favor tumor progression.
I4
Stephan Ladisch
Children’s Rresearch Institute, Children’s National Medical Center, 111 Michigan Ave. NW, Washington, DC, 20010, USA
To better understand the pathogenesis of human cancer, increasing attention has been directed to identifying potential in vivo interactions between the tumor cell and the surrounding tumor microenvironment–-the tumor-host interaction. Our findings on the role of key membrane molecules, gangliosides, in influencing these tumor-host interactions will be presented. Briefly, by their synthesis and subsequent shedding from tumor cells, tumor cell gangliosides enhance, and interference with their synthesis impedes, tumor development and progression in vivo. Specifically, the characteristically rapid tumor cell ganglioside metabolism, i.e., substantial synthesis and shedding into the tumor microenvironment, results in transfer to surrounding normal cells. Subsequently, these ganglioside-enriched normal cells have altered functions. Basic cellular mechanisms of ganglioside effects in the tumor microenvironment–-inhibition of the immune response, enhancement of stromal cell proliferation, and enhancement of the angiogenic response–-will be highlighted. The critical question raised is: Is tumor formation and progression itself affected? To directly address this, we created a genetically stable, complete, and specific model of tumor cell ganglioside depletion. Early findings on the consequences of selective and complete depletion of tumor cell gangliosides in this murine sarcoma cell model will be summarized, and their implications for cancer treatment considered. [NIH grants R01CA42361-17 and R01 CA61010-14.]
Targeting the sphingosine 1-phosphate signalling pathway in cancer.
I5
Nigel J. Pyne, JS Long, C. Loveridge, F. Tonelli, KG Lim, S. Pyne
Cell Biology Group, Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Strathclyde, 27 Taylor St, Glasgow, G4 0NR, Scotland, UK.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate is a bioactive lipid that is formed by the sphingosine kinase-catalysed phosphorylation of sphingosine, and which binds to a family of G-protein coupled receptors termed S1P1-5 to elicit biological responses. We will demonstrate in this presentation that high expression of S1P1, S1P3 receptors and sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) in ER+ breast cancer tumours are associated with reduced patient survival and recurrence on tamoxifen when compared with patients with low expression of these proteins in their tumours. We will also provide evidence for how S1P1 receptors participate in tumour neovascularisation and how SK1/S1P3 function together to induce a metastatic phenotype in ER+ breast cancer cells. A novel promiscuous interaction between S1P4 and the HER2 oncogene in ER- breast cancer cells will also be described. The highlighting of the role of SK1 and S1P receptors in breast cancer provide impetus for targeting these proteins with compounds that inhibit their function. In this regard, we will also demonstrate novel actions of SK1 inhibitors, which reveal a new mechanism by which SK1 induces chemotherapeutic resistance in androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.
Supported by CRUK [A7536].
Dual and opposite effects of fumonisin B1 on ceramide and sphingomyelin contents in piglet’s lung and liver.
S1
N. Loiseau1, N. Therville2, T. Levade2, J. Bertrand-Michel3
1 UR66, Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie, INRA,
2 U858, Institut de Médecine Moléculaire de Rangueil, INSERM,
3 U563, Plateau technique de Lipidomique, IFR 30, INSERM, Toulouse, France
Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is one of the most known inhibitor of Ceramide Synthases (CerS). In this study, we hypothesized that FB1 may interact with a specific CerS subgroup to explain the interspecies differences in the clinical symptoms.
Since each CerS uses a preferential subset of fatty acyl-CoAs, we compared the sphingolipid contents of lungs and liver from normal and FB1-contaminated piglets (fed with 1.5 mg FB1/kg body weight daily for 9 days). This study focused on the analysis of type 2 ceramide (Cer2) and sphingomyelin (SM) contents. Total Cer2 and total SM contents decreased 2-fold and 1.6-fold, respectively in lungs of FB1-contaminated piglets. In contrast, surprisingly, in liver of FB1-contaminated animals, total Cer2 and total SM contents increased 5.8-fold and 1.5-fold, respectively. By analyzing the FB1 effects on individual Cer2 and SM species, we deduced the effect of this toxin on each CerS family. Our data indicate that FB1 inhibits CerS5/6 whatever the tissues. Moreover, this toxin interacts with piglet’s CerS2/4 to deplete lung and to enrich liver with ceramides containing long fatty acids. These changes could explain the species-specific toxicity of FB1.
[Supported by DAER-Recherche/06001316/07006301]
Increased expression of sphingosine kinase 1 mediates prosaposin-induced cytokine production.
S2
Lysann Sauer1, Dmitry Pshezhetskiy1 and Jonathan Waxman1
1 Tumour Microenvironment and Chemotherapy Group, Hammersmith Campus, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
Sphingosine kinase 1 (Sphk1) upregulation has been implicated in chemo-resistance in prostate cancer and its inhibition can sensitize to chemo-induced apoptosis. Prosaposin, a neurotrophic protein has been recently shown to induce prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration and chemoresistance. Furthermore an increased expression of prosaposin was linked with progression of human prostate cancer.
Prosaposin knockout mice exhibited an involution of the prostate gland which correlated with a significant reduction of prostate SphK1 activity. In prostate cancer cell lines SphK1 activity correlated with the amount of secreted, but not intracellular prosaposin, indicating a role for the prosaposin/GPCR signalling. The specific knockdown of prosaposin in prostate cancer cells induced a significant decrease in SphK1 activity and expression on mRNA and protein level. Additionally, prosaptide TX14A, derived from the trophic sequence of saposin C, enhanced SphK1 activity and up-regulated SphK1 mRNA expression via ERK1/2-mediated mechanism. Furthermore, TX14A induced an up-regulation of the proliferative factor interleukin 6, which was abrogated by pre-treatment with SphK1-specific siRNA.
Overall, our data indicate that SphK1 upregulation is required for prosaposin-induced cytokine expression in prostate cancer cells.
Role of sphingolipid enzymes in oxidized phospholipid (oxPL) induced RAW 267.4 macrophage cell death.
S3
L Marlingapla Halasiddappa,D Koller, U Stemmer, Z Dunai, E Zenzmaier, A Hermetter
Institute of Biochemistry, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/2, 8010 Graz, Austria.
Oxidized lipoproteins and their oxidized phospholipids (oxPL) induce apoptosis in vascular cells. Ceramide (Cer) mediates and propagates apoptosis by activation of JNK and p38 MAPkinases. Cer is generated instantly by aSMase via sphingomyelin hydrolysis and by de novo synthesis in the hours. Ceramide synthase (CerS) isoforms regulate de novo generation of ceramides as they display substrate specificity for the chain lengths of fatty acyl-CoAs. Depending on the stimulus and cell type, specific ceramide species synthesized by these isoforms (CerS1-6) are likely to contribute differently to the apoptosis pathway. Here we report that only a subset of CerS is activated in RAW 264.7 cells by oxPL treatment in a time-dependent manner. Levels of apoptotic ceramide are also influenced by modification and/or degradation. So far, we have studied the activities of ceramidase in oxPL-treated macrophages. This enzyme is almost unaffected and seems not to play any particular role in ceramide-induced cell death. Currently we study the role of other enzymes regulating the apoptotic ceramide pool in cultured RAW 267.4 macrophage cells under the influence of oxPL (POVPC and PGPC). Analyzing the sphingolipidome, as well as expression, localization and activity at various stages of programmed cell death should help understanding the toxicity of oxPL and role of sphingolipid species in mediating apoptosis.
Involvement of SphK1 in LPS-induced TLR 4-mediated accumulation of HIF-1α protein, activation of ASK1 and production of IL-6.
S4
Pshezhetskiy D1*, Nunes J1, Coughlan K2, Lall H2, Waxman J1, Sumbayev V2*
1 Dept Oncology, ICL,
2 Medway School of Pharmacy, Univ. Kent
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) lie at the core of resistance to infectious diseases detecting various pathogens. While both plasma membrane associated TLR4 (recognises bacterial LPS) and endosomal TLR7/8 (recognise viral single-stranded RNA) induce expression of proinflammatory cytokines through redox-dependent upregulation of HIF-1α, the intracellular mechanisms mediating this expression vary. Recently sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) was reported to act downstream of TLR4.
In this present study we have identified the implication of the SphK1 signalling in TLR-mediated inflammatory response. In THP-1 and RAW264.7 macrophages ligand-induced activation of the TLR4 but not TLR7/8 induced activation and transcriptional upregulation of SphK1. Activation of SphK1 was dependent on both ERK and PLC-1γ/PI3 kinase pathways and in turn mediated production of ROS and an increase in HIF-1α expression and ASK1 activity. Importantly, TLR4-mediated SphK1 activation was critical for the prevention of LPS-induced activation of caspase 3 and the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6.
In conclusion, our findings suggest a novel SphK1-mediated mechanism of TLR4-induced activation of ASK1/HIF-1α axis and cytokine production. Our data strongly suggest that SphK1 inhibition may prove effective to fight bacterial sepsis.
Involvement of the S1P3 receptor in neuroinflammation.
S5
I Fischer1, C Alliod1, N Martinier1, M Frossard1, C Brana1, S Pouly1
1 TA Neurodegenerative Diseases, Merckserono International S.A., Switzerland
Reactive astrocytes are implicated in the development and maintenance of neuro-inflammation in multiple sclerosis (MS) lesions. The sphingosine signalling pathway, including the S1P3 receptor was shown to be involved in the mediation of the inflammatory response in different cell types. So far, the potential role of S1P3 receptor signalling in reactive astrocytes has, however not been defined.
Our data show for the first time the specific expression of the receptor S1P3 on astrocytes in human MS-brain tissue. In cultures of primary rat astrocytes, the treatments with the pro-inflammatory stimuli LPS or with a combination of TNFα and IFNγ increased the mRNA expression of SphK1 and S1P3 receptor. In addition, the protein expression of the SphK1 and S1P3 were increased on the plasma membrane, suggesting increased signalling. Furthermore, LPS treatment increased specific ERK1/2-phosphorylation, which could be mediated via S1P3 as demonstrated by using a S1P3 specific agonist. Moreover LPS, cytokines or sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) induced the migration of astrocytes and the release of CXCL1, a known inducer of oligodendrocyte proliferation and chemo-attractant for immune cells.
Together these findings provide new evidence for the implication of SphK1 and S1P3 signalling in reactive astrocytes under inflammatory conditions.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate induces differentiation of mesoangioblasts towards smooth muscle cells.
S6
Donati C1,2., Marseglia G.3, Magi A.3, Cencetti F.1,2, Bernacchioni C.1,2, Benelli M.3, Torricelli F.3, Bruni P.1,2
1 Dip. Scienze Biochimiche, 2Istituto Interuniversitario Miologia (IIM), Università di Firenze and 3UO Citogenetica e Genetica AOUC Firenze, Italy
Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) control fundamental functions such as arterial tone and airway resistance. Recent studies proved that circulating, SMC progenitor cells can contribute to tissue repair following vascular injury. Mesoangioblasts (Mbs) are a new type of stem cells, capable of differentiating into mesoderm cell types, such as muscle and bone. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a lipid mediator that regulates many biological processes as vascular development and SMC growth and migration. We previously demonstrated that S1P acts as potent mitogen and antiapoptotic agent in Mbs. We also showed that TGFβ exerts a marked antiapoptotic action in Mbs, involving the regulation of SK1. In order to exploit the therapeutic potential of these cells, we performed a microarray study to establish transcriptional profiles of human Mbs treated with S1P for 6 h and 24 h. Obtained result, validated by Real Time PCR, Western blotting and immunofluorescence analysis, demonstrate that S1P promotes differentiation of human Mbs towards SMC. Moreover, we provide here evidence that TGFβ-induced differentiation of Mbs into SMC relies on SK regulation. This study highlights a new role for S1P in Mbs which can be used to favour vascular regeneration.
Pharmacological regulation of sphingolipid metabolites in blood.
S7
YM Lee1,T Hla2, K Venkataramann2, S Oh3, SM Kim1, KO Shin 1, HS Yoo1.
1 College of Pharmacy and CBITRC, Chungbuk National Univ.,
2 Center for Vascular Biology, Cornell Univ.,
3 Dept. Neurosci. and Medical Research Institute, Ewha Womans Univ., South Korea
Intracellular and extracellular S1P is tightly regulated by the relative enzyme activities of Sphk1 and Sphk2, S1P lyase and lipid phosphate phosphohydrolases. Extracellular S1P exported by the aid of ABC transporters binds to S1P receptors to transfer its signaling. Recent studies have concluded that S1P gradient and S1P receptor signaling enable immune cell egress from lymphoid tissues. However, the maintenance and regulating factors on S1P level in blood is still under investigation. We found that anti-Fas antibody (Jo2) or combination of LPS and D-GalN treatment into C57/BL6 mice significantly induced liver damage and showed reduced plasma S1P level, but not plasma ceramides. The forced exercise also reduced sphingolipid metabolites including S1P in plasma. The combined treatment of LPS and D-GalN greatly reduced Sphk1 activity in whole blood, while no changes were observed in plasma Sphk1 activity. Notably, the half-life of injected C17-S1P in this condition was not changed. The Sphk1 activities in RBCs and cultured HUVEC cells were not significantly changed by Jo2 or LPS+D-GalN treatment. The Sphk1 activity in liver tissues was slightly increased after liver injury. However, partial hepatectomy did not reduce plasma S1P concentration. Thus, Sphk1 activity in whole blood mainly participated to maintain plasma S1P level. In future the pharmacological effects of ABC transporters inhibitors and Sphk2 activity will be investigated.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate inhibits angiogenesis via interaction with vascular smooth muscle cells.
S8
KS Mascall, GR Small, GF Nixon
Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK
Following myocardial infarction, new blood vessels sprout from coronary arteries. Sphingolipids released from the blood clot could have an effect on this response. Evidence shows that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) may be an important pro-angiogenic factor. This is predominantly through the actions of S1P1 receptors although the S1P2 receptor subtype may inhibit angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of S1P on angiogenesis using ex vivo human arteries and a co-culture in vitro model.
In human mammary artery placed in Matrigel, S1P inhibited endothelial tubule formation. Co-culture of primary cultured human fibroblasts, human coronary artery smooth muscle (HCASM) cells and human coronary artery endothelial cells also revealed a significant inhibition of endothelial tubule formation following treatment with S1P. When HCASM cells were omitted from the co-culture, tubule formation was not affected by S1P incubation. Incubation with specific antagonists determined that this inhibition occurred through activation of S1P2 receptors linked to the rho-kinase pathway. Conditioned medium from S1P-treated HCASM cells added to the co-culture also inhibited endothelial tubule growth suggesting the inhibitory factor(s) are released from smooth muscle cells. In conclusion, S1P inhibits angiogenesis through activation of S1P2 receptor and this involves interaction with smooth muscle cells. Such sphingolipid-mediated inhibition of angiogenesis may occur following myocardial infarction.
Sphingosylphosphorylcholine, but not sphingosine 1-phosphate, is a pro- inflammatory mediator in rat cerebral artery vascular smooth muscle.
S9
C Wirrig, FA Mathieson, I Hunter, GF Nixon
Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK.
Following subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) of the cerebral arteries a marked inflammation occurs. This is caused by an adventitial blood clot and contributes to the subsequent cerebral artery vasospasm and ischaemia. Pro-inflammatory mediators in SAH have not yet been identified. As sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) are elevated in serum, we investigated the pro-inflammatory potential of these sphingolipids in rat cerebral arteries using an ex vivo model.
SPC, but not S1P, induced activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), a kinase involved in inflammatory signalling. A transcription factor array identified SPC-induced DNA binding for the transcription factors nuclear factor-κB and CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins in cerebral arteries, confirmed by electromobility shift assays. S1P did not increase the activity of these transcription factors. In the rat vascular smooth muscle cell line, A7r5, an inflammatory protein array revealed that SPC elicited release of only one pro-inflammatory chemokine, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1. Further investigation also showed SPC-induced MCP-1 production in rat cerebral arteries.
In summary we demonstrate that SPC can act as a pro-inflammatory mediator in cerebral arteries via increased activity of inflammatory transcription factors and subsequent release of MCP-1. This may contribute to vasospasm following SAH.
C1P and its synthetic analog, PCERA-1, have distinct receptors in macrophages.
S10
T Zor1, A Gómez-Muñoz2, M. Meijler3, H. Rosen4, D Avni1, A Philosoph1, M Levi1, L Arana2, A Ouro2
1 Dept. Biochemistry, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel,
2 Dept. Biochemistry & molecular biology, University of the Basque country, Bilbao, Spain,
3 Dept. Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University, Be’er-Sheva, Israel, and
4 Dept. of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
Tight regulation of the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines is essential for the prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases. A synthetic C1P analog, named PCERA-1 (Phospho-CERamide Analog-1), suppressed production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNFα, and elevated production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, in LPS-stimulated macrophages. PCERA-1 and bovine brain-derived C1P activated distinct signaling pathways in RAW264.7 macrophages. PCERA-1 modulated cytokine expression via the Gs protein and the cAMP pathway, whereas C1P stimulated macrophages migration via the Gi protein and the NFκB pathway. Neither PCERA-1 nor C1P mimicked or antagonized the activities of each other, and PCERA-1 failed to interfere with a C1P binding assay. These results thus indicate that PCERA-1 and C1P bind and activate distinct GPCRs expressed in RAW264.7 macrophages. The orphan receptor GPR3 is predicted to be a phospholipid-binding receptor, due to sequence homology with the S1P and LPA receptor families. Our preliminary results indicate that GPR3 is a receptor for PCERA-1, and thus suggest that GPR3 regulates inflammation.
Ceramide 1-phosphate stimulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. implication in macrophage growth.
S11
L Arana, A Ouro, P Gangoiti , A Gomez-Muñoz
1Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of science and technology, University of the Basque Country, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
The pro-mitogenic and anti-apoptotic actions of Ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) are now well established. Major pathways involved in the mitogenic effect of C1P include mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellularly regulated kinases (ERK1-2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt), c-Jun N terminal kinase (JNK), and protein kinase C-alpha. We report here that C1P induces ROS formation through activation of NADPH oxidase. C1P-stimulated ROS production was inhibited by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin, the cell-permeable ROS scavenger N-acetyl cystein (NAC), the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor Go6976, the PKC-delta inhibitor rottlerin, and by long-term treatment with the phorbol ester PMA, a condition known to downregulate PKC activity. Moreover, a specific cytosolic phospholipase A2-alpha inhibitor potently blocked C1P-stimulated ROS production, and all of the ROS inhibitors blocked C1P-stimulated macrophage proliferation. These findings suggest that ROS are implicated in the mitogenic effect of C1P in macrophages.
This work was supported by grants BFU2009-13314 from MCINN and S-PE09UN42 from the Basque Government (Spain)
Role of the sphingolipid biostat in apoptosis of pancreatic β cells induced by palmitate.
S12
Hervé Le Stunff1, Julien Veret1, Evgeny V. Berdyshev2, Anastasia Skobeleva2, Viswanathan Natarajan2 and Bernard Portha1
1 Laboratoire de Biologie et Pathologie du Pancréas Endocrine, Unité BFA, CNRS EAC 4413, Université Paris Diderot-7, Paris, France.
2 Department of Medicine, Section of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
Prolonged exposure to fatty acids with high glucose induced pancreatic β cell apoptosis. This study aimed to ascertain the role of sphingolipid in β cell apoptosis induced by palmitate + high glucose. Lipidomic analyses revealed that palmitate but also 30 mM glucose increased de novo ceramide synthesis. Importantly, thirty mM glucose potentiated palmitate-induced accumulation of dihydro-sphingosine and ceramide levels, especially C18:0, C22:0 and C24:1. Apoptosis induced by palmitate with high glucose was partially blocked by fumonisin-B1, an inhibitor of ceramide synthase. Interestingly, palmitate + high glucose stimulated accumulation of dihydrosphingosine-1-phosphate (DHS1P). N,N-dimethyl-sphingosine, a potent inhibitor of sphingosine kinase, increased by 2-fold palmitate + high glucose-induced caspase activity. Furthermore, SphK1 over-expression in β cells drastically increased DHS1P levels and partially inhibited palmitate-induced caspase activation. Together, these results indicate that regulation of the dynamic balance between ceramide and DHS1P levels, the sphingolipid biostat, by palmitate with high glucose concentrations will play a critical role in the survival of pancreatic β cells during the development of type 2 diabetes.
Sphingosine kinase-1 contributes to the anti-fibrotic effect of PPARγ agonists.
S13
A Völzke1, A Koch1, A Huwiler2, J Pfeilschifter1
1 pharmazentrum frankfurt/ZAFES, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
2 Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ agonists (thiazolidinediones; TZDs) are known to act in an anti-fibrotic manner. Previously, it was shown that sphingosine kinase-1 (SK-1) depletion or its pharmacological inhibition led to accelerated expression of the profibrogenic molecule connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) suggesting a protective role of SK-1 activity in the fibrotic process.
Here, we investigated the effect of TZDs on the transcriptional regulation of SK-1 in vitro (rat mesangial cells) and in vivo (mice glomerula) and evaluated the putative role of SK-1 in the anti-fibrotic effect of TZDs. Stimulation with troglitazone and rosiglitazone led to increased SK-1 activity which was preceded by elevated mRNA and protein expression. This effect is due to enhanced SK-1-promotor activity which contains seven putative PPAR response elements. Furthermore, pre-incubation with the PPARγ antagonist GW-9662 inhibited the stimulating effect of TZDs on SK-1 mRNA expression and activity. Finally, the up-regulation of SK-1 by TZDs was paralleled by decreased CTGF expression, an effect which was abolished using the SK-1-inhibitor SKI II. In summary, TZDs dependent SK-1 activation results in lower CTGF demonstrating an essential role of SK-1 in the anti-fibrotic effect of PPARγ agonists.
Synthesis and biological activity of novel inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase.
S14
Christoph Arenz
Institut für Chemie, Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Germany
The acid sphingomyelinase (aSMase) is a key enzyme involved in lipid signalling and an emerging drug target.
Many inhibitors of this enzyme are either unspecific, not active in cell culture or have an indirect way of action. We used the potent inhibitor of aSMase, phosphatidyl-3,5-bisphosphate (PtdIns3,5P2) as a lead for the development of novel aSMase inhibitors with improved features. Our inositol- or carbohydrate-based inhibitors are at least of the same potency as PtdIns3,5P2 and inhibit dexamethasone (Dex)-induced apoptosis in HEK-293 cells. In addition, we have synthesized a class of novel bisphosphonate inhibitors that are the most potent inhibitors of aSMase so far. The IC50 for aSMase is 20 nM and >2000fold lower than for nSMAse. The selectivity versus the remote homologue phsophatase PP1 is at least 200fold. Moreover the most potent bisphosphonate completely suppresses Dex-induced apoptosis in HEK-293 cells and inhibits the formation of PAF-induced pulmonary edema in an ex-vivo model. However, many aspects of the biological activity of these substances need to be clarified. So far, the usability of theses inhibitors for medical and in vivo applications is unclear.
Role of sphingolipid trafficking in cannabinoid-induced autophagy.
S15
S Hernández-Tiedra1 , IJ Salanueva1, M Salazar1, G Fabriàs2, J Casas2, K Hanada3, M Guzmán1, G Velasco1
1 Dept of Biochem and Mol Biol I, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
2 Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Dept de Química Biomèdica, (IQAC), Barcelona, Spain
3 Dept of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1, Toyama, Shinjuku-ku,
Macroautophagy is a conserved degradative process implicated in the turnover of damage organelles and long-live macromolecules. Under starvation conditions, autophagy promotes cell survival providing cells with nutrients derived from the lysosomal degradation of the autophagosome content. However, under specific situations autophagy can lead to cell death.
Work by our laboratory has unraveled that the mechanisms of cannabinoid antitumoral action relies on a ceramide-dependent stimulation of the stress regulated protein p8 and its downstream target TRB3 which leads to stimulation of autophagy and apoptosis in cancer cells. In this work, we investigated whether modulation of sphingolipid trafficking could play a role in the stimulation of autophagy by cannabinoids.
Our results show that THC but not other autophagy inducers alters the sub-cellular distribution of fluorescent analogous of ceramide and promotes the accumulation of long chain sphingolipids species in the microsomal fraction of U87MG glioma cells. Moreover, we also found that THC administration promotes the translocation to the autophagosomes of the ceramide transporter protein (CERT). Our data suggest that changes in sphingolipids distribution play a pivotal role in the stimulation of autophagy-mediated cell death by cannabinoids.
Nuclear import of sphingomyelinase in space environment.
S16
E. Albi1, M. Peverini1, E. Damaskopoulou1, F. Cingolani1, R. Lazzarini1, F. Curcio2, F.S. Ambesi-Impiombato2, G. Perrella2
1Dept. Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Perugia University, Italy and 2Department of Experimental and Clinical Pathology and Medicine, University of Udine, p.le S.M. della Misericordia, 33100 Udine, Italy
It has been reported that during space missions the thyroid cells cultured in the presence of thyrotropin (TSH) decreased their proliferation rate and both their cell growth and lipid metabolism were similar to those of quiescent cells. A rearrangement of cell membrane lipid rafts with an alteration of TSH-TSH receptor interaction has been suggested (1). To study whether the sphingomyelinase (SMase) could be involved in the modification of the cell function in space environment, the SMase localization was analysed either in vitro or in vivo experiments during space TEXUS-44 and STS-129 mission respectively. FRTL5 thyroid cells in culture and thyroid of mice were analysed after the return to earth. The SMase was localized with indirect immunofluorescence by using anti-SMase antibodies alone or in combination with propidium iodine. The results showed that in the ground SMase is localized either in cell membrane or in the nucleus. After space mission the nuclear concentration of this enzyme increases thus indicating a cytoplasmic-nucleus translocation by influencing signal transduction.
1) E. Albi, F.S. Ambesi-Impiombato, E. Damaskopuolou, M. Peverini, A. Lazzarini, R. Lazzarini and G. Perrella. ESA Publications, 2009
Metabolic reconstruction of in silico yeast sphingolipid metabolism incorporating hydroxylation levels of ceramide.
S17
F. Betul Kavun Ozbayraktar1, Kutlu O. Ulgen1
1 Dept. of Chem. Eng., Bogazici University, 34342 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey
The hydroxylation level diversifies the identity, structure and location of complex sphingolipids in higher eukaryotes. In order to clarify the significance of hydroxylation on sphingolipids, the first metabolic model of Sacchoramyces cerevisiae sphingolipid metabolism was reconstructed in silico, taking into consideration five levels of hydroxylation derived from dihydroceramide, alpha-dihydroceramide, phytoceramide, alpha-phytoceramide and alpha-alpha-phytoceramide. The reconstructed model, which is validated with experimental findings from literature resources, equipped us with the analysis of complex sphingolipid content of the plasma membrane coupled with DAG and phosphatidic acid biosynthesis and ATP consumption rates of in silico cell. These critical metabolites with utmost importance to cell’s viability are utilized as criteria in studying all single deletion mutants of in silico model to propose novel potential drug targets for inducing apoptosis to be further used in cancer therapy. The computational systems biology tools used for interpreting simulation results in terms of their metabolic consequences, flexibility and robustness are flux balance and variability analysis, minimal cut set calculations and principal component analysis. First and second order hydroxylated phytoceramide derived mature sphingolipid synthesis happen to be the most robust part among the others.
Sphingolipids in retinal degenerations.
S18
I. Piano1, E. Novelli2, G. Sala3, P. Gasco4, C. Gargini1, E. Strettoi5, R. Ghidoni3
Dept. Psychiatry & Neurobiology, Univ. Pisa1; G.B. Bietti F’dn for Ophthalmology, Rome2; DMCO, San Paolo Med. School, Univ. Milan3; Nanovector srl, Turin4; Neuroscience Inst. CNR, Pisa5, Italy
Ceramide is a known pro-apoptotic messenger whose de-novo biosynthesis is associated with cell death initiation. In Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP) photoreceptor death occurs by apoptosis. We investigated the role of ceramide in RP using the rd10 mutant mouse, a model of this disease. Myriocin, an inhibitor of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT, the rate-limiting enzyme of ceramide biosynthesis) was either injected intraocular or administered daily to rd10 mice as eye drops preparations of Solid Lipid Nanoparticles (SLNs). Control mice were administered with vehicle alone or unloaded lipid particles, respectively. We found that retinal ceramide levels double during the time interval of maximum photoreceptor death in rd10 mice (from P14 to P30). Intraocular Myriocin decreases the number of rd10 pycnotic photoreceptors by approximately 50%. Electroretinogram (ERG) recordings were obtained from animals chronically treated with Myriocin-SLNs. ERG a-waves persist after P30 in treated mice while these responses are virtually extinct in control littermates. Confocal microscopy of retinal sections from ERG recorded animals aged P24 (peak of rod apoptosis) up to P30 showed prolonged survival of photoreceptors in treated animals.
This study is the first in vivo demonstration of the possibility to decrease photoreceptor apoptosis by lowering retinal ceramide levels through non-invasive administrations of SPT inhibitors.
Acid ceramidase expression can modulate the sensitivity of A375 melanoma cells to dacarbazine.
S19
C Bedia1, G Fabriàs2, J Casas2, T Levade.1
1Institut de Médecine Moleculaire de Rangueil, INSERM U858, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France, 2Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, IQAC-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.
Melanoma is still a dreadful cancer with high mortality and morbidity. In most cases (around 90%), melanoma appears as a skin tumor, but this cancer exhibits a strong metastatic potential. Its incidence has steadily risen during the last decades. Dacarbazine is the most commonly used therapy for metastatic melanoma. Response to dacarbazine remains very low. Its mechanism of action is not yet completely known but it has been shown to induce autophagy-associated cell death.
Here we show that dacarbazine causes a post-transcriptional degradation of acid ceramidase (aCDase) in A375 human melanoma cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. As a consequence, intracellular levels of ceramide increase considerably while those of sphingosine decrease. Overexpression of aCDase in A375 cells protects them to death induced by low concentrations of dacarbazine. Also, this overexpression prevents the increase of ceramide levels and the autophagic features. Reciprocally, down-regulation of aCDase by siRNA sensitizes A375 cells to dacarbazine-induced cell death in a synergistic manner. The melanoma cell line UACC 257, more resistant to dacarbazine, also shows an increased sensitivity through aCDase silencing. This suggests that combination of dacarbazine and inhibition of aCDase activity may improve current therapies for melanoma
Measles virus (MV) induced smase activation in T and dendritic cells: implications for viral uptake and immunosuppression.
S20
E Avota1, E Gassert1, E Gulbins2, S Schneider-Schaulies2
1Dept.for Virology and Immunobiology, University of Wuerzburg, and 2Dept. Molecular Medicine, University of Essen, Germany
Smase activation in response to receptor ligation has been described to affect T cell signaling, yet the role of Smases in regulating immune cell function and APC-dependent T cell activation is poorly understood.
We have shown the measles virus (MV), which causes profound T cell paralysis in vivo, efficiently induces SMAse activation and membrane ceramide accumulation in both T cells and dendritic cells (DCs) in vitro. For the latter, this occurs DC-SIGN dependently and essentially mediates enhancement of viral uptake into these cells. In T cells, MV interaction also activates NSM and ASM and thereby membrane ceramides within minutes. This accounts for the breakdown of actin based protrusions on these cells and their inability to organize actin cytoskeletal dependent processes such as morphological polarization, receptor redistribution, adherence and chemotactic responses. These findings indicate that activation of membrane ceramides may be central to the understanding of viral interference with T cell activation and thereby, immunosuppression.
Lysosomal sphingosine storage induced by mycolic acid mediated inhibition of the npc1 protein is central to Mycobacterium tuberculosis induced pathogenesis.
S21
Emyr Lloyd-Evans, Paul D. Fineran and Frances M. Platt
Dept. of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QT
Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC) disease is a lysosomal storage disorder that causes defective endocytosis, defective phago-lysosome fusion and intralysosomal multi-lipid storage. We recently reported that, in NPC cells, primary lysosomal accumulation of sphingosine induces a lysosomal calcium defect resulting in the secondary phenotypes listed above.
In this study we demonstrate that mycobacterial infection induces a phenotype very similar to NPC. We discovered striking similarities between these two disorders, including intralysosomal (not phagosomal) accumulation of cholesterol, sphingomyelin and gangliosides, defective late endosome-lysosome lipid efflux, and defective lysosomal calcium signalling which inhibits phago-lysosome fusion. The lysosomal calcium defect was caused by primary accumulation of sphingosine.
Secretion of lipids (mycolic acids) from the coat of M. tuberculosis or BCG but not M. smegmatis is essential for inducing these phenotypes. As mycolic acids mimic sterols we tested their effect on cells expressing differential levels of the sterol regulated lysosomal NPC1 protein. We discovered that NPC1 heterozygous cells are more sensitive to mycolic acids whilst NPC1 overexpressing cells are less sensitive, indicating that the NPC1 protein is a target for successful mycobacterial infection and that sphingosine storage underlies the pathology of tuberculosis.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate protects primary human keratinocytes from apoptosis via nitric oxide formation through the receptor subtype S1P3.
S22
M Schüppel1, EI Schmitz1, H Potteck2, B Kleuser2
1Institute of Pharmacy, Dept. Pharmacology, Free University of Berlin, and 2Institute of Nutritional Science, Dept. Nutritional Toxicology, University of Potsdam, Germany
Although sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) has been identified to induce cell growth arrest of human keratinocytes, the sphingolipid effectively protects epidermal cells from apoptosis. The molecular mechanism of the antiapoptotic action induced by S1P is less characterized. Apart from S1P, endogenously produced nitric oxide (NO) has been recognized as a potent modulator of apoptosis in keratinocytes. Therefore, it was of great interest to elucidate whether S1P protects human keratinocytes via an NO-dependent signaling pathway.
In this study we proofed the ability of S1P to modulate NO-synthases and subsequent NO-formation in primary human keratinocytes. Moreover, the involvement of G-protein coupled S1P receptor subtypes was examined concerning the antiapoptotic action as well as NO-generation.
The constitutive NO-synthases, eNOS and neuronal NO-synthase (nNOS) are both present in primary human keratinocytes. Our data suggests, that S1P induces activation of eNOS leading to the formation of NO and an NO-dependent protection against apoptosis. Moreover, this study clearly shows that S1P3 is the exclusive receptor subtype mediating eNOS activation, NO-formation and the resulting cytoprotection by S1P.
Specific activation of sphingomyelin synthase by 2-hydroxyoleic acid (Minerval), a potent antitumor drug.
S23
M. Laura Martin1, Gwendolyn Barceló-Coblijn1, Rodrigo de Almeida2 and Pablo V Escribá1
1Department of Biology, University of the Balearic Islands, Spain and 2Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
The mechanism of action of 2-hydroxyoleic acid (2-OHOA, Minerval), a potent antitumor drug, involves membrane lipid structure modifications and changes in the MAPK signaling pathway. In U118 human glioma cells, 2-OHOA dramatically alters cell morphology and lipid metabolism. Thus, cell lipid analysis showed that while SM mass was significantly increased, PC and PE mass was decreased after treatment with 2-OHOA (200 μM, 24-72h). Taking into account these changes, we investigated whether 2-OHOA affected sphingomyelin synthase activity (SMS). So, incubation of cells with NBD-C6-ceramide demonstrated that SMS activity was already increased after 5 min. of treatment. Interestingly, treating cells with different fatty acids differing in the saturation degree and chain length, we could establish a clear relationship between the fatty acid structure and the SM mass increase. In addition, we studied biophysical properties of liposomes mimicking the lipid composition of control and treated cells. Results showed that 2-OHOA induces an increased packing of the ordered domains with a consequent enhancement of global membrane order, due to the substantial increase in SM content. All together, our research indicates that the rapid activation of SMS by 2-OHOA may play a key role in the induction of the signaling pathways responsible for the antitumor effects of 2-OHOA.
Syntaxin 4 is required for acid sphingomyelinase activity and apoptotic function in a pathway regulated by NO.
S24
C Perrotta1, L Bizzozero2, D Cazzato2, S Morlacchi2, P Rosa3, E Gulbins4, E Clementi2
1Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, Dept Preclinical Science, L.Sacco University Hosp., 2Dept. Preclinical Science and 3Inst. of Neuroscience, University of Milan, Italy, 4Inst. für Molekularbiologie Universitätsklinikum Essen
Acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) plays key roles in apoptosis, immunity, development and cancer and mediates cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs.
We now demonstrate that A-SMase is activated throught translocation in an exocytic pathway requiring the t-SNARE protein syntaxin 4 (synt 4) and regulated by NO.
NO induces proteasome-dependent degradation of synt 4, leading to inhibition of A-SMase translocation, activation and its biological effects. Indeed, synt 4 down-regulation induces inhibition of caspases activity, activation of the survival pathway involving Akt and modification of the cell cycle profile, inducing cell proliferation even in the presence of death stimulus.
The molecular interaction among A-SMase, synt 4 and NO were not known and clarify the mechanism of A-SMase activation. In addition the novel actions of syntaxin 4 and NO in sphingolipid metabolism and exocytosis we describe here define signaling mechanisms of broad relevance in cell phatophysiology.
Sphingoid base phosphates, a novel link in the process of neurodegeneration?
S25
N Hagen1, M Hans2, D Swandulla2, G van Echten-Deckert1
1LIMES Institute Membrane Biology and Lipid Biochemistry, Rhein. Friedr.-Wilh. Universität, 53121 Bonn, Germany, and 2Institute of Physiology, Rhein. Friedr.-Wilh. Universität, 53111 Bonn, Germany
The bioactive lipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) usually signaling proliferation and anti-apoptosis, was recently reported to induce apoptosis in S1P-lyase deficient terminally-differentiated postmitotic neurons, when generated by sphingosine-kinase2 (Hagen et al., 2009). This is similar to what we observed in wildtype neurons with the metabolically stable S1P analog cimes-P (cis-4-methylsphingosine phosphate) (Naetzker et al., 2006). The aim of the present study was to identify the signaling cascade involved in the neurotoxic effect of sphingoid base phosphates using cimes-P in neurons derived from wildtype and sphingosine kinase deficient mice. We demonstrate that the calcium-dependent cysteine protease calpain mediates neurotoxicity by induction of the ER-stress specific caspase cascade and in addition activation of cyclin dependent kinase5 (CDK5). The latter is not only involved in an abortive reactivation of the cell cycle but also enhances Tau phosphorylation. Since deregulation of calpain activity has been proposed as a key cytotoxic event in neurodegenerative disorders, our results suggest that calpain-mediated S1P-induced apoptosis may constitute a key mechanism in the process of neurodegeneration
– Hagen N, Van Veldhoven PP, Proia RL, Park H, Merrill AH, Jr., van Echten-Deckert G (2009). J Biol Chem 284:11346-11353.
– Naetzker S, Hagen N, Echten-Deckert G (2006). Genes Cells 11:269-279.
The neutral-sphingomyelinase leaves the nucleus during apoptosis of hepatoma cells induced by daunorubicin.
P1
M. Peverini, F. Cingolani, E. Damaskopoulou, R. Lazzarini, E. Albi
Dept. Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Perugia University, Italy.
It is known that neutral-sphingomyelinase (NSMase) plays a role in daunorubicin (DA)-induced cell death. DA remarkably increased the NSMase2 message and protein, whereas little change in NSMase1 and NSMase3 mRNAs and only a mild increase in acid SMase mRNA were observed(1). A large part of nuclear NSMase was NSMase1 but so far there is no indication about his behaviour after DA treatment. In the present study, the optimal dose of drug to induce hepatoma cell death was analysed with morphological and immunoblotting analysis. This dose was used to localize nuclear NSMase with indirect immunofluorescence by using anti SMase antibodies combined with propidium iodine nuclei count-staining technology
The results showed that after 5μM DA treatment, the H35 cells presented morphological signs of apoptoic death with cytoplasmic vesciculation and apoptotic bodies, increase of Bax and PKCzeta level and reduction of RNApolimerase II. The nucleus changed its morphology with chromatin condensation and release of NSMase which moved away from the nucleus and probably was relocated to apoptotic bodies on the cell surface of early apoptotic cells.
1. Ito et al., Biochim Biophys Acta. 2009 Nov-Dec;1789(11-12):681-90
A simple, novel fluorogenic method for determination of acid ceramidase activity and diagnosis of Farber disease.
P2
C. Bedia1, L. Camacho2, JL Abad2, G. Fabriàs2, T. Levade1
1Institut de Médecine Moleculaire de Rangueil, INSERM U858, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, 2Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, IQAC-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.
Farber disease (FD) is a rare lipid storage disorder characterized by accumulation of ceramide in different tissues due to deficient activity of acid ceramidase. Up to now, methods for diagnosis of FD include an extremely complex in vitro assay of acid ceramidase, and the use of radiolabeled sphingolipids like sphingomyelin in loading tests on intact cultured cells. Another alternative approach is the quantification of intracellular stored ceramide by the diacylglycerol kinase assay. All of these methods use radiolabeled compounds, most of them no longer commercially available. Therefore, the specific determination of acid ceramidase activity and diagnosis of FD are restricted to a very limited number of specialized laboratories.
We present a new and easy method for Farber disease diagnosis by measuring acid ceramidase activity. The high specificity of the substrate for acid ceramidase and its fluorogenic properties make the assay quicker and simpler. Very little amounts of protein are needed and the entire assay can be performed in a 96-well plate, with no post-incubation separation of products.
This assay was validated for routine FD diagnosis, by using different fibroblast and lymphoid cell lines derived from FD and control patients.
Differential effects of SKi-II on SK1 isoforms SK1a and SK1b in androgen-dependent and –independent prostate cancer cells.
P3
F. Tonelli, C. Loveridge, K.G. Lim, NJ Pyne, S Pyne
Cell Biology Group, SIPBS, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK
Evidence supports a key role for sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1), which synthesises sphingosine 1-phosphate, in prostate cancer biology. SK1 promotes cell survival, chemotherapeutic resistance and is increased upon androgen depletion. Here we investigated the effects of a SK inhibitor on SK1 expression in androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and androgen-independent (LNCaP-AI) prostate cancer cells.
SK1 was expressed as two isoforms, SK1a and SK1b, in both cell types and to a greater extent in LNCaP-AI cells versus LNCaP cells. SKi-II (2-(p-hydroxyanilino)-4-(p-chlorophenyl) thiazole) induced apoptosis of LNCaP but not LNCaP-AI cells. This was accompanied by the SKi induced the proteasomal degradation of both isoforms of SK1 in LNCaP cells but of only SK1a in androgen-independent LNCaP-AI cells. This suggests that SK1b is modified in some way in LNCaP-AI cells and is ‘protected’. This may account for the increased resistance of androgen-independent prostate cancer cells to apoptotic stimuli that is associated with the transition of prostate cancer to androgen independence
This study identifies an entirely new mechanism of action of SKi-II and suggests that targeting the SK1b isoform might be an appropriate strategy for treating androgen-independent prostate cancer, which is currently unable to be successfully managed.
[Funded by University of Strathclyde scholarships to FT and KGL]
Dual action of sphingosine 1-phosphate in eliciting proinflammatory responses in primary cultured ratintestinal smooth muscle cells.
P4
M Gurgui, R Broere and G van Echten-Deckert
Kekulé-Institute for Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Bonn, Germany
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is involved in the local inflammatory response within the intestinal muscularis, which has been suggested to play a major role in the pathogenesis of postoperative ileus. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the role of S1P and the molecular mechanisms underlying regulation of inflammatory mediators in primary cultured rat intestinal smooth muscle (RISM) cells. Although our experimental data clearly show the mediatory role of sphingosine kinase (SK)-derived S1P in the TNF-α and the LPS induced activation of NF-kB, exogenously added S1P failed to trigger this transcription factor. Instead, exogenous S1P induced early growth response-1 (Egr-1), which was reported to play a proinflammatory role in postoperative ileus. Using RNA interference we found that Egr-1 is required primarily for S1P induced expression of IL-1 and COX2. Conversely, IL-6 expression following S1P treatment was mediated by STAT3 (signal transducer and activator of transcription-3). In addition our data indicate that the proinflammatory effect of S1P is mediated by its receptors S1P1-3 and requires activation of MAP-kinases. In conclusion, Egr-1 and STAT3 cooperatively mediate S1P-induced inflammatory responses in RISM cells, providing novel targets for attenuation of postoperative ileus.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) and VEGFR-2 form a signalling complex with ERK1/2 and PKC-α regulating ML-1 tyroid carcinoma cell migration .
P5
N Bergelin1,2,3, C Löf1,2, S Balthasar1, V Kalhori1, K Törnquist1,3
1Dept of Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Finland.
2Turku Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Finland.
3The Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum Helsinki, Finland.
S1P- and VEGFR-2-signalling has been shown to integrate in many biological processes. The follicular thyroid carcinoma cell line ML-1 expresses VEGFR-2, and secretes substantial amounts of both VEGF-A and VEGF-C. ML-1 cells also express S1P-receptors (S1P1-3,5). S1P is able to phosphorylate VEGFR-2, and inhibiting VEGFR-2 attenuates S1P-induced migration and down-regulates S1P1-expression in ML-1 cells. In the present study we focus on the interactions between S1P1 and VEGFR-2. We show that S1P-receptors form complexes with VEGFR-2, and that the S1P1/VEGFR-2 complex associates with PKC-α and ERK1/2. Furthermore, the complex evokes bidirectional signalling, as the S1P-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation is sensitive to VEGFR-2 kinase inhibition and VEGF-A-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation is sensitive to Ptx-treatment as well as S1P1 siRNA treatment. Both S1P- and VEGF-A-induced haptotaxis is sensitive to Ptx-treatment and S1P1 siRNA treatment. Phosphorylation of ERK1/2 evoked by both VEGF-A and the S1P1 agonist SEW-2871 is inhibited by PKC-α and PKC-βI siRNA. We hypothesise that VEGFR-2 forms a signalling complex with S1P1, evoking bidirectional signalling regulating ERK1/2 phosphorylation and haptotaxis of ML-1 cells.
Tumour biology of melanoma: a novel role of acid sphingomyelinase.
P6
L. Bizzozero1, D.Cazzato1, C. Verdelli1, E. Clementi1,3, C. Perrotta1
1Department of Preclinical Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy;
3E. Medea Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Italy
Recent studies show that sphingolipids and the enzymes responsable for their intracellular metabolism are important in cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation. Recent evidence suggested a role for this enzymes in tumorigenesis. In particular, Acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) plays pivotal role in tumor biology and tumor response to chemotherapeutic drugs. We investigate the specific role of A-SMase expressed by melanoma B16 cells which show different tumorigenic and metastatic properties dependent on their melanin content. We isolated several B16 clones on the basis of their pigmentation, indicating the pigmented clones as “black”, and the not-pigmented as “white” and we observed a higher expression and activity of A-SMase in the white B16 clones. in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that the white and the black clones differ in terms of growth rate, metastatic capacity and histological characteristics. These data suggest a strong relationship between A-SMase expression and tumour behaviour. These studies suggest A-SMase as possible prognostic factor in tumor and might help refine therapeutic strategies against tumour based on regulation of A-SMase activity/expression.
Gαq mediates sphingosine kinase-1 translocation by GPCRs.
P7
RF Claas1, K Ihlefeld1, S Offermanns2, T Wieland3, D Meyer zu Heringdorf1
1Institut für Allgemeine Phamakologie und Toxikologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, 2Max-Planck-Institut für Herz- und Lungenforschung, Bad Nauheim, 3Experimentelle Pharmakologie, Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim der Universität Heidelberg, Germany
The activation of Gq-coupled receptors leads to a rapid and long-lasting translocation of sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1) to the plasma membrane. We have shown previously that overexpression of constitutively active Gαq or Gα11, but not Gαi, Gα12 or Gα13, was accompanied by a permanent localisation of SK1 at the plasma membrane. Here, the role of Gq in SK1 translocation by G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) was further characterised. First, SK1 translocation induced by the M3 receptor in HEK-293 cells was inhibited by co-expression of a catalytically inactive mutant of GRK2, which is able to sequester activated Gαq/11 subunits. Second, bradykinin failed to induce SK1 translocation in Gαq/11-double deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts over-expressing the B2 receptor. Expression of wild type Gαq restored B2-mediated SK1 translocation in these cells. Expression of Gαq-Y261N, Gαq-D321A and Gαq-Y356K likewise restored SK1 translocation without an influence on the translocation half-time, whereas Gαq-W263D mediated a significantly retarded SK1 translocation, and Gαq-T257E was nearly ineffective. Our data confirm an essential role of Gαq in GPCR-mediated translocation of SK1 and reveal an involvement of Gαq residues that play a role in activation of effectors such as PLCβ and p63RhoGEF.
Differential hepatic lipid accumulation in ASMase-/- mice on HFD is associated with hyperglycaemia and liver damage.
P8
R Fucho, C García-Ruiz, JC Fernández-Checa
Dept. Cell Death and Proliferation, IIBB-CSIC, and Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic i Provincial, IDIBAPS-CIBEK, CIBEREHD, Barcelona, Spain
It is known that ceramides can blunt the insulin-signaling pathway thereby affecting the metabolic homeostasis. Acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) is one of the key regulators of ceramide synthesis. In this study, we tested the metabolic effects of a diet-induced obesity (DIO) on ASMase deficient mice. A 60% KCal diet derived from fat was administered for 12 weeks to ASMase , ASMase mice. Blood glucose was monitored every 4 weeks and glucose and insulin tolerance tests were performed at week 10 and 14. Mice were sacrificed at 16 weeks of age, analyzing blood and tissue lipid profiles. ASMase yet ASMase mice showed a higher body weight and higher blood glucose levels. They also showed less glucose tolerance. ASMase mice increased their fat stores but ASMase mice were blind to this dietary effect, yet they only increased their liver weight. Lipid analysis showed increased total liver cholesterol but decreased in liver triglyceride content in ASMase mice compared to ASMase mice. Serum analysis showed a slightly increase in total cholesterol and an increase in AST levels. In conclusion, ASMase deficiency decreases fat mass but exacerbates the deleterious effects of DIO leading to hyperglycaemia and liver damage.
Critical role for acid sphingomyelinase in hepatic stellate cell activation and liver fibrosis.
P9
A Moles3, N Tarrats3, A Morales2,4, M Domínguez1, R Bataller1,2, J Caballería1,2, C García-Ruiz,2,4, JC Fernández-Checa2,4, M Marí2,4
1Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic i Provincial,
2CIBEREHD,
3IDIBAPS,
4IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona.
Hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and proliferation are key events in liver fibrosis. Although acidic sphingomyelinase (ASMase) has been previously shown to play a key role in hepatocyte apoptosis, its contribution to fibrogenesis is largely unknown. Thus, our aim was to analyze the contribution of ASMase to HSC activation and liver fibrosis. We observed a selective ASMase stimulation, preceding the in vitro activation of primary mouse HSC, coinciding with cathepsin B (CtsB) and D (CtsD) processing. Pharmacological ASMase inhibition or genetic silencing by siRNA blunted CtsB/D processing and subsequent HSC activation and proliferation. The role of ASMase in wild type and ASMase+/- mice, which exhibited 60% less of ASMase activity, was analyzed in two experimental fibrogenesis animal models. Bile duct ligation (BDL) produces hepatocyte damage mediated in part by ASMase. In contrast, CCl4-induced liver damage is independent of ASMase. Consistent with these findings, BDL in ASMase+/- mice results in less hepatic damage and fibrosis, because of the dual role of ASMase in the hepatocellular injury and the HSC activation, while CCl4 leads to a less hepatic fibrosis by directly regulating HSC activation. These findings illustrate a novel role of ASMase in HSC biology and liver fibrosis, emerging as a potential therapeutic target for liver fibrosis.
Implication of mTOR in the mitogenic effect of ceramide 1-phosphate.
P10
P Gangoiti, L Arana, A Ouro, A Gomez Muñoz
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology. University of the Basque Country, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
Ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) regulates important biological functions including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration and inflammation. Major mechanisms by which C1P stimulates cell division in macrophages include activation of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K)/ protein kinase B (PKB, or Akt) pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase kinases (MEK), ERK1-2 and JNK. Another key enzyme involved in the regulation of cell growth is the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which is usually downstream of the PI3-K/PKB pathway or the MAP kinases ERK1/2. mTOR controls protein synthesis and cell proliferation via activation of p70 ribosomal S6 kinase (p70S6K) and inhibition of eIF-4E binding protein (4E-BP1). Here we demonstrate that C1P causes phosphorylation of mTOR and p70S6K in primary (bone marrow-derived) macrophages through activation of the PI3-K/PKB pathway. In addition, C1P caused phosphorylation of PRAS40, a component of the mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1). Furthermore, inhibition of the small G protein Ras homolog enriched in brain (Rheb), which is also a specific component of mTORC1, completely blocked C1P-stimulated macrophage growth. It can be concluded that mTORC1 and its direct target p70S6K are essential components of the mechanism whereby C1P stimulates macrophage proliferation.
This work was supported by grants BFU2009-13314 from MCINN and S-PE09UN42 from the Basque Government (Spain)
HDAC inhibition contributes to the phenotype of S1P lyase-deficient fibroblasts.
P11
1Katja Ihlefeld, 1Ralf Frederik Claas, 1Alexander Koch, 2Paul P. Van Veldhoven, 1Dagmar Meyer zu Heringdorf
1Institut für Allgemeine Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; 2K.U. Leuven, Department Molecular Cell Biology, LIPIT, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) lyase catalyses the irreversible degradation of the bioactive lipid, S1P. In S1P lyase-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs), S1P levels are elevated, cytosolic [Ca2+]i is high and Ca2+ storage is enhanced. It was shown recently that nuclear S1P, produced by sphingosine kinase-2, inhibits histone deacetylases (HDACs). Since the accumulation of S1P in S1P lyase-deficient cells probably also includes the nuclei, we hypothesised that HDAC inhibition might occur in S1P lyase-deficient MEFs. Indeed, HDAC activity was reduced and acetylation of lysine-9 of histone-3 was enhanced in S1P lyase-deficient compared to wild type MEFs. The HDAC-regulated gene, p21, was strongly upregulated in S1P lyase-deficient MEFs. Pretreatment of wild type MEFs with the HDAC inhibitor, trichostatin A (TsA), increased basal [Ca2+]i and enhanced Ca2+ storage, thus mimicking the dysregulation of Ca2+ homoeostasis in S1P lyase-deficient MEFs. In agreement, mRNA levels of SERCA-2 and -3 were upregulated by about 2-3fold in S1P lyase-deficient MEFs, and particularly SERCA-3 was strongly upregulated by TsA. From these data we conclude that the elevated S1P levels in S1P lyase-deficient MEFs lead to HDAC inhibition which in turn contributes to the altered Ca2+ homoeostasis in these cells.
Sphingosine-induced changes in the bilayer structure.
P12
Noemí Jiménez- Rojo, Félix M. Goñi, Alicia Alonso
Unidad de Biofísica (CSIC-UPV/EHU) and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Barrio Sarriena s/n, 48940 Leioa, Spain.
Sphingosine [(2S, 3R, 4E)-2-amino-4-octadecen-1,3-diol] is the basic building block of sphingolipids. In its free state it is known to exist in the cells only in minute amounts. In the last decade it has been shown to act as a potent metabolic signaling molecule, by activating a number of protein kinases. The present contribution intends to describe some physical properties of sphingosine in lipid bilayers. Sphingosine increases the permeability of phospholipid bilayers, giving rise to vesicle leakage. Since at the physiological pH sphingosine has a net positive charge, its interaction with negatively charged phospholipids (e.g. in bilayers containing phosphatidic acid together with phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol) gives rise to a complex pattern of pH-dependent effects. Moreover, sphingosine appears to be sensitive to lipid oxidation: only when bilayer lipids are partially oxidized does sphingosine elicit vesicle aggregation.
Shingosine 1-phosphate as a regulator of hypoxia-induced factor-1α in thyroid follicular ML-1 carcinoma cells.
P13
Veronica Kalhori1, Kati Kemppainen1 and Kid Törnquist1,2
1Department of Biology, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland and 2Minerva Foundation Institute, Biomedicum, Helsinki, Finland
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid that regulates the proliferation and migration of cells by binding to S1P receptors and activating G-proteins. Hypoxia induced factor 1α (HIF-1α) is a transcription factor that is degraded under normoxic conditions, while hypoxic conditions stabilize its expression and activity. In the present study, we investigated the effect of S1P on HIF-1α in thyroid follicular carcinoma ML-1 cells. We showed that S1P increased HIF-1α in a time-dependent fashion. The effect was abolished by inhibition of S1P receptors 1, 2 and 3 as well as inhibition of Gi proteins with Ptx. S1P did not enhance the level of HIF-1α mRNA. Inhibiting VEGF receptor 2 decreased HIF-1α levels and if the VEGF receptor 2 was blocked, S1P evoked a rapid, transient increase in HIF-1α. In addition to increasing HIF-1α, SIP also transiently increased the amount of P70S6 kinase, The proliferation and migration of ML-1 cells was also investigated. Our results suggest that HIF-1α and P70S6K, a kinase upstream of HIF-1α, regulate the proliferation of these cells. HIF-1α and P70S6K did not regulate the basal migration of ML-1-cells, but the S1P-induced migration was blunted when either P70S6K or HIF-1α was blocked. Taken together, these results suggest that S1P and VEGFR2 together regulate the expression of HIF-1α. These results can be of importance and should be considered with regard to finding new anti-angiogenetic drugs.
Is acid sphingomyelinase required for the anti-proliferative response to Rituximab?
P14
F Sabourdy1,2, J Selves3, E Baeza1, L Astudillo2, P Brousset3, MB Delisle4, C Recher5, T Levade1,2
1Service de Biochimie-IFB, 2INSERM U858, 3Service d’Anatomo-Pathologie Purpan, 4Service d’Anatomo-Pathologie Rangueil, and 5Service d’Hématologie, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
Acid sphingomyelinase and its product ceramide have been proposed to mediate the growth inhibitory effect of anti-CD20 antibodies (such as Rituximab) on malignant lymphoid B cells (1).
Here, we describe the case of an adult patient who developed at age 65 a marginal zone lymphoma. After 5 cycles of a combination of Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone, splenomegaly was still present, leading to treatment interruption and splenectomy. Microscopic examination of the spleen revealed no lymphoma cells but the presence of foamy cells suggestive of a lipid storage disorder. Enzyme studies on peripheral blood cells demonstrated deficient activity of acid sphingomyelinase. Diagnosis of Niemann-Pick disease (type B) was further confirmed by documenting sphingomyelin storage in spleen and identification of point mutations in the SMPD1 gene. EBV-transformed lymphoid cells from the patient, as well as from other patients with Niemann-Pick type A or B, and from control individuals proved to be equally sensitive to the anti-proliferative effects of Rituximab.
Thus, not only this case report indicates the occurrence of lymphoma in Niemann-Pick patients, but also suggests that acid sphingomyelinase is dispensable for Rituximab efficacy.
1. Bezombes et al. (2004) Blood 104:1166-73.
Sphingosylphosphorylcholine binds to calmodulin and inhibits its function.
P15
E Kovacs1, V Harmat2, J Toth1, BG Vertessy1, K Modos3, J Kardos2, K Liliom1
1Institute of Enzymology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 2Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, and 3Institute of Biophysics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) is a dual messenger as it acts on specific heptahelical receptors and mobilize calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum directly as well. SPC has been shown to activate ryanodine receptors through an undefined mechanism. Calmodulin (CaM), the ubiquitous calcium sensor, binds to ryanodine receptors and regulates their activity. Previously we have identified SPC as an endogenous inhibitor of CaM. Here we give mechanistic insight into CaM interaction with SPC and present a crystal structure of their complex. Based on studies with the model CaM-binding domain melittin we demonstrate that both the peptide and SPC micelles bind to CaM in a rapid and reversible manner with comparable affinities. We present evidence that SPC is a competitive inhibitor of CaM-target peptide interaction. SPC also disrupts the complex of CaM and the CaM-binding domain of ryanodine receptor type 1, IP3 receptor type 1, and the plama membrane Ca2+ pump. By interfering with these interactions, thus inhibiting the negative feedback that CaM has on Ca2+signaling, we hypothesize that SPC could lead to Ca2+ mobilization in vivo. Moreover, we demonstrate that SPC disrupts the complex between both the apo and the Ca2+-saturated form of the protein and the target peptide, suggesting a completely novel regulation for target proteins that constitutively bind CaM, such as ryanodine receptors.
S1P receptors regulate individual cell behaviours in directed migration during zebrafish gastrulation.
P16
Masatake Kai1, Carl-Philipp Heisenberg2 and Masazumi Tada1
1Department of Cell & Developmental Biology, University College London, UK. 2Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany
Acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) plays key roles in apoptosis, During gastrulation, cells forming the prechordal plate, the most anterior mesendodermal structure, undergo directed migration as a cohesive cluster. Recent studies showed that E-cadherin plays an important role in effective anterior migration as a cohesive cluster, and that PDGF may act as a guidance cue in anterior migration of prechordal plate progenitor cells. In a morpholino (MO)-based screen in zebrafish, we identified miles apart (mil)/edg5 as a suppressor of defective anterior migration of the prechordal plate in silberblick(slb)/wnt11 mutant embryos, in which E-cadherin mediated coherence of cell movement is reduced. Here, we examined the roles of Edg5 in anterior migration of prechordal plate cells and found that in wnt11 embryos injected with edg5-MO cells migrate with increased motility but decreased directionality without restoring the reduced coherence of cell migration. This indicates that prechordal plate cells can migrate effectively as individuals as well as in a coherent cluster of cells. Moreover, we demonstrate that Edg5 regulates cell motility and polarization through PDGF and its intracellular effecter PI3K but modulates cell coherence independently of the PDGF/PI3K pathway. Thus, S1P signalling co-ordinates cell motility and coherence underlying directed migration of prechordal plate progenitors.
Involvement of the ABC-transporter ABCC1 and the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor subtype S1P3 in the cytoprotection of human fibroblasts by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone.
P17
1B Nieuwenhuis, 1A Lüth, 2M Jakobi, 1B Kleuser
1Institute of Nutritional Science, Dept. Nutritional Toxicology, University of Potsdam, Germany and 2Institute of Pharmacy, Dept. Pharmacology, Free University of Berlin, Germany
Glucocorticoids (GC) represent the most commonly used drugs for the treatment of acute and chronic inflammatory skin diseases. However, the topical long term therapy of GC is limited by the occurrence of skin atrophy. Most interestingly although GC inhibit proliferation of human fibroblasts, they exert a pronounced anti-apoptotic action. In the present study we further elucidated the molecular mechanim of the GC dexamethasone (Dex) to protect human fibroblasts from programmed cell death. Dex not only significantly alters the expression of the cytosolic isoenzyme sphingosine kinase 1 but also initiated an enhanced intracellular formation of the sphingolipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). Investigations using S1P3(-/-)-fibroblasts revealed that this S1P-receptor subtype is essential for the Dex-induced cytoprotection. Moreover, we demonstrate that the ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-transporter ABCC1 is upregulated by Dex and may represent a crucial carrier to transport S1P from the cytosol to the S1P3-receptor subtype.
Influence of NO-donors on the sphingo-myelinase activity and accumulation of lipid peroxide products in mice liver.
P18
M.A. Shupik, A.V. Alessenko
Institute of Biochemical Physics of the RAS, Moscow, Russia
Proposing a link between NO generation, activation of sphingomyelin cycle and accumulation of lipid peroxide products we investigated interfering of biochemical signaling pathways. Therefore, we tested the ability of NO-releasing compounds S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO), dinitrosyl iron complexe (DNIC) and NaNO2 to change the activity of n sphingomyelinase (n-SMase) and level of conjugated dienes in liver after their injection to mice. GSNO was injected in doses 0,3; 1,5 and 3 mg, DNIC in doses- 0,3; 0,6; 0,9; and 1,2 mg , NaNO2 – in doses 1 mg per mouse. All NO donors caused changes in the activity of n-SMase and level of lipid conjugated dienes in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. We found that the activity of n-SMase is changed during 4 hours after administration of NO donors by a dual mechanism. On the one hand NO inhibits n-SMase during 15-30 minutes, and on the other hand it stimulates n-SMase after 4 hours action of GSNO and normalizes activity of enzyme after 4 hours DNIC’s action. n-SMase activity coincided in time with level of lipid peroxidation products (decreased level of conjugated dienes within 15-30 min ) after injection of GSNO, DNIC and NaNO2. This data proposed that both sphingomyelinase and messengers of oxidative systems could be targets of NO-derived oxidants. n-SMase could be inhibited by NO or peroxynitrite, which is the product of reaction of NO with superoxide. In vivo peroxynitrite formation has been described during sepsis, autoimmune and inflammatory conditions.
Sterol affinity for bilayer membranes is affected by their ceramide content and the ceramide chain length.
P19
TKM Nyholm, P-.M Grandell, B Westerlund, JP Slotte
Biochemistry, Dept.Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University, 20520 Turku, Finland
Ceramides have been shown to alter the composition of cholesterol and sphingolipid enriched nanoscopic domains, by displacing cholesterol, and forming gel phase domains with sphingomyelin. We have investigated how the bilayer content of ceramides and their chain length influence sterol partitioning into the membranes. The effect of ceramides with saturated chains ranging from 4 to 24 carbons in length was investigated. In addition, unsaturated 18:1- and 24:1-ceramides were also examined. The sterol partitioning into bilayer membranes was studied by measuring the distribution of cholestatrienol, a fluorescent cholesterol analogue, between methyl-β-cyclodextrin and large unilamellar vesicle with defined lipid composition. Up to 15 mol% ceramide was added to bilayers composed of DOPC:PSM:cholesterol (3:1:1), and the effect on sterol partitioning was measured. Both at 23 and 37 oC addition of ceramide affected the sterol partitioning in a chain length dependent manner, so that the ceramides with intermediate chain lengths were the most effective in reducing sterol partitioning into the membranes. In conclusion, this work shows how the distribution of sterols within sphingomyelin-containing membranes is affected by the acyl chain composition in ceramides. The overall membrane partitioning measured in this study reflects the differential partitioning of sterol into ordered domains where ceramides compete with the sterol for association with.
S1P affects skeletal muscle repair/regeneration after eccentric contraction-induced damage.
P20
E.Meacci1, C.Sassoli2, F.Bini1, R.Squecco3, M.Martinesi1, L.Formigli2, F.Francini3
Departments of 1Biochemical Sciences, 2Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine 3Physiological Sciences, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
Skeletal muscle regeneration is severely compromised in case of extended damage. The current challenge is to find factors capable of limiting muscle degeneration and/or activating the inherent regenerative program. Recent studies have shown that the bioactive lipid, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), promotes myoblast differentiation and exerts a trophic action on denervated skeletal muscle fibres. In this study, we examined the effects of the sphingolipid on eccentric contraction (EC)-injured mouse EDL muscle fibers and the resident satellite cells. Treatment with exogenous S1P attenuated the EC-induced tissue damage, protected skeletal muscle cells from apoptosis and affected extracellullar matrix remodelling. Moreover, S1P greatly potentiated satellite cell activation and enhanced their attitude to fuse into multinucleated myotubes once isolated from the single fibers. Notably, the activity of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and the levels of endogenous S1P were significantly higher in the injured fibres and satellite cells, stressing the involvement of SphK1/S1P axis in skeletal muscle protection and repair, which may represents a novel therapeutic approaches to manage skeletal muscle damage and disease.(Grant from Fondazione Banche di Pistoia e Vignole and A.R.S.I.A to EM)
Elevation of sphingosine-1-phosphate caused neurodegenerative changes in brain of rats after immobilized stress.
P21
Yeonju Lee, Sohyeon Moon and Seikwan Oh
Department of Neuroscience and Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 158-710, Korea
This study investigated the changes of sphingolipid metabolites as a biomarker of physiological change in serum after three weeks of repeated immobilization. The level of sphingolipids was measured in order to assess the changes in sphingolipid metabolites in the serum of rats exposed to stress.
Interestingly, the level of So-1-P was increased in the plasma of rats subjected to 6-hr immobilization stress than repeated immobilization. To further investigate the modulating effect of increased So-1-P in various brain regions, So-1-P was infused into the lateral cerebroventricle at a rate of 100 pmol/10μl/hr for 7 days.
Immunoreactivity for GFAP and vimentin, as a marker of reactive gliosis, was also elevated in the cortex and hippocampus. The expression of iNOS and NR1 was elevated in the cortex, hippocampus, striatum, and cerebellum after So-1-P infusion into the cerebroventricle, while the level of GFAP was elevated in the hippocampus and striatum. Interestingly, the expression levels of iNOS, GFAP, and NR1 were increased by the direct application of So-1-P to cultured cortical cells. These results suggest that NO production via iNOS expression, the NR1 expression, the activation of astrocytes, and the elevation of So-1-P may cause neurodegenerative changes in rats subjected to chronic immobilization and that the elevation of So-1-P by stress exposure would be one of the stress signal molecules.
The scopolamine- and a β-induced memory impairment was ameliorated by the treatment with phytoceramide.
P22
Yeonju Lee1, Sohyeon Moon1, Jae-Chul Jung1, Hwan-Soo Yoo2, Yong-Moon Lee2 and Seikwan Oh1
1Department of Neuroscience and Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 158-710, Korea
2College of Pharmacy, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 361-763, Korea
The ameliorative effect of phytoceramide and phytosphingosine was evaluated in scopolamine- and beta-amyloid (Aβ)-induced amnesia by passive avoidance test. Phytoceramide improved the scopolamine- and beta-amyloid (Aβ)-induced learning and memory impairment while phytosphingosine did not.
The level of sphingosine was increased after chronic administration of phytoceramide.
The expression of S1P-R1 was significantly reduced in Aβ-induced hippocampus of mice, while phytoceramide inhibited the suppression of S1P-R1 expression) in hippocampus of amnesic mice with Aβ (i.c.v injection) after administration of phytoceramide. In addition, the mRNA level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) was measured in Aβ-injected mice, because it was known that sphingolipids were involved in inflammation. The expression of IL-1β was robustly increased by Aβ, while phytoceramide decreased it. Although further study is needed to find precise mechanisms of ceramide and/or sphingolipids on neuronal functions, it could be suggested that phytoceramide could be used to ameliorate the memory impairment.
Activation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway is essential for stimulation of cell proliferation by ceramide 1-phosphate.
P23
A Ouro, P Gangoiti, L Arana , A Gomez-Muñoz
1Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of science and technology, Basque Country University Leioa, Spain
Ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) was previously described as pro-mitogenic, antiapoptotic, and pro-inflammatory. In addition, C1P was shown to bind to a specific plasma membrane receptor to stimulate macrophage migration, and this action was independent of the intracellular generation of C1P. Using a “caged” ceramide 1-phosphate analogue: 4-bromo-5-hydroxy-2-nitrobenzhydryl-ceramide-1-phosphate (BHNB-C1P), we have demonstrated that C1P-stimulated cell proliferation is independent of receptor interaction, but dependent upon the intracellular accumulation of C1P. A key enzyme that is involved in the regulation of macrophage proliferation by C1P is the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) (P. Gangoiti, and A. Gómez-Muñoz, unpublished work). Here, we demonstrate that activation of mTOR requires prior stimulation of the RhoA/ROCK pathway, and that this action is essential for the mitogenic effect of C1P through this pathway.
This work was supported by grants BFU2009-13314 from MCINN and S-PE09UN42 from the Basque Government (Spain)
Towards an understanding of the role of an acid sphingomyelinase in the maturation of the fly respiratory system.
P24
M Strigini1
1Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, FORTH, Iraklio, Crete, Greece
The Drosophila respiratory system consists of an epithelial tubular network that develops during embryogenesis. The lumen of developing tracheal tubes is filled with a fluid that is cleared and replaced by air shortly before hatching. I study an acid sphingomyelinase specifically expressed in the trachea. The mutants I generated for this enzyme fail to fill their trachea with air. Trachea maturation proceeds through three steps in a strict developmental order: first, a burst of secretion deposits proteins into the lumen and expands it; second, solid luminal material is removed by endocytosis; third, liquid is cleared (Tsarouchas et al., 2007). In light of recent findings that sphingosine and sphingosine metabolism enzymes may modulate vesicular trafficking in neuronal terminals and secretory T-cells (Darios et al., 2009; Herz et al., 2009), I am assessing the role of aSMase in the control of epithelial secretion and endocytosis during maturation of the fly airways. This work may establish a suitable system for further genetic analysis of sphingolipid function in membrane dynamics.
Sphingosine kinase-1 is critically involved in nitric oxide-mediated human endothelial cell migration and tube formation.
P25
Stephanie Schwalm1,2, Josef Pfeilschifter1 and Andrea Huwile2
1Pharmazentrum Frankfurt/ZAFES, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
2Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Sphingosine kinases (SK) convert sphingosine to sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) which is a bioactive lipid that regulates a variety of cellular processes including migration. In this study, we have used the human endothelial cell line EA.hy 926 and investigated the effect of nitric oxide (NO)-donors on SK-1 expression and on cell migration and tube formation. We show that exposure of EA.hy 926 cells to Deta-NO resulted in a time- and concentration-dependent upregulation of SK-1 mRNA and protein expression, and activity. In mechanistic terms, the NO-triggered upregulation of SK-1 occurred independently of cGMP, but involved the classical mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade and a redox-dependent mechanism. Functionally, Deta-NO triggered an increased endothelial cell migration in an adapted Boyden chamber assay and also increased endothelial tube formation in a Matrigel assay. These responses were both abolished in cells depleted of SK-1. In summary, these data show that NO-donors upregulate SK-1 expression and activity in human endothelial cells and SK-1 in turn critically contributes to the migratory capability and tube formation of endothelial cells. Thus, SK-1 may be considered an attractive novel target to interfere with pathological processes involving angiogenesis.
In situ synthesis of fluorescent membrane lipids (ceramides) using click chemistry.
OP1
María Garrido1, José Luis Abad1, Alicia Alonso2, Antonio Delgado1,3, L. Ruth Montes2, Félix M. Goñi2
1Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC), Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM). Jordi Girona 18‑26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.2Unidad de Biofísica (CSIC-UPV/EHU), and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, Aptdo. 688, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.L. Ruth Montes, Phone: +34 946 018 050, Email: lidiaruth.montes@ehu.es3Universidad de Barcelona, Facultad de Farmacia, Unidad de Química Farmacéutica, Avda. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Ceramide analogues containing azide groups either in the polar head or in the hydrocarbon chains are non-fluorescent. When incorporated into phospholipid bilayers they can react in situ with a non-fluorescent 1,8‑naphtalimide using click chemistry giving rise to fluorescent ceramide derivatives emitting at ≈440 nm. When incorporated into giant unilamellar vesicles, two-photon excitation at 760 nm allows visualization of the ceramide-containing bilayers. This kind of method may be of general applicability in the study of membrane and cell membranes.
On line HPTC-MALDI for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of neutral and acidic glycosphingolipids.
OP2
Torretta E. 1, Vasso M. 1,2 , Fania C. 1, Capitanio D. 1, Bergante S. 1,3, Piccoli M. 1,3, Anastasia L. 1,3, Gelfi C. 1,2
1 Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Segrate (Milan), Italy; 2 Institute of Molecular Bioimaging and Physiology (IBFM), CNR, Cefalù (Palermo) Segrate (Milan), Italy; 3 Laboratory of Stem Cells for Tissue Engineering, IRCCS Policlinico San Donato (Milan), Italy
Glycosphingolipids are a wide class of ubiquitous lipids, characterized by a great structural and functional variety. Altered levels have been correlated with different diseases, suggesting their crucial role in health. To date, characterization is mainly based on TLC, followed by antigen antibody reactions or by radioactive labelling. Recently, new mass spectrometry strategies have been developed. Herein we set up an online HPTLC-MALDI method combining high resolving power and mass accuracy.
Different matrices solutions were tested to set up the best conditions for matrix delivery to improve GSLs detection, resulting in DHB matrix in 50% acetonitrile as the best matrix, 50mg/mL for neutral GSLs and 100 mg/mL for acidic GSLs. Calibration curve of a neutral GSL (Gb3) and of a ganglioside (GM3) were constructed to demonstrate the applicability of HPTLC-MALDI method to quantitative analyses. The aqueous and organic phases extracted from wild-type and overexpressing NEU3 sialidase C2C12 murine myoblasts, were analysed by HPTLC, followed by MALDI-TOF and results compared to [3H]sphingolipids radiolabeled HPTLC. MS resolution allowed to identify several species with similar retention factor on the HTPLC plate, and that could not be resolved with the radiolabelling. Neutral GSLs (SM, Gb3, LacCer, GlcCer) and gangliosides (GM1, GM2, GM3, GD1a) were identified as C16:0, C22:0, C24:1 and C24:0 chains. GM3, the physiological substrate of NEU3, is decreased in NEU3 over-expressing cells, as assessed by radioactive quantitative measurements. Interestingly, by HPTLC-MALDI, spectra indicated that two GM3 isoforms decreased (d18:1 C16:0 and d18:1 C22:0) while d18:1 C24:1 increased.
HPTLC-MALDI is an easy and high-throughput analysis for the qualitative and quantitative characterization of GSLs suggesting its use for their profiling with high specificity and sensitivity.
Polyene sphingolipids with latent fluorescence: new tools to study the biophysical properties of cellular membranes.
OP3
Ingrid Nieves1, Ruth Montes2, Jesús Sot2, Alicia Alonso2, José Luís Abad1, Antonio Delgado1,3
1Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Dept. of Biomedicinal Chemistry, IQAC-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain;
2University of País Vasco, Dept. of Biochemistry, Unit of Biophysics, CSIC‑UPV/EHU, Bilbao, Spain
3University of Barcelona, Faculty of Pharmacy, Unit of Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Associated Unit to CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Experiments with bioactive sphingolipids (SLs) in model membranes are currently hampered by a lack of adequate experimental conditions able to mimic the physiological environment. To analyze membrane microdomains that are temporarily enriched in certain lipids, it is necessary to employ high molar concentrations of SLs analogues, or fluorescence tags that strongly influence the properties of lipid bilayers, such as BODIPY or NBD. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a series of GABA-polyene-n‑Doxyl fluorescent probes, specifically designed as biochemical tools to allow the study of model membranes at low lipid concentrations, closer to physiological conditions. These compounds contain a fluorescent polyene system, acylated with an internal n‑Doxyl radical able to act as a fluorescence quencher. This probe has enabled the development of a simple biophysical method to experimentally identify the formation of lipid domains. Thus, fluorescence of the GABA-polyene-n‑Doxyl system depends on the rigidity or fluidity of the lipid environment. The absorption and fluorescence properties of the probes, when incorporated into artificial vesicles, were monitored by espectrofluorimetry (for LUVs) or by fluorescence confocal microscopy (for GUVs). Preparation of rigid‑ordered liposomes with DSPC or DPPC showed a decrease of the fluorescence intensity versus fluid-disordered membranes of DOPC or eggPC. Moreover, it was observed that the conformational mobility of the n-Doxyl group was crucial for intramolecular fluorescence quenching, a property that was used as diagnostic to determine the characteristics of the membrane phosphoglycerolipids.
As a result, GABA-polyene-nDoxyl compounds may be of utility as novel fluorescent lipid probes to identify rigid-fluid domains in model membranes.
UFLC MS/MS to study the response of sphingomyelin to proton radiations in FRTL-5 cells.
OP4
Andrea Lazzarini 1,2 Elisabetta Albi1*†, Giuseppina Perrella2† , Remo Lazzarini1, Samuela Cataldi1, Alessandro Floridi1, Emanuela Floridi1, Francesco Saverio Ambesi-Impiombato2, Francesco Curcio2
1 Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, Research Center of Biochemical-Specialized Analyses CRABioN, 06100 Perugia (Italy); 2Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine (Italy)
In cell nucleus the sphingomyelin (SM) cycle is regulated by an exact internal mechanism. In no-stimulated cells exist a balance between neutral-sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) and sphingomyelin-synthase (SM-synthase) activity that maintains constant the SM level, stabilizing the double helix of DNA thanks to the trimethylammonio group that binds to the phosphate group of DNA and apolar fatty acids that bind to the hydrophobic centres of the helical DNA. The increase of the nuclear SM concentration during cell proliferation stimulates the SMase activity during the S phase of the cell cycle, thus favouring the destabilization and the opening of the double helix of DNA and the beginning of its synthesis. The winding of a double helix being restored as soon as DNA synthesis finishes and SM-synthase activity is stimulated. During apoptosis specific the gene expression and DNA fragmentation are accompanied by the change of nuclear SM content. Recently the nuclear N-SMase/SM-synthase ratio was considered a marker of cell function. In fact it was very high in apoptotic cells, medium in pro-apoptotic cells, low in proliferating cells and very low in quiescent cells. Here we studied for the first time whether in thyroid FRTL-5 cells the proton beams could change nuclear SM metabolism by comparing the results with that occurred in nuclei-free lysates (NFL) at the end to identify their role on functional state of the cells. In the nucleus proton beams stimulated 1.09 times N-SMase activity and inhibited 1.9 times that of SM-synthase in nuclei purified from quiescent cells whereas stimulated 12.44 times N-SMase activity and unchanged that of SM-synthase. The effect was very low in NFL lipid enzymes. As a consequence, the nuclear N-SMase/SM-synthase ratio was 1.06 and 1.77 in nuclei of quiescent and proliferating cells respectively, indicating that protons induced quiescent cells in a propaoptotic state whereas its value in proliferating cells was between the proapoptotic state and apoptotic state, as supported by bax expression that was higher in proliferating than in quiescent cells. The analysis of nuclear SM and ceramides by UFLC-MS/MS showed the variation of these lipids after proton treatment. In conclusion, the damage of proton beams on epithelial thyroid cells depends on their physiological state, whether they are stimulated or not with thyrotropin to proliferate. The nuclear SM metabolism is involved in the mechanism of action of protons.
Recent contributions of chemistry to sphingolipid research.
OP5
Gemma Fabrias,1 José Luis Abad,1 Josefina Casas,1 Maria Garrido,1 Ingrid Nieves,1 Pedro Rayo,1 and Antonio Delgado1,2
1Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Barcelona, Spain.
2Universidad de Barcelona (UB), Facultad de Farmacia, Unidad de Química Farmacéutica (Unidad Asociada al CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Progress in the understanding of sphingolipid metabolism and functions has benefited from the contribution of chemistry. Structural analogs, enzyme inhibitors and receptor agonists and antagonists have been employed as pharmacological tools and some of them have reached relevance in a therapeutic context.
An overview of recently reported compounds of use in sphingolipid research is given in this talk. Furthermore, unpublished ongoing studies carried out with novel 1-deoxysphingolipid analogs are presented. Biological screening of these analogs has revealed the appropriateness of some of the compounds as probes to profile ceramide synthase activities in intact cells, while potent and selective neutral ceramidase inhibitory activity has been disclosed by other molecules of the library. Future directions include the development of suitably functionalized derivatives amenable to orthogonal reactions with fluorescence tags for subcellular trafficking studies.
Inhibition of S1P degradation rescues 661w cells from oxidative stress.
OP6
Carlotta Fabiani 1, Anna Caretti 1, Annalisa Guala 1, Josefina Casas 2, Gemma Fabriàs2, Riccardo Ghidoni1, Paola Signorelli1.
1 , Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital, Italy;
2, Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Catalan Institute of Advanced Chemistry (IQAC/CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Sphingolipids have crucial roles in retinal pathologies (Rostein et al 2010). Recently, increase in Ceramides has been correlated with rat retinal light-induced oxidative stress and degeneration (Chen et al. 2013). In a murine model of human Retinitis Pigmentosa (rd10 mutant mice), we demonstrated that inhibition of Ceramide synthesis and accumulation rescued photoreceptors from age-related apoptosis (Strettoi et al. 2010).Our aim is targeting sphingolipid metabolites to reduce oxidative damage in a retinal photoreceptor cell colture, 661W cone-like cells. In this study we focalized our attention on sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and its pro-survival and proliferative activity. We inhibited S1P degradation, by THI treatment, reducing stress response signaling, pro-apoptosis Ceramide accumulation and promoting survival to oxidative stress. Murine 661W cone-like cell line, was treated with 75µM 2-acetyl-4-(1(R),2(S),3(R),4-tetrahydroxybutyl)-imidazole (THI), an inhibitor of S1PLyase, for 2 hours; next, cells were treated with 1mM H2O2 for different times. We showed that enhanced stability of S1P, obtained through THI administration, reduces H2O2 inhibitory effect on cell viability.
The evaluation of Ceramides content by UPLC/TOF analysis, showed an augment in short-chain Ceramides (16:0 and 18:0) in stressed cells, that is contrasted by THI. At the same time, oxidative stress produced a decrease in long-chain Ceramide (24:0), which was not altered by THI. MAP kinase phosphorylation is involved in photoreceptors protection from oxidative stress (German et al. 2006). We demonstrated that THI reverses H2O2 -induced ERK1/2 de-phosphorylation. Activation of AKT plays an important role in cell survival. Specifically phosphorylation of Ser473 was shown to be enhanced under stress in different cell models (Yung et al. 2011), including oxidative stress in retinal pigment epithelial cells (Lee et al. 2011). Pre-treatment with THI reduced H2O2 -induced Akt phosphorylation on Ser473.
Inhibition of dihydroceramide desaturase activity by the sphingosine kinase inhibitor SKI II.
OP7
Francesca Cingolani, Cindy Nájera, Josefina Casas and Gemma Fabrias
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Barcelona, Spain.
Compound SKI II (4-((4-(4-chlorophenyl)thiazol-2-yl)amino)phenol) is a dual inhibitor of sphingosine kinases 1 and 21exhibiting anti-proliferative activity on several human cancer cell lines with IC50 values in the low µM range (0.9-4.6 µM).2 In their study on the role of sphingosine kinases in the resistance of A2780 ovarian cancer cell line to N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (HPR), Illuzi et al.3 showed that cells treated with SKI II produced significantly more dihydroceramides than controls, although remarkably less than cells treated with HPR alone or in combination with SKI II. On the other hand, Tonelli et al.4 have recently reported that SKI II induces oxidative stress, which is known to inhibit Des1 activity.5 These overall data suggested that SKI II might inhibit Des1, thereby not being specific for sphingosine kinases.
In this communication we report that, at the concentrations used to inhibit sphingosine kinases, SKI II inhibits the desaturation of dihydroceramide-C6NBD to ceramide-C6NBD both in intact cells and in cell lysates. In the first case, SKI II inhibits proliferation of gastric adenocarcinoma HGC27 cells with a concomitant increase in dihydroceramide levels. Similar activities were elicited by the non-phenolic polyaromatic drug celecoxib, also reported to inhibit Des1.6 The effects of both SKI II and celecoxib on autophagy and cell cycIe in correlation with changes in the sphingolipidome are presented and discussed.
In conclusion, SKI II inhibits Des1 and therefore, caution must be taken when interpreting data based on the use of this compound as a pharmacological tool.
Modulation of S1P receptors by the fingolimod derivatives, ST968 and ST1071.
OP8 poster
Kira Blankenbach1, Holger Stark2, Josef Pfeilschifter1, Andrea Huwiler3, Dagmar Meyer zu Heringdorf1
1Institut für Allgemeine Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Germany;
2Institut für Pharmazeutische Chemie, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main, Germany;
3Institut für Pharmakologie, Universität Bern, Switzerland
Fingolimod is a novel immunosuppressive drug which has been approved for the treatment of multiple sclerosis. It is a prodrug of fingolimod-phosphate which acts as superagonist at the S1P receptors, S1P1,3,4,5, and induces lymphopenia by internalizing the S1P1 receptor.
Here, we analysed whether the novel compounds, ST968 and ST1071, which are structurally related to fingolimod, interacted with S1P1-3. Internalization of S1P1, S1P2 and S1P3 was studied with GFP-tagged receptors transiently expressed in CHO cells. After 2 h of exposure, both ST968 and ST1071 (1 µM each) induced internalization of S1P1 and S1P3, but not S1P2, similar to fingolimod. When the cells were incubated for 2 h with the respective agonists, washed, and analysed ~22 h later, S1P1 was still internalized in cells treated with ST968, ST1071, and fingolimod-phosphate, but not in S1P-treated cells. S1P receptor-induced [Ca2+]i increases were analysed in CHO cells stably transfected with GFP-tagged S1P1, S1P2 or S1P3 plus the Gαqi5 protein which links Gi-coupled receptors to Gq signalling pathways. S1P (1 µM) induced [Ca2+]i increases in all three cell lines, while fingolimod-phosphate (1 µM) was active in S1P1- and S1P3-, but not S1P2-expressing cells. ST968 and ST1071 (1 µM each) induced [Ca2+]i increases in S1P3-expressing cells but were inactive in S1P1- or S1P2-expressing cells. In conclusion, ST968 and ST1071 represent interesting novel structures which interact with S1P receptors.
Design and synthesis of new sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (S1PL) inhibitors.
OP9 poster
Pol Sanllehí1, Jordi Bujons2, Josefina Casas1 and Antonio Delgado1,3
1Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Departament de Química Biomèdica, Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), 2Department de Química Biològica i Modelització Molecular, Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), 3Facultat de Farmàcia, Unitat de Química Farmacèutica (Unitat Associada al CSIC), Universitat de Barcelona
Accumulating evidence indicate that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) modulates many noxious processes that follow CNS injury. Thus, the discovery of novel neuropretective therapies may arise from interventions on S1P metabolism. S1PL is a PLP-dependent enzyme that irreversibly cleaves S1P into 2‑trans‑hexadecenal and phosphoethanolamine. Despite the capital role of S1PL in controlling the intracellular levels of S1P, the number of available pharmacological tools to modulate its activity is scarce.
A homology model of human S1PL was built using templates derived from the structures of prokaryotic and yeast S1PLs (PDB 3MAD and 3MC6, respectively), which show around 40 % sequence identity with the human protein. The obtained modelled protein allowed a first massive in silico screening of potential S1PL inhibitors. Therefore, MOE’s Lead-Like database of 653.200 compounds was screened against the 3MAD-derived model using standard docking protocols. Among the best scored compounds, a subset of 28 molecules were chosen (mainly based on availability criteria), purchased and tested using our previously reported assays. It is worthy of mention the inhibitory activities exerted by, at least, 4 compounds of the selected set, which were comparable to those of the reference compound FTY-720. Finally, a general pharmacophore for the S1PL inhibitory activity was elucidated regarding the common structural features of the more active compounds. This general pharmacophore led us to the design of a series of new putative S1PL inhibitors.
Herein we present the homology modelling and structure-base drug design (SBDD) studies of human S1PL, which allowed us to find a small series of compounds with promising S1PL inhibitory activity. As a result of the resulting pharmacophore, a family of new potential inhibitors was designed and synthesized.
Highly potent acid ceramidase inhibitors with marked cancer chemosensitization activity.
OP10 poster
1Realini Natalia, 1Pizzirani Daniela, 1Pagliuca Chiara, 1Armirotti Andrea, 1Bandiera Tiziano, 1Marco De Vivo, 1,2Piomelli Daniele
1Unit of Drug Discovery and Development, Italian Institute of Technology, 16163 Genoa, Italy
2Departments of Pharmacology and Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697-4625
New therapeutic strategies for overcoming chemo-resistance include the stimulation of ceramide accumulation through increased ceramide synthesis or inhibition of ceramide degradation. Acid ceramidase (AC)is an ubiquitous cysteine hydrolase that catalizes the hydrolysis of ceramide into sphingosine and fatty acid within the lysosome. The expression of AC is up-regulated in several types of human cancer, making this enzyme an interesting pharmacological target for cancer therapy. We here report that the anticancer drug, 1-hexylcarbamoyl-5-fluorouracil (carmofur), is a potent AC inhibitor and that this mechanism may contribute to its anti-cancer properties. Carmofur inhibits native and recombinant rat AC activity in broken cell preparations with a median inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 29±5 nM (n=4). The effect is partially reversible and occurs through a non-competitive mechanism. Studies in various cancer cell lines (including SW403 and LNCaP) showed that carmofur inhibits AC activity and increases ceramide levels in intact cells. Furthermore, in vivo administration of carmofur in mice resulted in a dose- and time-dependent inhibition of AC activity, which was accompanied by an elevation of ceramide levels in various organs and tissues (Realini et al., Sci. Rep., 2013). A systematic SAR study around the uracil scaffold allowed a first elucidation of critical structural features associated with AC inhibition and the identification of the first single-digit nanomolar inhibitors (Pizzirani et al., J.Med.Chem., 2013). Selected compounds were found to inhibit AC activity and elevate ceramide levels with high potency. Importantly, such compounds displayed a marked synergistic effect with 5-FU and other chemotherapeutic drugs in decreasing colon cancer cell viability.
Our studies identify the first class of potent AC inhibitors. These compounds will be useful to investigate the functions of ceramide in vivo, and may represent a starting point for the development of novel chemosensitizing agents for cancer therapy.
Specific sphingolipid content decrease in cerkl knockdown mouse retinas.
OP11 poster
Alejandro Garanto a,b,c, Nawajes M. Mandal d,e , Meritxell Egido-Gabás f, Gemma Marfany a,b,c, Gemma Fabriàs f, Robert E. Anderson d,e,g, Josefina Casas f, Roser Gonzàlez-Duarte a,b,c
a Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. b Institut de Biomedicina (IBUB), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. c CIBERER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain. d Dean McGee Eye Institute, Oklahoma City, USA. e Department of Ophtalmology, University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA. f Research Unit on BioActive Molecules (RUBAM), Departamento de Química BioMédica, Instituto de Química Avanzada de Catalunya, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain. g Department of Cell Biology, Oklahoma University Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, USA
Sphingolipids (SPLs) are finely tuned structural compounds and bioactive molecules involved in membrane fluidity and cellular homeostasis. The core sphingolipid, ceramide (CER), and its derivatives, regulate several crucial processes in neuronal cells, among them cell differentiation, cell-cell interactions, membrane conductance, synaptic transmission, and apoptosis. Ceramide Kinase-Like (CERKL) is a gene causing autosomal recessive Retinitis Pigmentosa and Cone Rod Dystrophy. The presence of a conserved lipid kinase domain and the overall similarity with CERK suggested that CERKL might play a role in the SPL metabolism as a CER kinase. Unfortunately, CERKL function and substrate(s), as well as its contribution to the retinal ethiopathology, remain as yet unknown. In this work we aimed to characterize the mouse retinal sphingolipidome by UPLC-TOF to first, thoroughly investigate the SPL composition of the murine retina, compare it to our Cerkl -/- model, and finally assess new possible CERKL substrates by phosphorus quantification and protein-lipid overlay. Our results showed a consistent and notable decrease of the retinal SPL content (mainly ranging from 30% to 65%), particularly evident in the glucosyl/galactosylceramide species (Glc/GalCer), while the fatty acids, phospholipids and neutral lipids remained unaltered. Moreover, evidence in favor of CERKL binding to GlcCer, GalCer and sphingomyelin has been gathered. Altogether, these results highlight the involvement of CERKL in the SPL metabolism, question its role as a kinase, and open new scenarios.
The complex biology of acid sphingomyelinase in Human Diseases and membrane microdomains.
OP12
Edward H. Schuchman
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA
The enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) was first described in rat brain homogenates by Professor Shimon Gatt at the Hadassah Medical Center in Israel in the early 1960s, and was later found to be the enzyme deficient in the lysosomal storage disorder, Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) Types A & B, by Dr. Roscoe Brady at the National Institutes of Health in the United States. Due to its acidic pH optimum and the predominant lysosomal storage of sphingomyelin in NPD patients, ASM was presumed to be an exclusively lysosomal housekeeping protein involved in membrane turnover within this cellular compartment. In the mid-1990s Richard Kolesnick at the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York postulated that ASM had an extra-lysosomal function in radiation-induced apoptosis, and also participated in the re-organization of lipid signaling domains in the plasma membrane through the generation of ceramide. This hypothesis was confirmed using mice deficient in ASM activity (ASMKO mice) constructed at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York, which were protected from radiation-induced apoptosis. Subsequent studies by numerous investigators have confirmed the broad role of ASM in stress-induced cell signaling, and the importance of the enzyme in diverse diseases such as fibrosis, diabetes, cystic fibrosis and others. Numerous outstanding questions remain, however, including the mechanism of transport of intracellular ASM to the cell surface upon stress induction, and the precise compartment(s) at the cell surface in which it functions. In addition, since recombinant ASM is currently in clinical development as a therapy for NPD patients, the potential of this enzyme for cancer therapy also has been suggested. This overview will discuss the complex biology of ASM and its role in cell signaling and human disease.
Role of nuclear lipid microdomains on cell function.
OP13
Alessandro Floridi1, Giacomo Cascianelli1, Andrea Lazzarini1,2, Remo Lazzarini1, Emanuela Floridi1, Francesco Saverio Ambesi-Impiombato2, Elisabetta Albi1*
1 Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, Research Center of Biochemical-Specialized Analyses CRABioN, 06100 Perugia (Italy); 2Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, University of Udine, 33100 Udine (Italy)
The inner nuclear membrane is internally covered with the nuclear lamina, which comprises a meshwork of intermediate filaments located on the endonuclear surface associated with chromatin transcriptionally active. We have recently demonstrated in inner nuclear membrane the presence of the lipid microdomains that act as platform for active chromatin. Like cell membrane lipid rafts, the nuclear lipid microdomains (NLM) are rich in sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol (CHO) content and appear as a homogenous population of closed, spherical or ovoid vesicle-like structures with an average diameter in the range of 300-600 nm. The marker of nuclear lipid microdomains is the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription-3. Their plasticity, due to neutral-sphingomyelinase (N-SMase), sphingomyelin-synthase (SM-synthase) and reverse sphingomyelin-synthase (RSM-synthase) activity, influences nuclear function. In cell proliferation the INM play a role as platform for on DNA synthesis and transcription process. It has been supposed that the decrease of SM, due to the activation of N-SMase at the beginning of the S phase of the cell cycle, could be responsible for the destabilization of the double strand DNA, favouring its despiralization and new synthesis. Differently the increase of SM, due to the activation of SM-synthase at the end of the S phase of the cell cycle, could be responsible for the transcription process. Here we have performed for the first time a lipidomic study of the NLM purified from liver nuclei by UFLC-MS/MS mehod.
Our results show that the species of SM more representative of nuclear membrane such as SM 18:1 12:0, SM 18:1 16:0, SM 18:1 18:1, SM 24:0 are present also in NLM but the analysis of the difference of the two structures highlights that NLM is very rich of SM 24:0. Among all ceramide species considered, such as ceramide 18:1 16:0, ceramide 18:1 18:0, ceramide 18:1 20:0, ceramide 18:1 24:0, the level of ceramide 18:1 24:0 is strongly reduced in comparison to that of the nuclear membrane. Also the value of phosphatidylcholine (PC) 16:0 18:1, PC 16:0 20:4 and PC 18:1 18:0 are lower than those present in nuclear membrane. 2-arachidonoyl glycerol is absent in NLM.
Improving doxorubicin efficacy through nanoliposomes equipped with selective tumor cell membrane.
OP14
Lília R. Cordeiro Pedrosaa, Albert van Hellb, Regine Süssc, Wim van Blitterswijk e, Ann L.B Seynhaeve a, Wiggert A. van Cappellend, Alexander M.M Eggermonta,e, Timo ten Hagena, Marcel Verheijb,e,f and Gerben A. Koninga
aLaboratory Experimental Surgical Oncology, Section Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC – Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, Rotterdam,3000 CA, The Netherlands bDivision of Biological Stress Response, eDivision of Cellular Biochemistry, and fDepartment of Radiotherapy, The Netherlands Cancer Institute – Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Hospital, Amsterdam,1066 CX, The Netherlands cDepartment of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Albert-Ludwigs University, Freiburg,D79104, Germany, dOptical Imaging Centre, Erasmus MC Center, Rotterdam, 3000 CA,The Netherlands, eInstitut de Cancerologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, Paris, 94800,France
To improve nanoliposomal-doxorubicin (DoxNL) delivery in tumor cells using liposome membrane-incorporated short-chain sphingolipids (SCS) with selective membrane-permeabilizing properties. DoxNL bilayers contained synthetic short-chain derivatives of known membrane microdomain-forming sphingolipids; C8-glucosylceramide (C8-GluCer) C8-galactosylceramide (C8-GalCer) or C8-lactosylceramide (C8-LacCer). Methods: DoxNL enriched with C8-GluCer or C8-GalCer were developed, optimized and characterized with regard to size, stability and drug retention. In vitro cytotoxic activity was studied in a panel of human tumor cell lines and normal cells. Intracellular Dox delivery was measured by flow cytometry and visualized by fluorescence microscopy. For a further understanding of the involved drug delivery mechanism confocal microscopy studies addressed the cellular fate of the nanoliposomes, the SCS and Dox in living cells. In vivo efficacy studies were performed in nude mice bearing human A431 xenografts. Standard and SCS-enriched Dox-NL were administered intravenously via the tail vein and tumor growth and body weight measurements were conducted for a period of 14–20 d. Results: C8-LacCer-DoxNL aggregated upon Dox loading. In tumor cell lines SCS-DoxNL with C8-GluCer or C8-GalCer demonstrated strongly increased Dox delivery and cytotoxicity compared to standard DoxNL. Surprisingly, this effect was much less pronounced in normal cells. Nanoliposomes were not internalized and SCS transfer from the nanoliposomal bilayer to the cell membrane preceded cellular uptake and subsequent nuclear localization of Dox. In vivo efficacy showed treatment of nude mice bearing human A431 xenografts with 6 mg/kg GluCer-Dox-NL almost doubled the tumor growth delay compared with standard DoxNL. A second administration of 5 mg/kg after 3 d induced even 3-fold delay in tumor growth, while no systemic toxicity was found. Conclusion: SCS incorporated in DoxNL selectively improved intracellular drug delivery through transfer to tumor cell membranes by local enhancement.
Sphingomyelin synthases modulate death-receptor ligand-induced apoptosis.
OP15
Guillaume Poiroux1, Elodie Lafont1, Hervé Benoist1, Toshiro Okazaki2, Thierry Levade1 and Bruno Ségui1
1 INSERM UMR1037-Cancer Research Center of Toulouse, BP84225, 31432 Toulouse cedex 4, France. 2 Department of Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan.
Ceramide, a biologically active sphingolipid, is considered as an anti-oncometabolite, promoting apoptosis and non-apoptotic forms of cell death. The intracellular levels of ceramide are highly regulated via complex metabolic pathways. Sphingomyelin synthases (SMS) 1 and 2 convert ceramide to sphingomyelin (SM), a ubiquitous phospholipid in mammals. Controversy exists in the literature concerning the role of SMSs in stress-induced apoptosis.
We previously reported that SMS1 and, albeit to a lesser extent, SMS2 inhibit CD95-triggered ceramide increase and apoptosis (Lafont et al, 2010 Cell Death Diff.; Lafont et al, 2012 Biochim Biophys Acta). Our unpublished data indicated that SMS1 is also able to partially inhibit TRAIL-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. Whereas SMS1 overexpression impaired TRAIL-triggered ceramide increase, caspase activation and apoptosis, SMS1 knockdown had opposite effects. One should note however that, under our experimental conditions, sphingomyelin level was not or minimally affected by the modulation of SMS1 expression, most likely as a consequence of sphingolipid metabolism adaptation. We are currently investigating the role of SMS1 and 2 in death receptor signalling, using SV40-transformed mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) derived from SMS1 knockout (KO), SMS2 KO or SMS1 and 2 double KO embryos. Our very recent observations indicate that SMS KO MEFs partially resist CD95L and TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The resistance was associated with profound alteration of sphingolipid composition, including sphingomyelin decrease, as evaluated by mass spectrometry.
On the one hand, SMSs inhibit death receptor signalling, most likely through their ability to convert ceramide to sphingomyelin. On the other hand, complete and sustained inhibition.
Regulation of protein phosphatase 1 alpha by plasma membrane ceramide.
OP16 poster
Daniel Canals and Yusuf A. Hannun
Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, US.
Different reports have identified activation of a few proteins by ceramide (e.g. PKC, protein phosphatases, cathepsin D, etc). However, the mechanism of action of ceramide is not known. We have recently published that ceramide and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) differentially regulate the cytoskeletal protein ezrin. Thus, S1P activates ezrin through receptor S1P2, while plasma membrane ceramide drives to ezrin dephosphorylation. We have identified protein phosphatase 1 isoform alpha (PP1a) necessary for the ceramide effect. Resolving how ceramide generation results in PP1a activation will shed some light on the molecular mechanism of ceramide not only on PP1a but also on other proteins known to be directly regulated by ceramide.
After describing PP1a as necessary for ceramide-dependent ezrin dephosphorylation, we have found that PP1a is also activated in vitro by ceramide towards general phosphatase substrates and towards recombinant phosphorylated ezrin. After proving the direct in vitro interaction, we also showed that a pool of PP1a translocate to ceramide-enriched plasma membrane fractions in vivo, and this interaction is dependent of ceramide as we showed by the use of recombinant sphingomyelinase and ceramidase enzymes treatment.
For the last half century, ceramide have been described as a bioactive lipid. However, no molecular mechanism has been described. We found a protein that gets activated in vitro and in vivo by ceramide. This activation seems to occur by direct interaction between the lipid and the phosphatase. If we are able to demonstrate the existence of a ceramide binding motif, it will be the first time to understand the molecular mechanism of how this lipid works.
Role of ceramide synthases/ceramide in tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-induced plasma membrane permeabilization.
OP17 poster
María Jose Hernández-Corbacho1, Daniel Canals1, Yusuf A. Hannun1, Lina M. Obeid1,2
1 Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, U.S.A.; 2 The Northport VA Medical Center, Northport, NY 11768, U.S.A.
In the last decades, the important role of the sphingolipd ceramide as mediator and regulator of cell death has emerged. The enzymes ceramide synthases (CerS) catalyze the N-acetylation of the (dihydro)sphingosine backbone to produce (dihydro)ceramide. In mammals, six different ceramide synthases have been described (CerS1-6), each of which synthesizes ceramides with different acyl chain lengths. We hypothesized that CerSs/ceramide mediate plasma membrane permeabilization during programmed cell death induced by TNFα.
Our group has recently described the role of CerS5 and CerS6 on plasma membrane permeabilization in UV-induced programmed-cell death (Mullen TD et al, J Biol Chem. 2011), and more recently, preliminary data supports the role of Cers on TNFα-induced programmed cell death. Pre-treatment of breast cancer cells MCF-7 with the ceramide synthase inhibitor fumonisin B1 (FB1) protected TNFα-induced cell death (measured by MTT reductase activity) and the lost of plasma membrane integrity (measured by LDH release into the medium as well as by trypan blue dye exclusion). However, the inhibitor of serine-palmitoyl transferase myriocin (Myr), the first step of the de novo pathway, failed to do so. Furthermore, FB1 partially blocked the activation of caspase-7 after TNFα, as well some downstream events such as DNA fragmentation, cell rounding and phosphatidylserine externalization.
These data suggest a key role for CerSs/ceramide regulating TNFα-induced plasma membrane permeabilization, a late event of programmed cell death. Furthermore, CerSs most likely are involved in the salvage pathway and not the de novopathway synthesis of ceramide as FB1, but not Myr, prevented TNFα-induced cell death.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling axis: a flexible pathway essential for skeletal muscle cell biology.
OP18
Paola Bruni, Francesca Cencetti, Chiara Donati
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche,Università di Firenze,Viale GB Morgagni 50 50134 Firenze, Italy
Sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) is a potent lipid signaling molecule that plays a pivotal role in the control of key biological processes including proliferation, differentiation, motility and survival in numerous cell systems. Studies performed in the last 20 years have clarified that S1P metabolism within cells is highly regulated and S1P evokes specific biological responses in a cell-specific manner acting either as intracellular messenger or as ligand of five distinct G protein coupled receptors named S1P1-5.
Past investigation of the biological role exerted by S1P signaling axis in cultured mouse skeletal myoblasts accomplished in our laboratory have clearly demonstrated that exogenous S1P influences key biological parameters. Moreover, S1P metabolism appears to be critical for the control of myoblast proliferation as well as their differentiation. More recently, inside-out S1P signaling has been shown to be required for the signaling of growth factors that physiologically control skeletal muscle regeneration. For example, PDGF and IGF1, are capable of regulating S1P metabolism and, via the engagement of distinct S1P receptors, address their complex biological action towards a reduced proliferation rate and enhanced motility or differentiation. A complex cross-talk between TGFbeta and S1P signaling axis has also been highlighted, that accounts in part for the detrimental pro-fibrotic and pro-apoptotic effects of this cytokine.
Overall these results are in favor of a pleiotropic role of S1P signaling axis in the complex process of skeletal muscle regeneration. Moreover, they suggest that a focused pharmacological intervention could represent an innovative strategy to improve skeletal repair that is impaired in many myopathies.
Effect of exercise intensity and duration on tissue content and arterio-venous difference in sphingolipid concentration in human skeletal muscle.
OP19
Marcin Baranowski1, Agnieszka U. Błachnio-Zabielska1, Fleming Dela2, Jørn W. Helge2
1Department of Physiology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland; 2Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
We have previously reported that exercise acutely increased plasma levels of sphingoid base-1-phosphates. This finding prompted us to examine the possible role of skeletal muscle in this effect.
Ten healthy males were subjected to three consecutive periods of one-leg knee extension exercise separated by 30min of rest. First subjects exercised with one leg for 30min at 25% of maximal workload (Wmax), then with the other leg for 120min at 55% of Wmax, and finally again with the first leg for 30min at 85% of Wmax. The biopsies of vastus lateralis muscle from the working leg, and blood samples from the radial artery as well as from both femoral veins were taken before and after 30, and 120 minutes of exercise. The content of free sphingoid bases, their 1-phosphates and ceramides was determined using an LC/MS/MS.
Muscle sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) level was markedly increased by exercise at both 55 and 85% of Wmax. In the latter case there was also an elevation in sphinganine content. Exercise did not affect venous plasma concentration of the examined sphingolipids in either working or resting leg. On the other hand, arterial plasma S1P level was increased by exercise at 25 and 55% of Wmax. Baseline S1P concentration in the venous plasma was ~29% higher as compared to the arterial one. However, the arteriovenous difference in S1P level in both working and resting leg tended to shift from a negative value before to a positive value after exercise. In addition, exercise at 85% of Wmax decreased the arteriovenous difference in sphingosine level to a negative value (from a positive one at rest) in both legs.
Exercise increases muscle S1P level in a time- and intensity-dependent manner. However, blood drained from working muscles is not enriched in S1P. Nevertheless, our results suggest that during intense exercise muscles may release sphingosine to the circulation which could contribute to enhanced S1P synthesis in blood cells.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate permanently enhances the contractile responsiveness of vascular smooth muscle via the S1P2 receptor – G12/13 – Rho-kinase signaling pathway.
OP20
Éva Ruisancheza, Péter Dancsa, Dorottya Móréa, Stefan Offermannsb, Zoltán Benyóa
aInstitute of Human Physiology and Clinical Experimental Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest,Hungary; bMax Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
We aimed to examine the effect of S1P on the vascular tone and to elucidate the underlying signaling pathways. Thoracic aorta segments were isolated from adult male wild type (WT), as well as S1P2, S1P3 receptor and Gα12/13 knock-out (KO) mice and investigated under isometric conditions with myography. The effect of S1P on the basal tone as well as the potential changes in K+- and phenylephrine-induced vasoconstrictions during and after the incubation with S1P were determined.
S1P (10 µM) induced weak contraction in WT segments (9±1% compared to the effect of 124 mM K+, mean±SEM), which was abolished by the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 (2±1%). The contractile effect of S1P was similar in S1P3-KO (11±1%) but was absent in S1P2-KO (0±1%) and Gα12/13-KO (1±2%) vessels. Incubation with 10 µM S1P for 20 minutes enhanced the contractile effect of 20 mM K+ in WT segments (121±8% compared to the mean response before incubation). This potentiation was present in S1P3-KO (132±10%) but not in S1P2-KO (102±5%) and Gα12/13-KO (104±2%) vessels. Interestingly, K+-induced contractions remained elevated even 3 hours after the removal of S1P in WT (136±8%) and S1P3-KO rings (141±9%). This sustained potentiation was absent in S1P2-KO (105±8%) and Gα12/13-KO (108±2%) vessels. Co-incubation with Y-27632 prevented the augmenting effect of S1P on K+-induced vasoconstriction (100±4%) but the potentiation occurred surprisingly after the removal of S1P and Y-27632 (135±5% after 3 hours). Furthermore, the contractile effect of 0.1 μM phenylephrine was also enhanced in the presence of 10 μM S1P (119±7%) and further increased after its removal (158±7% at 3 hours).
S1P enhances the contractile responsiveness of the vascular smooth muscle via S1P2 receptor – Gα12/13 – Rho-kinase signaling. This effect persists for hours after S1P exposition and may contribute to the development of vasospasm under conditions associated with enhanced S1P production.
Extracellular sphingosine-1-phosphate acts as a survival factor for human glioblastoma stem cells.
OP21
Paola Giussani1, Elena Riccitelli1, Clara Di Vito1, Cristina Tringali1, Rossella2, Paola Viani1, Laura Riboni1
1Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi 93, 20090 Segrate, Milan, Italy; 2Neural Stem Cell Biology Unit, Division of Regenerative Medicine Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is an oncopromoter molecule, favouring growth, invasion, and therapy-resistance of tumours, including glioblastomas (GBM), the most frequent and aggressive human brain tumours. Increasing evidence show that GBM stem-like cells (GSCs), a subpopulation of cells with the exclusive ability to self-renew and maintain the tumor, might contribute to GBM aggressiveness and resistance to therapy. We investigated S1P secretion by GSCs, and its possible role in cell survival. To this purpose we used GSCs isolated from the human U87 glioblastoma cell line (U-SC) and GSCs derived from a primary culture of human glioblastoma (L0627). We found that both GSC models efficiently form neurospheres in mitogen-defined medium, and express high levels of recognized neural-stem cell markers. Moreover, GSCs exhibited resistance to temozolomide, despite not expressing the DNA repair protein MGMT, a major contributor to temozolomide-resistance. Further analyses revealed the presence of S1P, not only inside the cells, but also in the culture medium from both GSCs and U87. Notably the extracellular S1P level was found much higher in GSC models than in U87 cells, and the ratio between extracellular and intracellular S1P was 1:10 and 1:1 in U87 and GSCs, respectively. Enzyme activity assays excluded SKs presence in GSC medium, implicating an efficient secretion of S1P in GSCs. Intriguingly, concomitant treatment with temozolomide and a SKs inhibitor made GSCs sensitive to drug toxicity. Furthermore, S1P administration promoted cell survival after this co-treatment.
Altogether our data implicate GSCs as an important source of extracellular S1P, which might act as an autocrine signal contributing to the survival, stemness and chemoresistant properties of GSCs.
Serum deprivation-dependent modulation of sphingomyelin species in hn9.10 embryonic hippocampal cells.
OP22
Mercedes Garcia-Gil1 ,Andrea Lazzarini2, Remo Lazzarini2, Emanuela Floridi2, Elisa Bartoccini2, Alessandro Floridi2, Elisabetta Albi2.
1Department of Biology , University of Pisa, 56127, Pisa (Italy); 2 Laboratory of Nuclear Lipid BioPathology, Research Center of Biochemical-Specialized Analyses, 06100 Perugia (Italy)
Understanding the mechanism of apoptosis is necessary to improve the use of stem cells for the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. In HN9 embryonic hippocampal cells, serum deprivation induces apoptosis preceded by sphingomyelinase (SMase) activation and raise of ceramide levels. It is not known so far whether the SMase degrades all the species of sphingomyelins (SMs) in the same way and if it is the only enzyme that uses SM to produce ceramide. In order to begin to address this aspect still unclear about the relationship between SM and HN9.10 apoptosis, we carried out the analysis of the main species of SM and phosphatidylcholine (PC) with the idea that SM could be partly used as a source of phosphorylcholine to synthesize PC. To better investigate this possibility we measured the enzymatic activity of the reverse-SM synthase. In addition, since the ceramides involved in starvation-induced cell death are unknown, we have studied the content of ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate species as metabolites of SM produced by both SMase and reverse-SMsynthase.
Cells have been incubated with 10% (control) or 0.2% fetal calf serum for 48 h (deprived). Lipid species has been separated and measured by ultraperformance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Reverse-SMsynthase activity was assayed by using 14C labelled SM.
The results show that serum deprivation reduces total SM and in particular 18:1/16:0 SM whereas it increases total PC and in particular 18:1/18:0 PC. There is a 2-fold increase of ceramides 18:1/ 16:0 and 18:1/ 24:0 and of sphingosine-1-phoshate 18:1. Following serum deprivation, the activity of Reverse-SM synthase remains constant for 8 h, increases afterwards up to 3.82 –fold compared to control at 48h. In conclusion, SMase activation might lead to decrease of SM 18:1/16:0, increase in ceramide 18:1/16:0 which can originate sphingosine-1-phoshate 18:1. In addition SM could be a source for PC synthesis with fatty acid rearrangement.
Individual ceramide species regulated by specific pathways in distinct subcellular compartments might execute distinct cellular functions.
Deficiencies of ceramide synthases 1 and 4 causing sarcopenia and hair loss.
OP23
Martin Krönke, Carola Pongratz, Susanne Brodesser, Franziska Peters, Carien Niessen, Jens Brüning
Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, Center for Molecular Medicine, Institute for Genetics, and Cluster of Excellence in Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-assoiated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Germany
Ceramide (Cer) forms the structural backbone of all sphingolipids and has been implicated in functionally important membrane processes. In mammals, Cer consists of a fatty acid of variable chain length linked by an amide bond to C-2 of the long-chain base, sphinganine, or sphingosine. N-acylation of the long-chain base is catalyzed by a family of six ceramide synthases (CerS), each of which uses a relatively restricted subset of acyl CoAs for N-acylation. The generation of mouse strains deficient for individual CerS genes made it possible to address fundamental questions about specific functions of ceramide species of distinct acyl chain lengths. CerS1 knockout mice display an obvious phenotype as they are significantly smaller than their wildtype littermates and exhibit movement disorders. CerS1-/- mice show a 7-fold decrease of Cer C18:0 in skeletal muscle compared to wt littermates, which is similar to the values of aged mice. CerS1-/- mice displayed significantly smaller femoral muscle relative to whole body mass. Histochemical analysis revealed a loss of predominantly type 2 muscle fibers characteristic of sarcopenia, the most prominent age-related muscle disorder. Muscle cells from CerS1-/- mice spontaneously release TNF secondary to enhanced activity of the TNF-converting enzyme TACE. Mechanistically loss of Cer C18:0 leads to a disruption of membrane microdomains leading to a displacement of TACE in membrane sections where the tight regulation of its activity is unleashed.
CerS4 deficient mice display epidermal thickening and hair loss as they age. Mass-spectrometry of the stratum corneum (the outermost epidermal layer) of CerS4- deficient mice revealed a most prominent reduction of C20:0 and C22:0 non-hydroxylated Cer and hydroxylated 22:0 Cer. These mice develop an increase in thickening of the interfollicular epidermis (IFE) due to altered interfollicular differentiation, whereas the hyper-keratinization of the epidermis is caused by hyper-proliferation. The advent of the LoxP Cre technology makes it possible to generate conditional CerS knock-out mice, which has become a valuable tool for the characterization of tissue- and time-specific functions of individual CerS.
Inhibition of angiogenesis by β-galactosylceramidase deficiency in globoid cell leukodystrophy.
OP24
Mirella Belleri1, Roberto Ronca1, Daniela Coltrini1, Beatrice Nico2, Domenico Ribatti2, Pietro L. Poliani1, Arianna Giacomini1, Patrizia Alessi1, Sergio Marchesini1, Marta Santos3, Ernesto R. Bongarzone3, and Marco Presta1.
1Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy.2Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Unit of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari, Italy.3Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA.
Globoid cell leukodystrophy (Krabbe disease) is a neurological disorder of infants caused by genetic deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme β-galactosylceramidase leading to accumulation of the neurotoxic metabolite psychosine in the central nervous system. Angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in the physiology and pathology of the brain.
Here, we demonstrate that psychosine has antiangiogenic properties by causing the disassembling of endothelial cell actin structures at micromolarconcentrations as found in the brain of globoid cell leukodystrophy patients. Accordingly, significant alterations of microvascular endothelium were observed in the post-natal brain of twitcher mice, an authentic model of globoid cell leukodystrophy. Also, twitcher endothelium showed a progressively reduced capacity to respond to pro-angiogenic factors that was restored by lentivirus-mediated murine β-galactosylceramidase cDNA transduction. Finally, RNA interference-mediated β-galactosylceramidase gene silencing causes psychosine accumulation in human endothelial cells and hampers their mitogenic and motogenic response to vascular endothelial growth factor. Accordingly, significant alterations were observed in human microvasculature from brain biopsy of a globoid cell leukodystrophy case.
Together these data demonstrate that β-galactosylceramidase deficiency induces significant alterations in endothelial neovascular responses that may contribute to central nervous system and systemic damages that occur in globoid cell leukodystrophy.
Ceramide synthesis is activated by 17β-estradiol in human breast cancer cells.
OP26
Marthe-Susanna Wegner, Ruth Anna Wanger, Daniela Hartmann, Nerea Ferreirós, Gerd Geisslinger, Sabine Grösch
Pharmazentrum frankfurt/ ZAFES, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt/ Main, Germany.
Previously, we could show that ceramide synthase 4 and 6 (CerS4, 6) are significantly upregulated in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast tumors in comparison to ER-negative breast tumors. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms leading to CerS increase and its contribution to tumor growth.
The expression of CerS2,4,5 and 6 is in MCF-7 (ERα/ERβ) and MDA-MB-231 (ERβ) cells increased after treatment with 17β-Estradiol. Promoter reportergene assays revealed that only the promoter of CerS4 and CerS5 are responsive to estradiol. Nevertheless, co-treatment of cells with estradiol and Fulvestrant (a selective ERα down-regulator) completely prevented the induction of CerS expression in MCF-7 cells whereas it has no effect in MDA-MB-231 cells. Also CerS activity is slightly affected by estradiol treatment within 4h in both cell lines. Interestingly, the proliferation promoting effect of estradiol in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells could be prevented by the non-selective CerS inhibitor Fumonisin and by the de novo sphingolipid synthesis inhibitor Myriocin but only in part by the acid shingomyelinase inhibitor Desipramine, indicating that the sphingolipid de novo synthesis is important for the tumor promoting effect of estradiol whereas the salvage pathway plays only a minor part.
Our in vitro studies revealed that CerS expression is dependent on estradiol treatment in human breast cancer cells and that an enhancement of sphingolipid de novo synthesis is important for the proliferation promoting effect of estradiol.
Neutral sphingomyelinase-2 regulation of FoxO transcription factor.
OP27
Aneta Dobierzewska, and Lihua Shi, and Mariana Nikolova-Karakashian
University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Department of Physiology, Lexington KY
The members of the FoxO family of transcription factors play a central role in aging, cancer, type II diabetes, and other pathophysiological conditions. FoxO activity is regulated through reversible translocation between the nucleus and cytosol determined by a growth factors-driven, Akt-1 phosphorylation-dependent nuclear export. The goal of this study was to test the possible role of neutral sphingomyelinase-2 (nSMase2), the bona fide signaling nSMase, in the FoxO1 nuclear translocation.
IL-1b stimulation of HEK293 cells stably overexpressing IL-1b receptor and primary hepatocytes leads to transient activation of nSMase2, followed by increased nuclear localization of FoxO1. Silencing of nSMase2 using adenovirus-delivered siRNA abolishes the effects of IL-1b on FoxO1, indicating a mediatory role of nSMase2 in the process. Exogenous addition of ceramide, or overexpression of nSMase2 has the opposite effect. As ceramide is known to inhibit Akt-1 pathway, we tested the possibility that IL-1b and nSMase2 induce nuclear accumulation of FoxO1 through interference with the Akt-1-dependent export. However, several lines of evidence suggested that this was not the case: (i) IL1b and nSMase2 lead to FoxO1 nuclear accumulation in the absence of serum, or other inducers of Akt-1, such as insulin; (ii) a mutant FoxO1 lacking all three Akt-1 phosphorylation sites was regulated similarly as the wild type FoxO1. The IL-1b and nSMase2 effects also were not caused by redistribution or new protein synthesis of FoxO1 as changes in neither the cytosolic levels nor the mRNA content of FoxO1 were observed. Instead, PD 980059 and SP600125, inhibitors of ERK-1 and JNK respectively, efficiently prevented IL-1b and nSMase2 – induced FoxO1 nuclear accumulation.
This study delineate a novel , Akt – independent pathway for up-regulation of FoxO1.
Use of the antiestrogen tamoxifen to regulate sphingolipid metabolism in cancer cells – a driving influence on the ceramide effect.
OP28
Samy A. F. Morad, Jonathan C. Levin, Myles C. Cabot
John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, CA 90404
Tamoxifen (tam), the gold-standard treatment for breast cancer, we show has a number of novel “off-target” actions centering on sphingolipid metabolism: inhibition of ceramide glycosylation and acid ceramidase (AC) and accelerated generation of long-chain ceramides (LCC) from C6-ceramide (C6-cer). Thus, tam is ideal to drive ceramide’s therapeutic benefits. We have therefore designed and tested a drug regimen consisting of C6-cer, selected because it is cell-permeable, and tam.
Tam effectively inhibited the synthesis of glucosylceramide (GC) and synthesis of C6-GC from supplemented C6-cer in a myriad of cancer cell types. Whereas single agent tam and C6-cer were minimally cytotoxic, co-administration produced synergistic cytotoxicity that was accompanied by increased Annexin binding, caspase-3 activation, and enhanced DNA fragmentation. Use of a colon cancer cell line to assess C6-cer-tam-orchestrated signaling revealed upregulated expression of JNK and p53 and downregulation of Akt and survivin. Also, the mix produced cell cycle arrest at G1 and G2. New to the non-genomic activities of tam, we found potent inhibition of AC activity in cancer cells. Mechanism studies showed that tam elicited rapid lysosomal membrane permeability accompanied by dose- and time-dependent proteolytic degradation of AC by cathepsin B. Whereas tam was not cytotoxic, it retarded cancer cell migration. Tamoxifen inclusion also produced a mani-fold increase in production of LCC’s from C6-cer. Interestingly, L-C6-cer, a non-hydrolyzable racemate, yielded no LCC when delivered with tamoxifen, nor did an L-C6-cer-tam regimen produce DNA fragmentation.
This innovative drug regimen allows for delivery of C6-cer along with a unique means to produce high amounts of intracellular LCC’s, tumor suppressor ceramides not otherwise deliverable due to solubility issues, and a mode to suppress AC activity.
MicroRNA-515-5p is downregulated by the estrogen receptor leading to enhanced sphingosine kinase 1 mediated proliferation in breast cancer.
OP29
Filipa G. Pinho1*, Jonathan Krell1, Adam E. Frampton2, Heba Alshaker1, Justin Stebbing3, Leandro Castellano1, Dmitri Pchejetski1
1Division of Oncology, Dept. of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine (ICTEM), Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0NN, UK. 2HPB Surgical Unit, Dept. of Surgery & Cancer, Imperial College, Hammersmith Hospital campus, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK.
3Dept. of Oncology, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Charing Cross Hospital, 1st Floor, E Wing, Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8RF, UK.
Sphingosine Kinase 1 (SK1) plays an important role in estrogen-dependent breast tumorigenesis, but its regulation is poorly understood. A subset of microRNAs (miRNAs) is regulated by estrogen and contributes to proliferation and cancer progression. Here, we describe that miR-515-5p is transcriptionally repressed by ERα and functions as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer (BC). Its downregulation enhances cell proliferation, due to an estrogen-dependent increase in SK1 activity, mediated by a reduction of miR-515-p post-transcriptional repression. Enforced expression of miR-515-5p in BC cells causes a reduction in SK1 activity, resulting in reduced cell proliferation and the induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis. Conversely, opposing effects occur with miR-515-5p inhibition and by SK1 silencing. Notably, we show that estradiol (E2) treatment downregulates miR-515-5p levels, whilst the anti-estrogen tamoxifen (TAM) causes a decrease in SK1, which is rescued by silencing miR-515-5p. Analysis of ChIP-Seq data reveals that miR-515-5p suppression is mediated by a direct interaction of ERa within its promoter. The clinical implications of this novel regulatory system is demonstrated as miR-515-5p is significantly downregulated in ER-positive (n=146) compared to ER-negative (n=98) BCs. Overall we identify a new link between ERα, miR-515-5p and SK1 in BC tumorigenesis.
In this study, we have elucidated a new miRNA-mediated mechanism by which estrogen up-regulates SK1 levels. btmiR-515-5p replacement strategies may offer a novel therapeutic approach in hormone resistant ERα-positive BC and as an adjunct to currently available therapies.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) from bone microenvironment promotes cell proliferation and survival of prostate cancer cells through S1P receptor 1 (S1P1).
OP30
Leyre Brizuela 1,2,3, Claire Martin 1,2,3, Pauline Jeannot 1,2,3 Isabelle Ader 1,2,3, Guillaume Andrieu 1,2,3, Magalie Bocquet 1,2,3, Bernard Malavaud 1,2,3,4, Roger A. Sabbadini 5, Olivier Cuvillier 1,2,3
1 CNRS, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Toulouse, France. 2 Université de Toulouse, UPS, IPBS, Toulouse, France. 3 Equipe Labellisée Ligue contre le Cancer 4 Hôpital Rangueil, Service d’Urologie et de Transplantation Rénale, Toulouse, France. 5 LPath Inc., San Diego, CA, USA
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) plays important roles in cell proliferation, differentiation or survival mainly through its five surface G-protein-coupled receptors S1P1-5. Bone represents the major site of metastasis for prostate cancer cells, which rely on bone-derived factors to support their proliferation and resistance to therapeutics. Because of the osteoblastic nature of prostate cancer bone metastasis, we investigated whether S1P could act as a possible osteoblast-derived factor to stimulate proliferation and survival of prostate cancer cells . In the present work we have found that conditioned medium (CM) from the MC3T3 osteoblastic cell line or primary osteoblast-like cells, as well as co-culture with MC3T3 stimulate proliferation of bone metastastic PC-3 and C4-2B prostate cell lines in S1P-dependent manner. In addition, osteoblastic derived S1P induces resistance of metastatic prostate cancer cells to therapeutics including docetaxel-based chemotherapy and radiotherapy in vitro. When S1P release from osteoblastic cells is decreased (pharmacological inhibition of SphK1, knock-down of SphK1 or the S1P transporter, Spns2 by RNA interference) or secreted S1P neutralized with anti-S1P antibody (Sphingomab), the proliferative and survival effects of osteoblasts on PC-3 and C4-2B cells are abolished. Because of the paracrine nature of the signaling, we studied the role of the S1P receptors expressed on prostate cancer cells in the dialogue with S1P secreted by osteoblasts. Strategies aimed at down-regulating S1P1, S1P2 or S1P3 (RNA interference, pharmacological antagonists), established the exclusive role of the S1P/S1P1 signaling between osteoblasts and tumor cells. Bone metastasis is a lethal form of prostate cancer and presents considerable challenges for treatment. Interfering with the interactions between prostate cancer cells and aspects of the bone microenvironment may hold the key to preventing the development of bone metastases or resensitize to therapeutics, and S1P may be a candidate as a target in the treatment of prostate cancer bone metastasis.
Sphingosine kinase 1 mediates JAK2/STAT3-independent breast cancer progression triggered by adipokines.
OP31
Heba Alshaker1, Jonathan Krell1, Jonathan Waxman1,Ernesto Yagüe1, Dmitry Pshezhetskiy2,3
1 Department of Surgery & Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London; 2 Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London 3 School of Medicine, University of East Anglia, Norwich
The prevalence of obesity increases in the modern society. Obesity is a known risk factor in breast cancer patients and has been linked with cancer progression and chemoresistance. Adipose tissue secretes adipokines (e.g. leptin), which affect breast cancer growth, angiogenesis and chemoresistance. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) is an oncogenic lipid kinase that promotes cancer cell growth and has been recently shown to be overexpressed in breast tumours and linked with poor prognosis.
In this study, we explored the effect of leptin on SK1 and its mechanistic contribution to breast cancer progression using qRT-PCR and western blotting in ER-positive and triple negative breast cancer cells. Our findings show for the first time that leptin induces SK1 expression and activation in triple-negative breast cancer cell lines MDAMB-231 and BT-549. Using small molecule inhibitors and siRNA pools to inhibit kinases involved in leptin signalling we have shown that leptin-induced SK1 up-regulation is independent of the major pathways downstream of leptin receptor (LEPR) Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Alternatively, leptin-induced SK1 expression is mediated by activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2). Further investigation showed that in addition to ERK1/2, SK1 up-regulation is mediated by Src family kinase (SFK) pathway where Src-homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2) works as an adaptor protein between SFKs and LEPR. Interestingly, SK1 activation was accompanied with an increase in cancer cell proliferation, which was abrogated by SK1 specific siRNA. Human primary breast tumours and positive lymph node metastases exhibited a strong correlation between SK1 and LEPR expression (Pearson R=0.75 and R=0.72, respectively, p<0.001).
Overall,our data show a new role for leptin-induced up-regulation of oncogenic SK1 highlighting a new pathway regulating obesity driven triple-negative breast cancer. Our findings point to the potential applicability of second generation pharmacological SK1 inhibitors as novel therapies for obesity-driven breast cancer.
Targeting de novo ceramide synthesis in inflammation and infection in human cells and mouse model of Cystic Fibrosis.
OP32
Anna Caretti 1, Alessandra Bragonzi 2, Marcella Facchini2, Ida De Fino2, Camilla Riva2 , Paolo Gasco 3, Claudia Musicanti3 , Josefina Casas 4, Gemma Fabriàs 4, Riccardo Ghidoni 1 and Paola Signorelli 1.
1, Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital, Italy; 2 Infections and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; 3, Nanovector S.r.l. Turin, Italy; 4, Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Department of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Catalan Institute of Advanced Chemistry (IQAC/CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Sphingolipids take part in immune response and can initiate and/or sustain inflammation. Various inflammatory diseases have been associated with increased ceramide content in mucosa, and pharmacological reduction of ceramide diminishes inflammation damage in vivo. Inflammation and susceptibility to microbial infection are two elements in a vicious circle. Recently, sphingolipid metabolism inhibitors were used to inhibit infection. Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is characterized by a hyper-inflammation of lung mucosa and a deregulated immune response. Innate immunity fails to eradicate acute infection and to evolve into adaptive immunity, allowing chronic infections, lung damage, and patient morbidity. Indeed, ceramide pulmonary content is higher in CF mouse models and in patients and a clinical trial with amitriptyline, an inhibitor of sphingomyelinase, reportedly reduced lung infection and inflammation. CF human respiratory epithelium cells were treated with myriocin, an inhibitor of de novo ceramide synthesis. This treatment resulted in reduced basal, as well as TNFα-stimulated, inflammation. Furthermore, myriocin-loaded nanocarrier treatment resulted in a significant reduction of lung infection by P. aeruginosa and a decreased release of host pulmonary inflammation mediators. We speculate that de novo sphingolipid synthesis is constitutively enhanced in CF mucosa and that it represents a pharmacological target for modulating inflammation and restoring effective innate immunity against acute infection.
Identification of new compounds targeting the fungal sphingolipid pathway.
OP33
Visesato Mor1, Antonella Rella1, Chiara Luberto2, Michael Linke3, Melanie T. Cushion3,4, Margaret S. Collins3,4, Mitchell Mutz5, and Maurizio Del Poeta1
1Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, 2Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794; 3VA Medical Center and 4Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267; and 5Amplyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc., San Diego, CA 92121.
Fungal glucosylceramide (GlcCer) is a sphingolipid required for the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans (Cn) to cause a lethal meningo-encephalitis by inhibiting fungal replication in the host environments characterized by neutral/alkaline pH and 5% CO21-4. In addition to be required for Cn pathogenicity, fungal GlcCer is also important for the pathogenesis of other human pathogens, such as Candida albicans5-7 and Aspergillus fumigatus8, and to plant pathogens, such as Fusarium graminearum9. The synthesis of GlcCer seems to be important also during Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP), as glucosylceramide synthase transcripts have been found to be abundant at the time of isolation of the fungus from fulminate lung infection10, and for infection caused by dimorphic fungi, as GlcCer is detected only in the lung infective form (yeast) and not in the environmental form (mold) 11-13. Taken together, these studies suggest that the GlcCer pathway is most likely a pan-fungal virulence pathway required in promoting fungal growth in neutral/alkaline and 5% CO2 environments (e.g. alveolar spaces).
Therefore, we looked for inhibitors of GlcCer synthesis by screening a ChemBridge library for compounds that would inhibit Cn replication in an environment similar to the lung: neutral/alkaline pH, 37C and 5% CO2. We identified 2 inhibitory compounds (N’–(3-bromo-4-hydroxybenzylidene)-2-methylbenzohydrazide (BHBM) and its derivative D0) that significantly decreased the synthesis of GlcCer in Cn but not in mammalian cells. Importantly, 90% of mice daily treated with an intraperitoneal injection of 1.2 mg/kg of BHBM survived a lethal intranasal injection of Cn. The uninfected control mice treated with BHBM appeared to be normal: they maintained a normal weight and showed a normal physical activity throughout the observation period. Blood work showed a slight increase of liver AST (125 ± 75 U/L) in BHBM treated mice compared normal mice (50 ± 9 U/L) but all other blood parameters for liver and kidney functions were normal. Also normal were the number of erythrocytes, thrombocytes, and leucocytes in BHBM treated mice. Histological analysis of lungs, liver, and kidney revealed no difference between the BHBM treated and untreated/uninfected mice. These results suggest that BHBM is a potent antifungal and overall well tolerated in mice with no clinical or hematological/ histological signs.
Exosomes secreted by the mouse parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus are enriched in sphingolipids and internalised by host cells.
OP34
Simbari Fabio1, Ceroni Alessandro1, Lear Marissa1, Maizels Rick1 and Buck Amy1.
1. University of Edinburgh, Institute of Infection and Immunology Research, King’s Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh (UK) EH9 3JT.
Exosomes are bioactive nanovesicles (50-100nm diameter) secreted by many cell types that are involved in communication between cells. They play diverse functions in important biological processes including host-pathogen interactions, modulation of the immune response as antigen presenting molecules, spreading of virus infection such as HIV. Recently, researchers have also investigated their possible use as therapeutic tools for delivery of small molecules and siRNAs. Different parasites have been shown to secrete exosome-like vesicles (Echinostoma caproni, Fasciola Hepatica,Leishmania). We have identified exosomes in the secretion products of the mouse parasite nematode Heligmosomoides polygyrus (H. polygyrus). These vesicles pellet upon ultracentrifugation and, as observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy, are round in shape with a diameter of ~ 100nm. Confocal microscopy studies together with FACS analysis suggest that they are actively uptaken by MODE-K cells (small intestinal epithelial mice cells). In order to better characterise the nature of these vesicles, we performed a comprehensive mass-spec analysis of their lipid content, compared to the rest of the secretion product (supernatant fraction) and the whole worm extract. As expected, the vesicle fraction is enriched in sphingolipids and phospholipids compared to the supernatant. Furthermore, the H. polygyrus derived vesicles show an enrichment in ceramide and sphingomyelin levels when compared with the total worm extract, whereas the phospholipid levels appear similar within the two groups. Taken together these results suggest that H. polygyrus secretes exosomes that are enriched in sphingolipids. Finally, the internalization assays strongly suggest that these vesicles are taken up by the host cells and may therefore play an important role in communication between pathogen and host.
A computational framework for the investigation of functional connections between Snf1 kinase complex and sphingolipid metabolism in S. cerevisiae.
OP35
E. Yücel, K. Ö. Ülgen
Department of Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University, Bebek 34342 Istanbul Turkey
Sphingolipids are one of the subclasses of lipid components of eukaryotic membranes, serving not only as building blocks of membranes and lipoproteins, but also as regulators of various signaling pathways of the cell.
In the present study, a computational framework was recruited for the reconstruction of functional interaction network of sphingolipid metabolism in Baker’s yeast. The Selective Permissibility Algorithm (SPA) was employed to integrate GO annotations with functional interaction data and to reconstruct a protein interaction network (SSN) that has the potential for predicting signal transduction pathways regulating and/or being regulated by sphingolipid biosynthesis in yeast. The reconstructed network was then served as a basis for a case study involving Snf1 kinase complex. By mapping the transcriptome data available in literature onto SSN, the impact and specific action mechanisms of Snf1p on the sphingolipid metabolism were investigated.
The present study emphasizes the important role of sphingolipids as secondary messengers more thoroughly by presenting a detailed map of physical and functional connections that link the sphingolipid metabolism and signaling to other relevant signal transduction networks in S. cerevisiae.
Effects of methylation and hydroxylation of sphingomyelins on their biophysical properties and interactions with cholesterol.
OP36
Shishir Jaikishan
Biochemistry, Department of Biosciences, Åbo Akademi University
Sphingomyelins (SMs) are important sphingolipid molecules found in the exoplasmic leaflet of the cell membrane of animal cells. SMs are rare in plants and microorganisms. Thudicum derived the term ‘sphingomyelin’ from the Greek word ‘sphinx’, when he named the enigmatic molecule he isolated from brain tissue in the late 19th century. The membranous myelin sheath in nerve tissues is particularly rich in SMs, where they take part in the mechanical and electrical insulation of the nerve cell axons. Many physiological abnormalities and associated diseases arise from malfunctions in the metabolism of SMs, for example Niemann-Pick Disease, a fatal inherited metabolic disorder. Recent studies have reported that SM and cholesterol, along with specific proteins, form raft like regions in otherwise fluid cell membranes. Lipid rafts play major roles in many biological processes such as transmembrane signal transduction, membrane trafficking, protein sorting during endocytosis and exocytosis, apoptosis, cell adhesion, migration and synaptic transmission. It is of utmost interest to know why SMs and cholesterol are included into lipid rafts and how these molecules interact with each other. This thesis focuses on the interaction between SMs and cholesterol. To study the membrane biophysical properties of SMs and their interactions with cholesterol, we synthesized novel SM analogs by methylating and hydroxylating SM at different positions. All the SM analogs involved in the study are biologically relevant. We reported that the hydroxyl and amide groups present in SM are important for hydrogen bonding between SM-SM and SM-cholesterol. The substitutions of methyl groups in the N-linked acyl chain or interfacial region of SMs significantly decreased the stability of SM bilayer, and weakened/abolished SM interactions with cholesterol. The stability of SM bilayer and SM-cholesterol interactions with the hydroxyl groups in the N-linked acyl chain of SM depend on the position and configuration of the hydroxyl group. The presence of an additional hydroxyl group in the saturated long chain base of SM stabilized SM bilayers as well as SM-cholesterol interactions.
Is there a role between sub-cellular localisation of sphingosine kinase 1 and clinical outcome in colorectal cancer?
P1
S. Cochrane1, S. Moug2, J. Edwards2, N.J. Pyne1, D. MacMillan3, P. Horgan3, R. Bittman4 and S. Pyne1
1. Cell Biology, SIPBS, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0RE 2. Unit of Experimental Therapeutics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G11 6NT 3. Academic Unit of Surgery, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G31 2ER, 4. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Queens College of the City University of New York, Flushing, USA
Colorectal cancer remains the third most common killer in the UK. There is growing evidence that sphingosine 1-phosphate and the enzymes responsible for its synthesis, sphingosine kinase 1/2, have a role in cancer. For example, SK1 mRNA and protein expression is increased in 75% of azoxymethane-induced tumours (a rat model of CRC) compared to the normal mucosa. Additionally, data suggests that SK1 expression is associated with disease progression and metastatic potential when analysed in ~60 human colorectal samples.
In this study, using a cohort of 277 patients, we assessed the sub-cellular localisation of SK1 (membrane, cytoplasmic and nuclear) against patient cancer-specific survival. Patients were stratified based on lymph node status, stage of disease and plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (a systemic inflammatory marker associated with poor prognosis). Unexpectedly, high cytoplasmic SK1 was associated with increased cancer-specific survival in Stage III disease. Interestingly; this association was lost in patients with node positive disease. In contrast, nuclear SK1 was associated with reduced survival in Stage IV disease. In vitro studies were conducted using SW480 and SW620 cell lines (models of node-negative and node positive disease, respectively) and sphingosine kinase isoform selective inhibitors. Using [3H]-thymidine, we found that pre-treatment of cells with SKi, reduced thymidine incorporation (p<0.05), whereas (R)-FTY720 O-methyl ether (ROMe) had no effect.
Here we show that high cytoplasmic SK1 expression is associated with protection against death in Stage III disease. Conversely, high expression of nuclear SK1 is detrimental Stage IV disease. In vitro studies of colorectal cell lines indicate that SK1 promotes DNA synthesis and SK2 does not.
Cytotossic effects of perifosine in human glioblastoma cells are associated to an altered ceramide metabolism.
P2
Alessandra Cinque, Loredana Brioschi, Paola Giussani, Laura Riboni, Paola Viani
Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate (MI) Italy
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant brain tumor and, despite aggressive therapy, prognosis for patients is poor. Temozolomide (TMZ), the chosen drug in GBM therapy, exerts cytotoxic effects also through an increase of ceramide levels. Perifosine (PF) is currently being tested for treatment of major human cancers, but little is known about its efficacy in gliomas. The aim of this work is to evaluate in GMB cell lines if PF is able to regulate sphingolipid metabolism and to enhance the cytotoxic effect of TMZ.
The results obtained demonstrated that in different GBM cell lines, the treatment with PF led to a dose-dependent decrease in cell viability. In all GBM cells lines, PF promoted a time-dependent decrease of p-Akt levels, with an about 50% decrease after 4 hour treatment. In these conditions, metabolic studies showed that treatment with PF significantly modified sphingolipid (SL) metabolism by inhibiting sphingomyelin (SM) and, in a lesser extent, glycosphingolipid (GSL) biosynthesis with a consequent accumulation of ceramide (Cer). In addition, PF weakly reduced sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) biosynthesis. The treatment with LY294002, in conditions giving an almost complete inhibition of the PI3K/Akt pathway, only partly mimicked the effects of PF on SL metabolism, suggesting that PF could regulate SL metabolism also through a mechanism other than Akt inhibition. In the same GBM cell lines, the treatment of PF in combination with TMZ had an additive, but not synergistic cytotoxic effect. More of interest, a TMZ resistant cell line, that is characterized by an altered SL profile, a high capacity to release S1P and in which TMZ is unable to accumulate Cer, was still sensitive to PF.
These data suggest that PF can exert its anticancer activity through a marked modulation of sphingolipid metabolism with increased Cer/S1P ratio, where Cer acts as a pro-death and S1P as a survival factor. PF in combination with TMZ could thus improve the treatment efficacy in GBM.
Lipidomic and immunohistochemical analysis of sphingosine-1-phosphate and other sphingolipids following spinal cord injury.
P3
Del Águila Angela, Nieto-Díaz Manuel, Casas Josefina, Fabriàs Gemma, Reigada David, Munoz-Galdeano Teresa, Navarro-Ruiz Rosa, Caballero-Lopez Marcos, Maza Martinez.
Molecular Neuroprotection Group. Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos (SESCAM). Toledo, Spain.Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM). Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC). Barcelona, Spain.
Spinal cord injury (SCI) triggers a complex cascade of biological events that determine its functional outcome. Understanding the molecular bases underlying these events is basic to design therapeutical tools. Sphingolipids are bioactive lipids involved in many of these events, such as astrogliosis, cell death, or pain, among others. Therefore, we here describe the variations of sphingolipid levels in a mice model of SCI, with special attention to the pleiotropic sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P).
We have used UPLC-MS to analyze the sphingolipid levels in spinal cord, blood, and blood serum from five groups of mice: non-injured and 1, 3, 7, and 21 days post injury (dpi). The results show that spinal cord presents a characteristic global sphingolipid pattern, which is preserved following SCI. However, total sphingolipid concentration increases after injury, and 9 species significantly change their levels, mostly at 3dpi, although S1P shows a maximum at 7dpi. Blood samples also have a stable, but different and characteristic general pattern. Nevertheless, levels of 21 sphingolipid species significantly change after SCI -mainly at 1dpi, including S1P-. Variations in sphingolipids levels of spinal cord and blood seem to be unrelated.
Considering the importance of S1P, we have used inmmunohistochemstry (IHC) to characterize its spatial and temporal distribution in the spinal cord. Non-injured mice show immunoreactivity (IR) in motor and interneurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. After injury, neural cell IR shows important temporal changes. Neurons increase and decrease their labeling at different times after SCI, whereas oligodendrocytes lose their IR progressively.
Spisulosine and 4,5-dehydrospisulosine stereoisomers as probes for profiling ceramide synthase activities in intact cells.
P4
José Luis Abad,1 Ingrid Nieves,1 Pedro Rayo,1 Josefina Casas,1 Gemma Fabrias,1and Antonio Delgado1,2
1Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Institut de Química Avançada de Catalunya (IQAC-CSIC), Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Barcelona, Spain. 2Universidad de Barcelona (UB), Facultad de Farmacia, Unidad de Química Farmacéutica (Unidad Asociada al CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
Spisulosines are a group of 1-deoxysphingolipids (1-DSLs) of marine origin with antiproliferative activity. In addition, recent evidences of the presence of 1-DSLs as natural metabolites in mammalian cells have been postulated from studies of a mutation in the SPTLC1 gene that is found in human sensory neuropathy type 1 (HSN1). Interestingly, the presence of several 1-DSLs in plasma has also been proposed as a novel class of biomarkers for the metabolic syndrome.
A stereoselective synthesis of spisulosine (ES285) and 4,5-dehydrospisulosine stereoisomers is presented. We report on the design of efficient synthetic protocols for this type of 1-DSLs, with special attention to the stereochemical control at C2 and C3 positions and the presence of a C4-C5 unsaturation as part of the sphingoid backbone. The increasing interest in CerS activity, compartmentalization and function underscores the need for appropriate CerS probes. Characterization of (dihydro)ceramidomes is not a suitable means to profile CerS activities in intact cells, since (dihydro)ceramide populations are the result of the overall activities of ceramide metabolism enzymes. The compounds described here were envisaged as useful tools in CerS activity profiling, as they are inert towards enzymes of 1-O-functionalization. Among the sphingoid bases described in this work, spisulosine (ES285), RBM1-77 and RBM1-73 were the most suitable ones due to their highest acylation rates.
In conclusion, some of the 1-DSLs synthesized should prove useful to study the role of the different ceramide synthases and the resulting N-acyl (dihydro)ceramides in cell fate.
The equilibrium between long and very long chain ceramides is important for the fate of the cell and can be influenced by co-expression of cers.
P5
Daniela Hartmann, Marthe-Susanna Wegner, Ruth Anna Wanger, Nerea Ferreirós, Yannick Schreiber, Jessica Lucks, Susanne Schiffmann, Gerd Geisslinger and Sabine Grösch.
Fharmazentrum frankfurt/ ZAFES, Institut für Klinische Pharmakologie, Klinikum der Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt/ Main, Germany.
Ceramides are synthesized by six different ceramide synthases (CerS1-6), which differ in their specificity to produce ceramides of distinct chain length. We could show that over-expression of CerS4 and CerS6, which was accompanied by an increase in C18:0- and C16:0-Cer, respectively, had anti-proliferative effects in human breast and colon cancer cells. Now we wanted to investigate the impact of CerS-co-transfection on the physiological outcome and ceramide production in HCT-116 cells.
Over-expression of CerS2 had no effect on the level of very long chain ceramide C24:0- and C24:1-Cer. Instead over-expression of CerS2 together with CerS4 or CerS6 increased the activity of CerS2 against very-long-chain ceramides about twofold. In contrast, co-expression of CerS4 with CerS6 inhibited slightly the production of C20:0-ceramide in comparison to cells over-expressing CerS4 alone, whereas the activity of CerS6 seemed not to be affected by other CerS. The production of very long chain ceramides was also affected by down-regulation of the fatty acid elongase ELOVL1, which is one of overall seven fatty acid elongase subtypes (ELOVL 1-7) in humans and mainly responsible for the elongation of C20- to C22-C26-fatty acid. The physiological effect of CerS2/CerS4/CerS6 co-expression became apparent as the anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effect of long chain ceramides was impeded. Even though we observed a twofold increase in total ceramide levels after co-expression of CerS2 and CerS4/CerS6, we detected no effect on cell proliferation.
These data indicate that an increase in ceramide production per se is not critical for cell survival, but the equilibrium between long and very long chain ceramides and possibly protein/protein interactions determine the fate of the cell.
Regulation of GAP43-calmodulin interaction by the lipid mediators sphingosine and lysophophatidic acid.
P6
Juhász Tünde1; Kabai Monika1; Harmat Veronika2; Kardos Jozsef3; Szeltner Zoltan1; Liliom Karoly1
1Institute of Enzymology, RCNS, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest; 2Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös University, Budapest; 3Department of Biochemistry, Eötvös University, Budapest
The brain-specific growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43) participates in the regulation of neurite formation, synaptic plasticity, and neuroregeneration. Its funtion is sensitive to intracellular Ca2+ level and has been shown to interact with calmodulin (CaM), the ubiquitous eukariotic effector protein for the second messenger Ca2+, both in vitro and in vivo. It is assumed that their complex is bound to the plasma membrane but the functional outcomes of these interactions are not well clarified.
We have identified selective binding between GAP43 and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), as well as CaM and sphingosine (SPH), utilizing fluorescence spectroscopy, isothermal titration calorimetry and quartz crystal microbalance. In both interactions, the lipids must be in an associated form to produce high affinity binding. In functional assays SPH binding to CaM inhibited the protein’s ability to activate its effectors. We determined the crystal-structure of CaM-SPH complex, in which the lipids occupy the same place as the protein’s target peptides. Chemical cross-linking, dynamic light scattering, and CD spectroscopy revealed that LPA binding induced the oligomerization and partial structural organization of GAP43, an intrinsically unstructured protein. The phosphorylation of GAP43 modifies its functions. We mimicked this effect by the Ser41Asp mutant, which showed weaker binding to CaM compared to the wild-type protein. In both the absence or presence of Ca2+, the lipids interact with CaM or GAP43 at a higher affinity than the proteins bind to each other, allowing their displacement by each lipid.
The lipid mediators SPH and LPA, via selective high-affinity bindings to CaM and GAP43, respectively, may regulate the complex formation between the proteins, thereby modifying their function in the growth cone and synapses, possibly interconnecting this subsystem with other signaling processes.
Regulation of GAP43-calmodulin interaction by the lipid mediators sphingolipid metabolism is required for the toxic effects elicited by the environmental compound PCB153 on Cx43-formed gap junctions in liver stem-like cells.
P7
Meacci Elisabetta1, Squecco Roberta2, Frati Alessia1, Machala Miroslav3, Francini Fabio2, Vicenti Catia1, Hofmanova Jirina1, Anderloni Giulia1
1 Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sperimentali e Cliniche, Università di Firenze-Italy; 2 Dipartimento di Biomedicina, Università di Firenze-Italy; 3Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
Abundant non-dioxin-like organic toxicant PCB153 were found to induce alterations of membrane proteins associated with inhibition of gap junction intercellular communication (GJIC) in rat liver progenitor cells, WB-F344. Since the molecular mechanisms triggered by this a highly lipophilic toxicant is largely unknown, on the notion that GJIC and connexin-43 (Cx43) expression are modulated by sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) in skeletal muscle cells, we hypothesized that the impairment of Cx43-formed GJIC elicited by PCB153 could involve the activation of sphingoid-mediated-signalling pathways.
PCB153 treatment determined changes in the biophysical properties of gap junctional currents, as judged by dual whole cell voltage-clamp, and, in parallel, a time-dependent regulation of sphingosine kinase (SphK) activity, that leaded to an increase of S1P at 1 h and 24h and a decrease of the bioactive lipid at 3h after compound exposure. Similarly, ceramide kinase activity was significantly affected by the toxicant resulting in an increase of ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) and a marked decrease of ceramide after 1-3 h. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition of SphK and PP2A phosphatase and their down-regulation by specific siRNA treatment affected GJIC and prevented GJIC impairment and changes in the Cx43 phosphorylation/expression elicited by PCB153.
Altogether, these findings represent the first evidence of the role played by bioactive sphingolipids in the regulation of GJIC in liver stem-like cells and in the biological action of the environmental toxicant in these progenitor cells. Since malfunctioned GJIC has been thought associated with malignant transformation of normal cells, the finding of the role played by sphingolipids can lead to consider these bioactive molecules as potential targets to prevent the tumorigenic action of PCB153 and other dioxin and non-dioxin like persistent environmental pollutants.
Characterization of acid sphingomyelinase activity in human cerebrospinal fluid.
P8
Christiane Mühle1, Hagen B. Huttner2, Silke Walter3, Martin Reichel1, Fabio Canneva4, Piotr Lewczuk1, Erich Gulbins5, Johannes Kornhuber1
1Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany; 2Department of Neurology, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany; 3Department of Neurology, University of the Saarland, Homburg/Saar, Germany; 4Experimental Therapy, Franz-Penzoldt-Center, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany; 5Department of Molecular Biology, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
As a key enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism, acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) is involved in the regulation of cell fate and signaling via the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to form ceramide. While increased activity of the lysosomal form has been associated with various pathological conditions, there are few studies on secretory ASM limited only to cell models, plasma or serum.
We have established a sensitive quantitative assay based on a fluorescent substrate to measure the ASM activity in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and characterized the enzyme’s properties. CSF localized ASM resembles plasmatic ASM with respect to protein stability and Zn2+-dependence. However, the assays differ considerably in the optimal detergent concentration. The optimized assay was applied to CSF samples collected from mice and from 42 patients who were classified as controls based on normal routine CSF values. Significantly increased activities in the CSF of ASM transgenic mice and undetectable levels in ASM knock-out mice prove that the measured ASM activity originates from the ASM-encoding gene SMPD1. In humans, CSF localized ASM activities were comparable to corresponding serum ASM levels at their respective optimal reaction conditions, but no correlation was observed. The large variance in ASM activity was independent of sex, age or analyzed routine CSF parameters.
Human and mouse CSF contain detectable levels of secretory ASM, which are unrelated to serum ASM activities. Further investigations will help to elucidate the role of this enzyme in human disease and to assess its value as a potential biomarker for disease type, progress or therapeutic success.
Administration of glucosylceramide ameliorated the memory decline in aged mice.
P9
Yeonju Lee, Sergiy Oliynyk, Seikwan Oh
Department of Neuroscience and TIDRC, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 158-710, Korea
The function and the role of glucosylceramide have not been well studied in the central nervous system. This study was aimed to investigate the possible roles of glucosylceramide in memory function in aged mice.
Glucosylceramide (50 mg/kg, p.o.) showed memory enhancing activity after 3-month treatment in the aged mice (C56BL/6, 18-20 month-old) through Y-maze, novel objective test and Morris water maze test. Long-term treatment of glucosylceramide decreased the expression of iNOS and COX-2 in the brain of aged mice. The LPS-induced mRNA level of iNOS, COX-2, IL-1bband TNF-aawas reduced by the acute treatment with glucosylceramide in adult mice.
These results suggest that glucosylceramide plays an important role in anti-inflammatory and memory enhancement, and it could be a potential new therapeutic agent for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Sphıngolıpıdomıcs ın sphıngolıpıd storage dıseases: ıdentıfıcatıon of dıfferencıated sphıngolıpıds that have role ın dıfferent clınıcal courses.
P10
Adem ÖZKAN1, Funda YILDIRIM1, Mehmet KAYILI2, Ömür ÇELİKBIÇAK2, Erdal COŞGUN3, Fatma Müjgan SÖNMEZ4, Meral TOPÇU5, Bekir SALİH2, Hatice Asuman ÖZKARA1
1Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Biochemistry, 06100 Ankara, Turkey; 2Hacettepe University Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Ankara, Turkey;
3Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Biostatistics, 06100 Ankara, Turkey;
4Fatih University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Ankara, Turkey;
5Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Neurology unit,06100 Ankara, Turkey
Sphingolipids are ubiquitous elements of the plasma membrane. They are synthesized in ER and Golgi. Their degradation are made by lysosomal enzymes in lysosome. Defective lysosomal enzymes cause lysosomal storage diseases. Accumulation of undegraded substrates in the nervous system leads to severe impairment of neurological function with a fatal outcome. The aim of this study is to find out sphingolipid/s for predicting clinical phenotype and rate of disease progression.
In this study, sphingolipids were extracted from serums of patients with gangliosidoses and Metachromatic Leukodystrophy which are the most common sphingolipid storage diseases in our country. Their mass spectrums are taken by MALDI-ToF-MS. Sphingolipids that make difference between groups and clinical findings were determined by cluster analysis. Internal standards were used for quantitative analysis by LC-ESI-MS/MS. After evaluation by cluster analysis of the obtained sphingolipid profiles, sphingosine and sphinganine 1-P in gangliosidoses group, sialic acid and phosphatidylcholine in Metachromatic leukodystrophy group were found as differentiated molecules. Phosphatidylcholine and sialic acid in bradykinesia, sphinganine 1-P and amino group containing fatty acids in spastic tetraparesis were found as molecules that make difference in gangliosidoses. Results of quantitative analysis supported the statistical analysis. In addition increased ceramide and ceramide 1-P were detected in gangliosidoses group.
Validation of a new epigenetic-based prognostic blood test to predict prostate cancer aggressiveness.
P11
Emily Corfield1, Heba Alshaker2, Constantine Alifrangis2, Jane Mellor3, Yoshiaki Kawano4, Masatoshi Eto44,Philip Jordan1, Aroul Ramadass1, Alexandre Akoulitchev1 and Dmitri Pchejetski2
1. Oxford BioDynamics Limited, 26 Beaumont Street, Oxford, Oxfordshire, OX1 2NP, UK; 2. Department of Medicine, Imperial College, London, UK; 3. Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK; 4. Department of Urology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kumamoto University, Japan
Sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) plays has been reported to be elevated in many cancers including prostate, but its regulation is poorly understood. Chromosome conformation patterns represent early changes in epigenetic regulation during tumourigenesis.
Results: To investigate epigenetic regulation of SK1 and other cancer-associated genes, 80 treatment naive patients with localised, locally advanced or metastatic PCa were recruited into this prospective study. Upon diagnosis blood samples were collected and chromosomal conformation patterns were determined. Multivariate analysis using relevance vector machine based algorithm was used to identify the epigenetic signatures.
We identified 28 chromosomal conformation markers, in the loci of several PCa-related genes, including SK1, MYC, PSMA, PTEN, SMAD4, and SAM68, and correlated them with Gleason score, age or disease stage as predictors of survival probability and PCa aggressiveness. The test was trained on 64 samples and cross-validated on 16 independent samples. The final EpiSwitchTM test can accurately predict PCa aggressiveness status in both training and validation sets, with a combined accuracy of 98.6% (95% CI, 93% – 99%).
In Addition to stratification of PCa patients this prognostic, non-invasive test has the potential to be used for making treatment decisions, monitoring and predicating for PCa mortality. The EpiSwitchTM platform technology can be extended to address other clinical questions in diagnostics and theranostics.
Characterization of the acid sphingomyelinase signal peptide polymorphism.
P12
Cosima Rhein, Christiane Mühle, Martin Reichel, Johannes Kornhuber
Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany
Acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) catalyses the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin into ceramide, which acts as a lipid messenger regulating important cellular functions, ranging from differentiation to apoptosis. Dysregulated ASM activity was reported for different neuro-psychiatric disorders. ASM features an exceptional polymorphic part located in the region coding for its signal peptide, which is characterized by a three- to eight-fold repeat of the hexanucleotide GCTGGC and associated with the SNP c.107T>C. We investigated the role of these polymorphisms for intact enzymatic functioning.
In our in vivo study investigating healthy individuals, alleles with 5 and 6 repeats were found with a much higher prevalence compared to 4 and 8 repeats. ANOVA revealed a significant impact of genotypic repeat configuration on the secretory (S-ASM) but not on the lysosomal (L-ASM) enzyme activity in peripheral mononuclear cells: ASM activity in plasma was significantly lower in individuals homozygous for 4 repeats compared to those homozygous for 5 or 6 repeats. To further test the significance of the varying repeat genotype, we performed overexpression studies in cultured cells. Plasmids carrying ASM cDNA varying from 1 to 9 repeats combined with either allele of the c.107T>C polymorphism were generated by site-directed mutagenesis. Our in vitro results showed that the ratio of S- to L-ASM activity was significantly decreased for the extreme repeats 1, 2 and 8, 9 compared to the reference variant with 6 repeats, indicating that the length of the polymorphic region is critical for the proper secretion of ASM. The SNP c.107T>C, on the contrary, led to a significantly increased ratio of S- to L-ASM activity. Interestingly, the natural occurring ASM variants feature a specific composition of repeat length and SNP manifestation that varied only modestly regarding their S- to L-ASM activity. Thus, the combination of the two genetic variations seem to be subjected to evolutionary selection to balance their impact on ASM trafficking.
We conclude that the signal peptide polymorphisms significantly impact the trafficking of ASM. Since secreted and lysosomal localized ASM enzymes seem to differ in their function and their correlation with pathologic states, this genetic effect should be considered when treating associated diseases.
Sphingomyelinase-induced changes of the vascular tone.
P13
Éva Ruisanchez, Zsuzsa Straky, Dávid Korda, Adrienn Párkányi, Levente Kiss, Zoltán Benyó
Institute of Human Physiology and Clinical Experimental Research, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
The first step of sphingolipid biosynthesis from sphingomyelin is catalyzed by sphingomyelinase (SMase) enzymes which are reportedly upregulated in certain cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. We aimed to analyze the effects of neutral SMase on the regulation of the vascular tone in wild type (WT), as well as inknock-out (KO) mice for sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors S1P2 or S1P3, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1) or thromboxane-receptor (TP).
Thoracic aorta segments were isolated from adult male mice and investigated after precontraction with phenylephrine under isometric conditions in myographs. SMase evoked a biphasic vascular reaction in WT vessels with an initial contraction and subsequent relaxation. These effects were dose-dependent and submaximal responses were reached by 0.2 U/ml SMase. S1P2- and S1P3-KO vessels showed both the contractile and relaxant components of the SMase response. In eNOS-KO vessels, however, enhanced contractile effects were observed while the vasorelaxation disappeared. In contrast, COX1-KO vessels showed diminished contractions and enhanced relaxations. Neither eNOS-KO vessels treated with the COX-inhibitor indomethacin, nor COX1-KO vessels treated with the NOS-inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) responded with significant changes of the vascular tension upon administration of SMase. Interestingly, TP-KO vessels showed similar reactions to those observed in COX1-KOs: the contractile effect was diminished while the relaxant enhanced. In TP-KO vessels treated with L-NAME SMase failed to induce any significant vasoactive effects.
SMase induces biphasic changes of the vascular tone with an initial contraction and subsequent relaxation. The contractile effect is mediated by COX1-dependent production of thromboxane A2 (or a related prostanoid), while the relaxation is due to endothelial nitric oxide release.
Altered calcium kinetics and mitochondrial oxidative stress in psychosine induced cell death: implications for globoid cell leucodistrophy.
P14
Vladimir Voccoli*, Ilaria Tonazzini*, Chiara Cerri§, Manuela Allegra§°, Matteo Caleo§ and Marco Cecchini*
*NEST, Istituto Nanoscienze-CNR and Scuola Normale Superiore, § Istituto di Neuroscienze del CNR, ° Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa.
Globoid cell LeukoDystrophy (Krabbe disease) is a childhood leukodystrophy triggered by deficit of galattosyl-ceramidase (GALC) activity. GALC is a lysosomal enzyme which catalyzes the intracellular degradation of galactosyl-ceramide and galactosyl-sphingosine (psychosine, PSY). GALC loss of activity causes PSY accumulation and cell death. Little is known about the intracellular pathways affected by PSY accumulation. Here, we address the role of exogenous PSY in intracellular Ca2+ dynamics during cell death.
MO3.13 cells (human oligodendrocyte model) were treated for 24h with PSY in 0%FBS. As expected, PSY induced apoptosis, as revealed by chromatin fragmentation. In order to evaluate if PSY affects Ca2+ kinetics, cells were loaded with Fluo3 and the mitochondrial dye, TMRM. A fast Ca2+ increase occurred after PSY administration, followed by a slower one preceding mitochondrial permeabilization. PSY was found to induce also necrosis: indeed in the 12,6% of dying cells a strong Ca2+ increase occurred coupled to fast cell death. To understand if Ca2+ increase involves mitochondria, cells were transfected with the mtcD2CPV Ca2+ probe and stained with TMRM. A rapid mitochondrial Ca2+ peak was detected after treatment, followed by a later increase preceding mitochondrial depolarization. Then, we treated cells with PSY in presence of EDTA: this had no effect on the intracellular Ca2+ increase but extended cell survival and abolished necrosis. Finally, cells were loaded with Fluo3 and MitoTrackerROS, an indicator of mitochondrial oxidative stress. Upon PSY administration, ROS production increased subsequent to the first Ca2+ increase while its maximum corresponded to the second Ca2+ increase.
PSY induces Ca2+ mediated cell death involving mitochondria. It induces increase of mitochondrial Ca2+ and ROS, and their depolarization. Blocking Ca2+ influx by EDTA can extend cell life but does not block Ca2+ kinetics, leading to hypothesize a role of PSY on Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ kinetics.
7th Meeting
7th Meeting
Leiden, The Netherlands, April 21-23, 2008
Unexpected role of glycosphingo-lipids in cell physiology.
L1
G van Meer, J Wolthoorn, S Groux-Degroote, D van den Heuvel1, H Gerritsen1, D Halter, S Neumann, S van der Poel, H Sprong
Bijvoet Center and Institute of Biomembranes, 1Molecular Biophysics, Utrecht University, The Netherlands
Until a decade ago, the biosynthesis of the sphingolipids seemed simple: sphingosine, newly synthesized or recycled from the lysosomes, is converted to ceramide in the ER, where after vesicular transport it receives a phosphocholine or glucose headgroup in the cis-Golgi lumen. Now we know that there are at least 6 ceramide synthases, that sphingomyelin is synthesized in thetrans-Golgi, that the ceramide is supplied via the ceramide transfer protein CERT, and that CERT is regulated via PI4P on the Golgi and phosphorylation. Unexpectedly, glucosylceramide is synthesized on the cytosolic surface of the Golgi, and must cross the membrane to reach the site of complex glycolipid synthesis in the Golgi lumen.
We found that natural glucosylceramide does not cross the Golgi membrane and is not a substrate for the multidrug transporters ABCB1 and C1. Instead, glucosylceramide was transported back to the ER by a mechanism involving the glucosylceramide binding protein FAPP2 bound to the trans- Golgi via PI4P. It then crosses towards the ER lumen and reaches the Golgi lumen by vesicular transport, possibly generating ER sphingolipid domains along the way. Mean- while, glucosylceramide is required for protein sorting in the secretory pathway by affecting conditions in the lumen. As a possible explanation, we found that glucosylceramide affects the lumenal pH.
The (patho)physiological role of sphingolipids in vascular biology.
L2
SLM Peters, LJA Spijkers, RFP van den Akker, PB van Loenen, N Hajji and AE Alewijnse
Dept. Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapy, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Besides their well-documented effects on cellular growth, sphingolipids have vasoactive properties. Although sphingolipids are present in blood in high concentrations, both endothelial as well a vascular smooth muscle cells can synthesize the different sphingomyelin metabolites. Since these celle also express the different target molecules, sphingomyelin metabolites can be regarded as auto- or paracrine factors in the vascular system. Indeed, several vasoactive factors exert their vasoactive effects partly by modulation of sphingolipid metabolism in the vessel wall. For instance, both angiotensin II as wel as muscarinic receptor agonist can activate endothelial NO synthase by activation of sphingosine kinase. Interestingly, the effect of locally formed S1P proved to be vessel type dependent. Whereas in larger conduit vessels endothelial S1P production leads to NO synthase activation, in resistance vessels locally formed S1P has an inhibitory effect on the release or action of endothelium- derived hyperpolarizing factor. Hypertension is associated with marked alterations in sphingolipid homeostasis; Inhibition of sphingosine kinase induces major constrictions in isolated vessels of hypertensive rats. Interestingly, these contractions are mediat- ed by an endothelium-derived cyclooxygenase 1 product. Endothelial sphingolipid metabolism plays an important role in controlling the release or action of dilatory or contracting factors.
P38-mediated endothelial cell death after ionizing radiation is under the control of ceramide generation and membrane remodeling.
L3
C Niaudet1, S Bonnaud1, S Gouard1, MH Gaugler1,2, I Corre1, F Paris1
1Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie Nantes-Angers, Inserm U892, Nantes, France; 2IRSN, Fontenay aux Roses, France
Despite the involvement of ceramide and acid sphingomyelinase (aSM) in irradiated endothelial cells (EC) apoptosis, molecular mechanisms involved are poorly understood. MAPK p38 has been considered as a crucial actor in EC radiosensitivity. If p38 activation has been shown to be dependent of DNA damage induction in tumor models, no relation has been described between ceramide and p38 under genotoxic stress. In the present study, we highlighted a direct link as p38 phosphostain- ing detected in intestine’s EC from 15 Gy-irradiated mouse was not observed in intestine’s EC from irradiated aSM KO mouse. In HMEC-1 EC, adding exogenous C16-ceramide or bacterial SM induced raft microdomain reorganisation from a discrete pattern in the cell surface to large and polarised areas, followed by p38 activation and cell death. Similar membrane remodeling following ceramide generation was also observed in 15 Gy- irradiated ECs and this membrane remodeling is a pre-requisite to p38 phosphorylation. The two concomitant phenomena, i.e. ceramide-induced raft coalescence and p38 death-pathway, have been validated by use of drugs, such as desipramine (aSM inhibitor), and nystatin (cholesterol scavenger, disorganizing lipid raft formation), which inactivated p38 and the subsequent EC death.
Ceramide: a novel modulator of toxoplasma gondii survival?
L4
S Sonda, I Bottova, AB Hehl
Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Toxoplasma gondii, the most versatile and widespread member of Apicomplexan parasites, is responsible for a disease of major medical and veterinary importance worldwide. Despite the impact of toxoplasmosis, there are few currently available treatments, often resulting in general side-effects. Interest in invertebrates, that sustain the diffusion permeability barriers of epithelia and the glial blood-brain barrier. Trafficking of junction components to the correct membrane domain is interlocked to the process of cell polarization and relies on the correct compartmental- ization of proteins as well as lipids in membranes. Little is known about the contribution of lipids to cell junction formation. We use Drosophila to study the role of lipids (in particular sphingolipids, glycosphingo- lipids, and phospholipids) in these cell biological processes. As a handle to the genetic study of lipids in this context, we investigate the contribution of lipid metabolism genes to the process of SJ formation. We screened mutants in sphingolipid,glyco-sphingolipid, and phospholipid metabolism genes using an established dye penetration assay, which probes the ‘tightness’ of the epithelial permeability barrier. We now proceed to assess the molecular, cellular and ultrastructural defects in the mutants with disrupted barriers. In addition, we try to identify/develop reagents to visualize lipid subtypes in our system, in order to characterize the subcellular distribution of different lipids in the polarised cells of Drosophila epithelia.
Role of dihydroceramides in resveratrol induced autophagy.
L5
P Signorelli1, JM Munoz-Olaya2, V Gagliostro1, J Casas2, R Ghidoni1, G Fabrias.2
1Dept. Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, San Paolo Hospital Medical School, University of Milan, Italy, 2Dept. of Biomedi- cinal Chemistry, IQAC CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
Dihydroceramides, the metabolic precursors of ceramides along the de novo synthesis pathway, have always been considered as non signaling lipids. We report that resveratrol induced autophagy in gastric cancer cells is mediated by dihydroceramides. Treatment ofHGC-27 cells with resveratrol produced a marked autophago- some localization of GFP-LC3 as found by fluorescence micros- copy, and an accumulation of its PE-conjugated protein as measured by western blotting. UPLC-MS analysis of resveratrol treated cells showed unchanged levels of ceramides and a dose- dependent increase in dihydroceramides. These results suggested that the buildup of dihydroceramides was responsible for the observed autophagic flux and that resveratrol might inhibit dihydroceramide desaturase. In support of this, dihydroceramide desaturase activity in treated cells showed a robust inhibition by both resveratrol and a synthetic dihydroceramide desaturase inhibitor. Furthermore, the latter mimicked the effects of resver- atrol in terms of autophagy induction and accumulation of dihydroceramides. Collectively, these results demonstrate that resveratrol induced autophagy occurs by a rise in the intracellular dihydroceramide pool as a result of inhibition of dihydroceramide desaturase.
Dihydroceramide accumulation and oxidative stress are distinct events in 4-HPR induced cell death.
L6
A Apraiz1, J Idkowiak-Baldys2, N Nieto-Rementeria1, MD Boyano1, YA Hannun2, A Asumendi1
1Dept. Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country, Spain, and 2Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, USA
N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) retinamide (4-HPR or fenretinide) is a synthetic derivate of retinoic acid used as chemopreventive agent in both, in vitro and clinical trials. In vitro studies show a dose and/or cell type dependent growth-inhibition/apoptosis-induction. In addition, 4- HPR mediated cytotoxicity has been widely linked to oxidative stress and ceramide increase. Previous studies in our group described strong apoptotic effect of 4-HPR on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia cells (CCRF-CEM and Jurkat) which was linked to oxidative stress. It was also shown that oxidative stress and dihydroceramide (but not ceramide) accumulation are early events following 4-HPR treatment. The aim of this work was to stablish the relationship between 4-HPR-induced oxidative stress, changes in sphingolipids profile and cell death. Interestingly, we observed that 4-HPR-induced dihydroceramide accumulation even at suble- thal (<1microM) 4-HPR concentrations. Inhibition of sphingolipid de novo synthesis by myriocin prevented dihydroceramide accu- mulation but did not protect from 4-HPR mediated cytotoxicity. On the other hand, pretreatment with antioxidants protected cells from4-HPR induced viability loss suggesting that oxidative stress (not dihydroceramide accumulation) is the cell death inducing event.
Caspase-mediated inhibition of sphingomyelin synthesis is involved in fasl-triggered cell death.
L7
D Milhas, E Lafont, T Levade, H Benoist, B Ségui
U858 INSERM, Equipe 14, BP84225, 31432 Toulouse cedex 4, France
Ceramide can be converted to sphingomyelin (SM) by SM synthases (SMS) 1 and 2. Here, we show that in human leukemia Jurkat cells, which express mainly SMS1, FasL treatment inhibited SMS activity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. SMS inhibition elicited by FasL (i) was abrogated by zVAD-fmk, a broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, (ii) did not occur in caspase-8- and -10 doubly deficient cells, (iii) was only partially affected in caspase-9 deficient cells and (iv) was not impaired in Bcl-xL over-expressing cells. Western blot experiments showed early SMS1 cleavage in a caspase-dependentmanner upon FasL treatment. In a cell-free system, caspase-2, -8 and-9, but not caspase-3 and -10, cleaved SMS1. Thus, FasL-mediatedSMS inhibition depends on caspase activation and is an early event in Fas signaling, occurring upstream of mitochondria. FasL-inducedceramide production and cell death were enhanced in cells stably expressing a siRNA against SMS1. Conversely, in cells stably over- expressing SMS1, FasL did neither increase ceramide generation nor efficiently induced cell death. Altogether, our data demonstrate that SMS1 is a caspase target that is functionally involved in the regulation of FasL-induced apoptosis.
Transcriptional regulation of sphingosine kinase 1 by hypoxia in human endothelial cells.
L8
A Huwiler
Institute of Pharmacology, University of Bern, Friedbühlstrasse 49, CH-3010 Bern, Switzerland.
Sphingosine kinases (SK) catalyse the formation of sphingosine 1- phosphate which plays an important role in cell growth and survival.
So far, two subtypes of SK have been cloned and partially characterized. Previously, it was shown that SK-1 is rapidly activated by various growth factors through ERK-mediated direct phosphor- ylation. Here, we show that SK-1 is also regulated on the transcriptional level. Low oxygen levels (hypoxia) stimulates a delayed increase of SK-1 activity which is preceded by increased mRNA expression and de novo protein synthesis of SK-1. This effect is due to stimulated SK-1-promoter activity which contains two putative hypoxia-inducible factor-responsive-elements (HRE). By deletion of one of the two HREs, hypoxia-induced promoter activation is abrogated. Furthermore, hypoxia upregulates the expression of HIF-1α and HIF-2α, and both contribute to SK-1 gene transcription as shown by selective depletion of HIF-1α or HIF-2αby siRNA. The hypoxia-stimulated SK-1 upregulation was function- ally coupled to increased migration since the selective depletion ofSK-1 by siRNAs abolishes the migratory response. In summary, these data show that hypoxia upregulates SK-1activity and results in an accelerated migratory capacity of endothelial cells. SK-1 may thus serve as an attractive therapeutic target to treat diseases associated with increased endothelial migration and angiogenesis such as cancer growth and progression.
Sphingosine kinase-1: a new modulator of hif-1α during hypoxia in human cancer cells.
L9
I Ader1,2, L Brizuela1,2, P Bouquerel1,2, B Malavaud1,2, O Cuvillier1,2
1CNRS, Sphingolipids and Cancer Research Laboratory, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, UMR5089, Toulouse,F-31000 France – 2Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, F-31000 France
We provide the first evidence that sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK1) – an oncogenic lipid kinase balancing the intracellular level of key signaling sphingolipids – modulates the transcription factor HIF-1α,master regulator of hypoxia. SphK1 activity is stimulated under low oxygen conditions and regulated by reactive oxygen species. The SphK1- dependent stabilization of HIF-1α levels is mediated by the Akt/ glycogen synthase kinase-3β signaling pathway that prevents its von Hippel-Lindau protein-mediated degradation by the proteasome. The pharmacological and RNA silencing inhibition of SphK1 activity prevents the accumulation of HIF-1α and its transcriptional activity in several human cancer cell lineages (prostate, brain, breast, kidney, and lung) suggesting a canonical pathway. Therefore, we propose that SphK1 can act as a master regulator for hypoxia giving support to its inhibition as a valid strategy to control tumor hypoxia and its molecular consequences.
Sphingosine kinase is implicated in the transforming growth factor-β-dependent myofibroblastic differentiation of myoblasts.
L10
C Donati, F Cencetti, C Bernacchioni, E Rapizzi, P Nincheri, P Bruni
Dipartimento di Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Firenze, Firenze Italy
The pleiotropic cytokine transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) has been reported to impair myoblast differentiation during myogenesis and favour muscle fibrogenesis. Recently, the occur- rence of a direct functional interaction between the TGFβ- and sphingosine1-phosphate- (S1P) regulated signalling pathways has been established. In this context, here to gain insights into the mechanism of action of TGFβ in myoblasts, the effect of the cytokine on SphK has been examined together with its possible implication in the evoked biological response. TGFβ was found to exert a biphasic effect on SK: the enzymatic activity was indeed inhibited within the first 4 h of incubation whereas it was enhanced at more prolonged times of incubation (18-72 h). The enhancement of SK activity was accompanied by the up-regulation of SK1, indicating that TGFβexerts a transcriptional control of SK1. The pro-fibrotic effect of TGFβ, was attenuated when SphK1 was inhibited or down- regulated by specific silencing. Moreover, by employing selective agonists and antagonists for S1PR, as well as siRNA, it was shown that the TGFβ-regulated expression of fibrosis marker was downstream of S1P3. These data demonstrate that SphK/S1P axis is exploited by TGFβ to transform skeletal myoblasts into myofibroblasts.
Characterizing and targeting survival factors in a hepatocellular carcinoma stem cell population.
L11
BM Barth1, W Ding2, SL Lehman3, ND Molyneaux4, JM Kaiser1, CB Rountree1,2 and M Kester1
1Dept. of Pharmacology, and 2Dept. of Pediatrics, Penn State University College of Medicine, USA, and 3Dept. of Biology, Elizabethtown College, USA, and 4Dept. of Health and Human Development, Penn State University, USA
Aggressive forms of cancer have recently been hypothesized to arise from small sub-populations of cells with stem cell-likecharacteristics. These cancer stem cells are suggested to arise from either normal stem cell populations or a reversion of cancerous cells to a stem cell phenotype. Cancer stem cells are suggested to be the underlying cause of chemotherapy failure in many cancers. In our study we evaluated Mat1a-/- and liver-specific PTEN-/- models of hepatocellular carcinoma for CD133+ cellular sub- populations, as well as expression of anti-apoptotic proteins and developmental regulators. We determined that the inhibitor of apoptosis protein survivin, and the transcription factor Evi-1, were significantly up regulated in the PTEN-/- model. Specific siRNA targeting survivin or Evi-1, delivered using our novel cationic nanoliposomes, sensitized and synergistically augmented doxorubicin-inducedPTEN-/- cancer stem cell death. We further found thatnanoliposomal-delivered ceramide dramatically re- duced the cellular levels of survivin and Evi-1. This study demonstrates, for the first time, increased expression of survivin and Evi-1 in a model of aggressive hepatocellular carcinoma with distinct cancer stem cell characteristics.
Critical role of acid sphingomyelinase (asm) in intestinal dysfunction after radiation exposure.
L12
MH Gaugler1,2, N Ripoche2, S Gouard2, M Benderitter1, F Paris1
1IRSN, DRPH, SRBE, LRPAT, Fontenay-aux-Roses, F-92260 France; 2Inserm, U892, Nantes, F-44000 France
Endothelial cell (EC) response to high dose of irradiation is implicated in the induction of intestinal damage. The crucial role of ASM release is shown in the pathogenesis of tissue dysfunction other than radiation-induced intestinal injuries. We hypothesize that ASM release after endothelial apoptosis and activation contributes to intestinal dysfunction after radiation exposure.
First we validate that irradiation of EC results in the induction of epithelial cell damage via paracrine pathway. In fact, we show in an in vitro non contact endothelial-epithelial cell coculture model that a 15 Gy irradiation of EC induces a decreased epithelial cell number (29%), and percentage in mitosis (66%) as well as increased epithelial apoptosis (1.5-fold) and cell-surface area (1.5-fold).Endothelial ASM may be a potential mediator of the effects observed in epithelial cells. Indeed radiation-induced apoptotic and activated EC secrete 1.4-fold more ASM than non irradiated EC, and a 100 mU/ml of exogenous ASM recapitulates the effects triggered by irradiated EC in epithelial cells. Second we corroborate these in vitro results in 15 Gy total body irradiated mice. We show for the first time an upregulation of serum and intestinal ASM activity (up to 2-fold). Furthermore, intestinal ceramide levels are increased up to 4-fold after irradiation.
Pkcζ inhibition promotes apoptosis in tumor cells via the sphingomyelin pathway.
L13
E Damaskopoulou1, G Keri2, I Bernardini1, MP Viola Magni1,E Albi1
1Dept. Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Italy, and 2Rational Drug Design Laboratory CRC, Semmelweis University, Hungary
It has been demonstrated that different inhibitors of PKCζ delay hepatoma cell growth.The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 9 inhibitors on sphingomyelin cycle enzymatic activity (SMase,SM-synthase and PLC). The relation with Bax, Cyclin D, STAT3 and RNA polymerase II was analyzed by Western blot. Our results showed a reduction of the SMase and of the SM-synthase activity either in cells or in nuclei. The inhibitors 4,5,7,8 and 9 had the most potent effect on the Smase and in particular the inhibitor 9 caused a decrease in its activity of 84%. The SM-synthase was more affected by the inhibitors 4,5,8 and 9. The PLC activity was not significantly different from the control cells. Inhibitors 4,5,7,8 and 9 increased Bax level and decreased STAT3 level. Cyclin D was particularly inhibited by inhibitors 2,6 and 7. All the inhibitors caused reduction of RNA polymerase II levels, except of the inhibitor 3 that had no influence. The PKCζ have recently been proposed to play critical roles in signalling pathways that control cell growth, differentiation and survival. Our findings provide an evidence that Bax, Cyclin D, STAT3 and RNA polymerase II levels were regulated by PKCζvia the SMase pathway. Thus, its inhibition can promote apoptosis and be a novel therapeutic approach in cancer.
Acid ceramidase promotes cell survival and can enhance the outcome of in vitrofertilization.
L14
EH Schuchman, N Shtraizent, X He, E Eliyahu
Dept. Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
It has been suggested that acid ceramidase (AC) is an important“reostat” regulating the levels of ceramide and sphingosine- phosphate (S1P) in cells. Previously, we showed that AC is an essential enzyme that is needed for mouse embryos to survive beyond the two-cell stage (Eliyahu et al., FASEB J., 2007). We have also produced Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells that overexpress and secrete the recombinant human enzyme, and found that this“conditioned” media or pure protein can prevent apoptosis and enhance the survival of several cell types in culture. In particular, AC can prevent apoptosis of unfertilized oocytes and preimplantation embryos, and enhance the outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF). Moreover, we found that AC is expressed at high levels in human embryos, as well as in follicular fluid containing healthy oocytes. To explore these findings further, we have also produced “floxed” mice that can be used to inactive AC at later stages of development and/or in a cell-specific manner. Based on these findings, we suggest that AC is needed for oocyte and embryo survival in vivo, and is an important component that is missing from IVF/embryo cell culture media. We also hypothesize that AC can be used to enhance the survival of other primary cells in culture, as well as embryonic and other types of stem cells.
Spatial aspects of signalling by sphingosine1-phosphate.
L15
S Pyne, SC Lee, J Long, L Gillies and NJ Pyne
Cell Biology Group, Strathclyde Institute for Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, G4 0NR, Scotland, U.K.
Sphingosine kinase (SK) catalyses the phosphorylation of sphin- gosine to produce sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). S1P is a bioactive lipid that regulates cell proliferation, survival, migration etc. Extracellular S1P mediates its effects by binding to a family of five closely related G protein coupled receptors, S1P1-5. In addition, intracellular S1P may bind to undefined intracellular targets to elicit cellular responses. The focus of our recent work has been on defining the spatial aspects of S1P signalling. In this regard, SK1 interacts with phospholipase D-derived phosphatidic acid in the Golgi apparatus, where S1P may be linked to cell survival. However, we have also detected SK1 and SK2, together with S1P5, in the centrosome, raising the possibility of a role for S1P in mitosis. Additionally, the signalling outcome of extracellular S1P binding to its G protein coupled receptors can be influenced by growth factor receptors in cancer. These various aspects will be discussed.
Sphingosine kinase-1 as therapy target.
L16
D Pchejetski1, L Sauer, O Cuvillier1, J Waxman1
1Dept. Oncology, Imperial College London, and 2Dept. of therapeutic targets, IPBS, Toulouse
Recently we have identified sphingosine kinase-1 (SK1) as a therapy target in prostate cancer (Pchejetski et al, Cancer Res 2005). Our studies indicate that targeting SK1 with specific inhibitors (Pchejetski et al, Mol Cancer Ther, 2008) or FTY720 (Pchejetski et al, submitted) may chemo- or radio-sensitize prostate cancer cells. In the current study we have investigated chemotherapy-induced modulation of the SK1 activity and expression in several prostate cancer cell lines. In PC-3 prostate cancer cells 20 nM docetaxel was inducing a loss of SK1 expression and activity, which correlated with the loss of cell viability. On the contrary, 5 nM docetaxel was inefficient in modulating SK1 expression and activity and had much lower effect on cell viability. Pharmacological SK1 inhibition or specific siRNA have sensitized PC-3 cells to docetaxel. On the contrary, in LNCaP and DU145 prostate cancer cells, docetaxel has induced an increase in SK1 expression and activity. Yet, in LNCaP cells this has resulted in a resistance to docetaxel-induced apoptosis, whereas DU145 cells were still sensitive to this drug. Both cell types were still sensitive to pharmacological SK1 inhibition, which could also sensitize them to docetaxel. Overall, our data indicate that SK1 inhibition is not required forchemotherapy-induced cancer cell apoptosis. We have shown that depending on cell line, same therapy can drive SK1 expression in different directions, which doesn’t predict the therapeutic out- come. Yet, direct SK1 inhibition proves to be a universal tool to induce prostate cancer cell apoptosis and sensitize them to chemotherapy.
Expression of GM3 and GD3 synthases in human melanoma cell lines with different metastatic potential.
L17
I Popa, Y Wang, L Thomas, J Portoukalian
Laboratory of Dermatological Research, University of Lyon-1 and Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon, France
We have previously established a set of human melanoma variants with increasing metastatic potential from a low metastatic human melanoma cell line IC8 injected in immunosuppressed newborn
rats. The increase in metastatic potential was found to be correlated with a decrease in GM3 and mostly GD3 gangliosides in the variants. The purpose of the present work was to compare the gene expression of GD3 and GM3 synthases in the human melanoma variants with low (IC8) and high metastatic potential (TW12, IP1). Western blot analysis to detect the proteins of GD3 synthase and GM3 synthase showed the presence of both enzymes in the three melanoma variants. RT-PCR technique applied to the intact RNA of GD3 synthase and GM3 synthase from human cell lines IP1, IC8 and TW12 showed also a high expression of the genes in the three variants. By immunohistochemical staining, GD3 was proven to be highly expressed in primary melanoma, but its reactivity was low in small metastases, whereas CDH was weakly stained in primary melanomas and strongly stained in small metastases. The results suggest that GM3 and GD3 synthases are expressed in both primary tumors and small metastases, but they are in an inactive form in small metastases.
Non-natural sphingolipid analogues in anticancer therapy: synthesis and biological properites.
L18
AA Ali1, CM Barzilay1, A Dagan2
1Dept. Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Products, School of Pharmacy, 2Dept. Experimental Medicine and Cancer Research, School of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
Sphingolipids participate in signal transduction and regulation of the cell growth. Ceramide is generally associated with growth arrest and cell death while sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) enhances growth and survival. Attenuation of ceramide levels and/or increased levels of S1P are increasingly implicated in various stages of cancer pathogenesis, including an anti-apoptotic phenotype, metastasis and escape from senescence. Thus, inhibition of the metabolic pathways of those metabolites might lead to ceramide accumulation and/or S1P reduction that served as a target in the anticancer therapy. Therefore, many inhibitors and analogues have been developed, but so far, none of those have been approved for clinical use. Accordingly, we have synthesized novel non-natural sphingolipid analogues by utilizing epoxide chemistry. These compounds have shown better anticancer activity in comparison with cis-Pt in colon, lung and ovarian cancer cell-lines. Moreover, a SAR study was performed in order to understand the importance of the lipophilic groups of the compounds. A systematic change of lipophilicity in the two different sites of the molecule were studied and presented. A fluorescent procedure was utilized in order to study their enzymatic inhibition of the relevant enzymes, which may demonstrate the possible mechanism of ceramide accumula- tion resulting in apoptosis.
Hypertension associated alterations in the vasoactive effects of sphingomyelin metabolites.
L19
LJA Spijkers, RFP van den Akker, MC Michel, AE Alewijnse, SLM Peters
Dept. Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Hypertension is associated with pronounced alterations in vessel growth and contractile properties, including the contractile responses to endothelin-1 (ET-1). Since the sphingomyelin metab- olites ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate have vasoactive properties, we investigated whether modulation of sphingolipid metabolism induces altered contractile responses in isolated arteries of six months old male, spontaneously hyperten- sive rats (SHR) compared to normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). In SHR aorta, inhibition of sphingosine kinase by dimethylsphingosine (DMS, 10μM) significantly augmented ET-1 induced constrictions, but not in WKY. In addition, inhibition of cyclooxygenase (COX) by indomethacin (10μM) decreased con- striction by ET-1 more strongly in SHR aorta than in WKY. In SHR carotid artery, DMS itself induced a major transient contraction but not in WKY. Furthermore, exogenous application of sphingomye- linase (SMase, 0.1 U/ml) induced a pronounced constriction in carotid arteries from SHR, whereas in WKYonly minor constriction to SMase was observed. Interestingly, the DMS and SMase-induced contractions in SHR could be prevented by indomethacine or prior removal of the endothelium. We conclude that hypertension is associated with pronounced alterations in sphingolipid homeosta- sis, which accounts for drastically altered contractile responses.
Crosstalk between pi3k-akt-pten and ceramide signaling in the control of glioma cell fate.
L20
P Giussani, L Brioschi, R Bassi, L Riboni, P Viani
Dept. of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Milano, LITA Segrate, Via Fratelli Cervi, 93, 20090 Segrate (MI) Italy
Alterations in specific cell signaling mechanisms is a common feature of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most malignant brain tumor in humans. PI3K-Akt-PTEN signaling pathway has been identified as an important oncogenic one in GBMs. In addition a disregulation of ceramide (Cer)-dependent signaling in GBMs is supported by the evidence that Cer levels are inversely associated to malignant progression of these tumors. Moreover, in glioma cells a Cer increase is functional to the activity of many cytotoxic treatments. Both apoptotic and non apoptotic Cer- induced cell death can be inhibited by the activation of the Akt pathway. The control of Cer levels in glioma cells involves specific enzymes as well as the transport of Cer from ER to the Golgi apparatus in the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway. Moreover, the accumulation of the de-novo synhesized Cer is crucial in cannabinoid triggered ER stress and apoptosis in glioma, thus suggesting that Cer levels in the ER/Golgi compartment can be crucial for glioma cell fate. In this study we demonstrated that in C6 glioma cells, in which PI3K/Akt pathway is constitutively activated, inhibition of PI3K and transfection with a dominant negative Akt strongly inhibited Cer utilization for the biosynthesis of complex sphingolipids by controlling the ER-to Golgi vesicular transport of Cer. This suggests that maintaining Cer levels low in the ER can contribute to the prosurvival activity of PI3K/Akt.
Acid sphingomyelinase, nitric oxide and syntaxin 4: an important link between apoptosis and exocytosis.
L21
C Perrotta1, L Bizzozero1, S Morlacchi1, P Rosa2, E Gulbins3, E Clementi1
1Dept. Preclinical Science and 2Inst. of Neuroscience, University of Milan, Italy, 3Inst. für Molekularbiologie Universitätsklinikum Essen
Acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) plays an important role inCD95-induced apoptosis. Activation of this enzyme involves a process of exocytosis through which it translocates from intracel- lular compartments to the plasma membrane. The molecular mechanisms underlying this translocation are not known.
Here we report that syntaxin 4 (synt 4), is an important player inA-SMase trafficking. We found that synt 4 colocalises with A- SMase and, when its expression is silenced by a specific siRNA, exposure of A-SMase induced by CD95 is reduced and CD95 internalization and apoptosis inhibited. We investigated whether synt 4 is regulated by messengers known to regulate A-SMaseactivity, in particular Nitric Oxide (NO) which inhibits apoptosis through inhibition of A-SMase. We found that NO blocks ASMase translocation in the same way of synt 4 siRNA. Molecular analyses showed that the mechanism through which NO inhibits A-SMase activity is the degradation of synt 4 through the activation of the proteasome, indicating synt 4 as the target of NO pathway.
The identification of the interaction between ASMase, synt 4 and NO establishes a strong link between three key players in intracellular trafficking and apoptosis and might open new vistas in understanding the complex events underlying the process of cell death.
Regulation of ryanodine receptors by signaling sphingolipids: calmodulin is the missing link?
L22
E Kovács, K Liliom
Institute of Enzymology, Biological Research Center, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and sphingosylphosphoryl-choline(SPC) are novel mediators of cell signaling. Interestingly, they can act as first and second messengers as well. While their activation of cell surface receptors has been characterized, not much information is
available about their intracellular target proteins. They can mobilize calcium from the endoplasmic reticulum in a yet unknown manner. SPC has been shown to activate ryanodine receptors through an undefined mechanism. Calmodulin binds to ryanodine receptors and regulates their activity. We have demonstrated that SPC binds to calmodulin and inhibits it’s action on target enzymes (Kovacs and Liliom, Biochem J. 2008, 410(2): 427-37). Here we hypothesised that SPC liberates calcium from intracellular stores through dissociating the complex between calmodulin and ryanodine receptors, hence regulating the channel’s activity. To prove our assumption, we studied the interaction between the calmodulin-binding domain of the ryanodine receptor and calmodulin in the presence of SPC and S1P. Monitoring the fluorescence of both dansyl-labeled calmodulin and the tryptophan of the peptide, we have found that SPC dissociates the calmodulin – ryanodine receptor peptide complex, while S1P does not. We also studied SPC-elicited calcium currents from microsomal preparations in the presence of calmodulin inhibitors or additional calmodulin. Based on our results, we suggest that calmodulin might be the missing link between SPC and ryanodine receptors.
The role of sphingolipids, glycolipids and phospholipids in the drosophilaepithelial permeability barriers.
L23
G Tsikala1,2, D Karagogeos1,3, M Strigini1
1Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, Iraklio, Greece, 2Department of Biology, and 3Medical School, University of Crete, Iraklio, Greece
Cell adhesion depends on specialised structures that localize to specific membrane domains. An example are the septate junctions (SJ) of invertebrates, that sustain the diffusion permeability barriers of epithelia and the glial blood-brain barrier. Trafficking of junction components to the correct membrane domain is interlocked to the process of cell polarization and relies on the correct compartmental- ization of proteins as well as lipids in membranes. Little is known about the contribution of lipids to cell junction formation. We use Drosophila to study the role of lipids (in particular sphingolipids, glycosphingo- lipids, and phospholipids) in these cell biological processes. As a handle to the genetic study of lipids in this context, we investigate the contribution of lipid metabolism genes to the process of SJ formation. We screened mutants in sphingolipid,glyco-sphingolipid, and phospholipid metabolism genes using an established dye penetration assay, which probes the ‘tightness’ of the epithelial permeability barrier. We now proceed to assess the molecular, cellular and ultrastructural defects in the mutants with disrupted barriers. In addition, we try to identify/develop reagents to visualize lipid subtypes in our system, in order to characterize the subcellular distribution of different lipids in the polarised cells of Drosophila epithelia.
Involvement of nitric oxide in the promotion of cell survival by ceramide 1-phosphate.
L24
P Gangoiti, MH Granado, L Arana, A Ouro, A Gómez-Muñoz
Dept. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Faculty of Science and Technology. University of the Basque Country. P.O. Box 644, 48080 – Bilbao (Spain)
Macrophages play critical roles in the inflammatory response. In addition to their ability to migrate to the sites of lesions or infections, macrophage number is strictly regulated by cell death and division. In primary monocytes, obtained from the bone marrow, cell homeostasis is regulated by bioactive sphingolipids. In particular, ceramides cause cell cycle arrest and are potent inducers of apoptosis. By contrast, the phosphorylated form of ceramide, ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P), has mitogenic properties, and promote cell survival. We now demonstrate that C1P upregulates the expression of the inducible form of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and that production of nitric oxide (NO) is a major mechanism whereby C1P inhibits apoptosis in the macro- phages. Paradoxically, NO failed to stimulate DNA synthesis and macrophage proliferation. We have now found that the prosurvival effect of C1P is blocked by inhibitors of iNOS, and that both iNOS expression and the antiapoptotic effect of C1P are blocked by selective inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, or nuclearfactor-kappa B. Another mechanism whereby C1P blocks apoptosis is through inhibition of acidic sphingomyelinase (A-SMase),which produces ceramides from sphingomyelin. However, al- though NO reversed the inhibitory effect of C1P on A-SMase, this pahtways was not involved in the prosurvival effect of C1P.
Ceramide 1-phosphate inhibits serine palmitoyltransferase and blocks apoptosis in alveolar macrophages.
L25
MH Granado, P Gangoiti, A Ouro, L Arana and A Gómez-Muñoz
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
Ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid capable of regulating vital cellular functions including cell proliferation, apoptosis, phagocytosis, or inflammatory responses. As expected, incubation of alveolar NR8383 macrophages in the absence of growth factors caused accumulation of ceramides, and cell death by apoptosis. However, there were very little activation of A-SMaseand neutral SMase when these cells were incubated in the absence of growth factors. An important observation in this work was that synthesis de novo is the major pathway involved in the production of ceramides in apoptotic macrophages. Stimulation of this pathway requires SPT activation, as demonstrated by measuring this enzyme activity and protein expression of the two SPT subunits (SPT1 and SPT2). Another key finding is that C1P inhibits both SPT activation (probably through direct interaction with the enzyme) and ceramide accumulation, leading to inhibition of apoptosis and promotion of macrophage survival. These observations add a new dimension to the understanding of the prosurvival actions of C1P in mammalian cells.
A ceramide-1-phosphate analog, PCERA-1,suppresses TNFα and induces IL-10 production in activated macro-phages.
L26
M Goldsmith1, D Avni1, M Levi1, O Ernst1, MM Meijler2, NS Gray3, H Rosen4 and T Zor1
1Dept of Biochemistry, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel, 2Dept of Chemistry, Ben-Gurion University, Be’er-Sheva, Israel, 3Dept of Biological Chemistry, Genomics Institute of the Novartis Research Foundation, La Jolla, CA, USA, and 4Dept of Immunology, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
Tight regulation of the production of the key pro-inflammatorycytokine TNFa is essential for the prevention of chronic inflamma- tory diseases. In vivo administration of a synthetic phospholipid, named PCERA-1 (Phospho-CERamide Analog-1), was previously found to suppress LPS-induced TNFa blood levels. Here we show that extra-cellular PCERA-1 potently suppresses production of thepro-inflammatory cytokine TNFa in stimulated RAW264.7 macro- phages, and in addition, it independently and reciprocally regulates the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. Specificity is demonstrated by the inability of the phospholipids C1P, S1P and LPA to perform these activities. Regulation of cytokine production is demonstrated at the mRNA and protein levels. Finally, we show that while PCERA-1 does not block activation of NFkB and MAP kinases by LPS, it elevates intra- cellular cAMP level. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory activity of PCERA-1 seems to be mediated by a cell membrane receptor, upstream to cAMP production and eventually TNFa suppression and IL-10 induction. Thus, identification of the PCERA-1 receptor may provide new pharmacological means to block inflammation.
Effects of dimebon on the TNF-alpha-induced disorders of sphingolipids in mice brain sections.
L27
AV Alessenko1, YO Karatasso1, AA Korotayeva1, EF Shevtsova1, LN Shingarova1, SO Bachurin
1Institute of Biochemical Physics , Moscow, Russia
Institute of Physiologically Active Substances, Chernogolovka, Russia
There is substantial evidence that inflammatory mechanisms, induced by TNF-alpha are involved in Alzheimer′s Disease (AD). Metabolism of sphingolipids is of particular interest due to their high concentration in the brain. In our experiments we used dimebon for prevention of sphingolipids disorders in mice brain sections (hippocampus, cerebellum and cerebral cortex) induced byTNF-alpha. Recently Dimebon has attracted renewed interest after being shown to have positive effects on persons suffering from AD.TNF-alpha (10mkg per mouse), dimebon (0,2 mg/kg ) and their combination were injected to mice interperitonealy. Changes in level of sphingomyelin and galactosylceramides molecular species were detected by chromato-mass-spectrometry in hippocampus, cerebellum and cerebral cortex within 30 min, 2, 4 and 24 hours after injection. Maximal changes in sphingomyelin and galactosyl- ceramides contents of different sphingolipids molecular species after single TNF-alpha administration were found in the hippocam- pus, and were less expressed in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum after 2, 4 and 24 hours. Dimebon itself did not induce changes in sphingolipids spectrum in brain sections, but protected lipids against disorders induced by TNF-alpha in mice brain.
Expression of NPC1i1061t mutant in the neuronal cell line HN9.10e: a cellular model of niemann-pick C disease.
L28
V Voccoli, G Della Sala, L Colombaioni
Istituto di Neuroscienze, Area della Ricerca CNR, Pisa, Italy
Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease is a fatal lipid storage disorder characterized, at neuronal level, by accumulation of cholesterol, gangliosides and glycosphingolipids as well as by the presence of dendritic and axonal abnormalities. NPC is caused by mutations on two genes: NPC1 and NPC2. Mutations in the NPC1 gene are responsible for approximately 95% of human NPC disease and the most prevalent mutation, NPC1 I1061T, is associated with the classic juvenile-onset phenotype of NPC disorder. To acquire more information on the molecular pathways involved in NPC neurodegeneration, we have transfected the hippocampal neuronal cell line HN9.10e with the mutant protein NPC1I1061T as well as with the wild type, functional, NPC1. Then, we have compared NPC1 mutant with wild type neurons. In particular, we have assessed the effects of the expression of the mutant form NPC1I1061T on the physiological properties of endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, Golgi apparatus and endo- cytic and lysosomal compartments. Aberrant organelle structures and localization as well as alterations of the physiological properties of the mitochondrial network were evidenced in neurons lacking functional NPC1.
Pharmacological manipulation of glycosphingolipids
L29
JM Aerts
Dept. Medical Biochemistry, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Enormous progress has been made regarding therapy of type I Gaucher disease, a disorder characterized by intralysosomal storage of glucosylceramide in tissue macrophages. Effective enzyme replacement therapy, based on chronic intravenous administration of recombinant human glucocerebrosidase, has now been very successfully applied in several thousand patients.
An alternative therapeutic approach, so-called substrate reduction therapy, is based on partial reduction of the synthesis of glucosylcer- amide and hence of subsequent metabolites. Oral administration of an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthesis (N-butyldeoxynojirimycin,registered as miglustat (Zavesca)), is effective in reversing clinical symptoms in type I Gaucher patients with mild to moderate disease manifestations. More optimal small compounds are being developed for substrate reduction therapy. Such therapy, in conjunction with enzyme replacement therapy, may play an important role in the future clinical management of patients suffering from type I Gaucher disease and potentially also for patients suffering from storage disorders with neurological disease manifestations.Very recently the therapeutic potential of two classes of inhibitors of glycosphingolipid synthesis has been demonstrated for obesity-induced type 2 diabetes. The future for pharmacolog- ical manipulation of glycosphingolipids is discussed.
DRMs exist in sphingolipid- and cholesterol- depleted cells. impact on localization and function of MRP1.
P1
K Klappe1, A-J Dijkhuis1, I Hummel1, A de Boer1, A-M Huls1, A van Dam2, H. Permentier2, B-J Kroesen3, H Sietsma3 and JW Kok1
1Department of Cell Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, 2Center for Pharmacy, University of Groningen, 3Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, The Netherlands
Extensive depletion of sphingolipids or cholesterol in two different cell lines does not abrogate the ability to isolate lubrol-baseddetergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) from these cells. Compared to control, DRM fractions contain equal amounts of protein, while the classical DRM markers Src and caveolin-1(Cav-1) display a similar gradient distribution. DRMs themselves are severely depleted of sphingolipids and cholesterol, respectively. Also detergent-free lipid rafts can be isolated from sphingolipid- orcholesterol-depleted cells. Concerning functional consequences of sphingolipid depletion, neither DRM/detergent-free lipid rafts localization nor efflux function of multidrug resistance-relatedprotein 1 (MRP1) was affected in the two cell lines. On the contrary, cholesterol depletion caused a shift of MRP1 out ofdetergent-free lipid raft fractions to higher density gradient fractions and concurrently resulted in inhibition of MRP1 efflux activity, especially in Neuro-2a cells. We conclude that in contrast to sphingolipids, cholesterol depletion affects MRP1 function in neuroblastoma cells and this may be related to its localization indetergent-free lipid rafts.
Neuroprotective effect of vitamin D on the 1-42 beta-amyloid peptide-induced cytotoxicity in differentiated SH-SY5 ycells. A role for sphingolipids.
P2
F Bini1, M Martinesi1, M Garcia-Gil2, B Meacci1
1Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy – 2Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Italy
Sphingolipids, mainly ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate(S1P) are bioactive molecules involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in many cell types, acting in opposite manner: ceramide induces cell death, whereas S1P is mainly a pro-survival factor. Although the role of 1!,25- dihydroxyvitamin D3 (VitD) in the homeostasis of Ca2+ and phosphate is well known in classic target tissues, its role in neuronal cells is less clear. Here, we have investigated whether VitD modulate the death and survival of differentiated SH-SH5Hcells in response to beta amyloid peptide and the involvement of ceramide and S1P in hormone action. We found that both VitD and beta amyloid peptide induced cell death and markedly reduced S1P synthesis by sphingosine kinase in BDNF-differentiated SH- SY5Y cells. However, when VitD was added to the cell medium before beta amyloid peptide treatment, the apoptotic effect was markedly reduced, suggesting a neuroprotective action of VitD on the cytotoxicity induced by the peptide. Notably, although both agonists reduced the synthesis of the pro-survival factor S1P, VitD could prevent amyloid peptide-induced toxicity affecting ceramide content. Taken together, these results provide the first evidence of the ability of VitD to prevent the neurodegeneration upon beta amyloid treatment through the regulation of ceramide/S1P ratio.
Lateral distribution of very long chain sphingolipids in mixed membranes.
P3
YJE Björkqvist, JP Slotte and B Westerlund
Department of Biochemistry, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, Finland
Sphingolipids containing very long acyl chains (VLC-SLs) are abundant in certain specialized tissues and are minor components of plasma membranes in most mammalian cells. There is evidence of cellular processes in which VLC-SLs are required, and their function is thought to be mediated through sphingolipid-richmembrane domains. This study was conducted to explore how very long (C24) saturated or monounsaturated acyl chains influence the lateral distribution of sphingolipids in model membranes. Differential scanning calorimetry was applied to compare the thermotropic behavior of 24:0- and 24:1-sphingoli- pids and to analyze their miscibility with palmitoylsphingomyelin. The results from fluorescence quenching measurements showed that the24:0-sphingolipids formed ordered domains in multicom- ponent membranes. The 24:0-sphingolipid enriched domains had a high chain packing density which appeared to hinder the partitioning of sterols into them. The effect of a 24:1 acyl chain was found to be dependent on the head group structure of the sphingolipid and could either stabilize or disrupt ordered sphingo- lipid/cholesterol domains. We conclude that VLC-SLs may be components of functional sphingolipid-rich domains in biological membranes and their presence may affect the distribution of sterols between ordered and disordered membrane regions.
Free sphingenine-1-phosphate plasma levels in sgpl1-/- mice.
P4
PP Van Veldhoven
LIPIT, Dept. Molecular Cell Biology, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Sphingenine-1-phosphate (S1P) is an important lipid mediator in the body circulation. In Sgpl1-/- mice, lacking S1P-lyase, S1P is accumulating in most tissues, with concomitant immunosuppression, inflammation, and apoptosis [1]. Given the elevated plasma S1P levels, it is postulated that Edg/S1P-receptors.S1P-receptor are continously activated/downregulated in these mice. Indeed, S1P levels in sick pups (20–35µM) are well above the reported Kd values,2–10 nM for S1P5 (Edg8) to 20–27 nM for S1P2 (Edg5) [2]. On the other hand, the same holds true for the wild type values(2–4µM). According to Murata et al. [3], more than 60% of human plasma S1P is however bound to lipoproteins and active (unbound) S1P was estimated at 7.3 nM (based on a radioreceptor assay). Hence, attempts were made to estimate the unbound S1P in Sgpl1-/-plasma. Given the small amount of plasma available and the peculiar properties of S1P, not all approaches appeared useful. The most reliable assay turned out to be gel filtration using low volume spin columns. Recoveries, based on samples spiked with [4,5-3H]-sphinganine-1-phosphate, reached 95 %. Mass measurements indicated that ~ 90% of mouse plasma S1P was protein bound, both in +/+ and -/- pups. Hence in -/- pups, free S1P plasma levels are estimated at 1µM (versus 20 nM in +/+ pups), and indeed able to attenuate S1P-receptors.
1.Van Veldhoven PP (2005) Chem Phys Lipids 136: 164-165.
2.Anliker B, Chun J (2004) J Biol Chem 279: 20555-20558.
3.Murata N et al (2000) Biochem J 352: 809-815.
Sphingenine-1-phosphate induced permeability changes in sgpl1-/red blood cells?
P5
PP Van Veldhoven
LIPIT, Dept. Molecular Cell Biology, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Red blood cells (RBC) are apparently intimately involved insphingenine-1-phosphate (S1P) mediated signalling. Although the enzymes required for generation and removal of S1P are absent or low, RBC do store and release S1P and in human blood, the majority of blood S1P is associated with RBC [1,2]. Given the accumulation of S1P in tissues of mice lacking S1P-lyase [3], an enzyme required for the degradation of catabolic and bioactive S1P and encoded by Sgpl1, it was of interest to analyze RBC in more depth in this model.
Hereto, blood was collected on heparin and subjected to Histopaque step gradient centrifugation. Due to the limiting amount of -/- blood, this procedure was optimized with 10–20µl blood. In wild type samples, about 30 % of blood SeP was recovered in plasma, 60 % in the RBC and 12 % was associated with the other blood cells. When applied to -/- samples, RBC failed however to sediment through the Histopaque gradient. Analysis of total blood cells of -/- pups indicated that their SeP content was increased ~25-fold compared to wild type cells (332 versus 12.4.pmol/µl cells; n=4); in C57Bl/6 background). Appar- ently, the accumulating zwitterionic S1P is responsible for a change in membrane permeability of RBC and this could explain a small degree of hemolysis seen in -/- samples. If so, increase in plasma S1P in Sgpl1-/- mice might be partly due to leakage from RBC during blood collection.
1.Ito K et al (2007) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 357: 212–217.
2.Hänel P et al (2007) 21: 1202–1209.
3.Van Veldhoven PP (2005) Chem Phys Lipids 136: 164-165.
Intracellular membrane bound pools of sphingenine-1-phosphate?
P6
PP Van Veldhoven
LIPIT, Dept. Molecular Cell Biology, K.U.Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Cellular levels of bioactive phosphorylated sphingoid bases (PSB) such as sphingenine-1-phosphate (S1P) are controlled by sphingosine kinases, S1P-phosphatases and S1P-lyase in mam- mals. Based on the use of inhibitors, siRNA technology andknock-out models, the lyase appears most important. In tissues of mice lacking S1P-lyase (Sgpl1-/-), S1P and other PSBs indeed accumulate in an age-dependent manner to mM concentrations, especially in thymus, lung and Harderian gland [1]. In order to understand how cells can cope with such amounts of a zwitterionicdetergent-like compound, major organelles were studied in liver ofSgpl1-/- mice, and the subcellular localization of S1P was analyzed. Based on their sedimentation in density gradients, membrane properties of lysosomes and mitochondria appear to be slightly altered in Sgpl1-/- liver. In control liver, S1P was only measurable in the nuclear fraction, whereas in -/- samples 60 % was recovered in the post-nuclear fraction. Surprisingly, the majority of S1P present in this fraction was not cytoplasmic, but appeared to be associated with a (vesicular) compartment. Based on density gradient centrifugation, this compartment appears to be different from the major organelles, including endoplasmic reticulum- derived vesicles.
1. Van Veldhoven PP (2005) Chem Phys Lipids 136: 164-165.
Ceramide-enriched membrane domains in red blood cells and the mechanism of sphingomyelinase-induced hot-cold haemolysis.
P7
DJ López1, L-R Montes1, J Sot1, LA Bagatolli2, MJ Stonehouse3, ML Vasil3, BX Wu4, YA Hannun4, FM Goñi1 and A Alonso1
1Unidad de Biofísica (CSIC-UPV/EHU), Bilbao, Spain. 2MEM- PHYS Center for Biomembrane Physics, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 3Department of Microbiology, University of Colorado, Aurora, USA. 4Department of Biochem- istry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, USA.
Hot-cold haemolysis is the phenomenon whereby red blood cells, preincubated at 37 C in the presence of certain agents, undergo rapid haemolysis when transferred to 4 C. PlcHR2, a phospholipase C/ sphingomyelinase from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, induces hot-coldhaemolysis. We found that the sphingomyelinase, but not the phospholipase C activity, is essential for hot-cold haemolysis. Fluorescence microscopy observations confirm the formation ofceramide-enriched domains as a result of PlcHR2 activity. We suggest that formation of these rigid domains in the originally flexible cell make it fragile thus highly susceptible to haemolysis. Ceramidase, that is known to facilitate slow haemolysis at 37 C, actually hindershot-cold haemolysis. Differential scanning calorimetry of erytrocyte membranes treated with PlcHR2 demonstrates the presence ofceramide-rich domains that are rigid at 4 C, but fluid at 37 C. Finally, in liposomes composed of SM, PC and cholesterol, which exhibit slow release of aqueous contents at 37 C, addition of 10 mol % ceramide and transfer to 4 C cause a large increase in the rate of solute efflux.
Cholesterol displacement by ceramide in sphingomyelin-containing liquid-ordered domains, and generation of gel regions in giant lipidic vesicles.
P8
M Ibarguren, J Sot, JV Busto, L-R Montes, FM Goñi, A Alonso
Unidad de Biofisíca (Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV/EHU) and Depar- tamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco, P. O. Box 644, 48080 Bilbao, Spain
Fluorescence confocal microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry are used in combination to study the phase behaviour of bilayers composed of PC:PE:SM:Chol equimolecular mixtures, in the presence or absence of 10 mol% egg ceramide. In the absence of ceramide, separate liquid-ordered and liquid-disordereddomains are observed in giant unilamellar vesicles. In the presence of ceramide, gel-like domains appear within the liquid-orderedregions. The melting properties of these gel-like domains resemble those of SM:ceramide binary mixtures, suggesting Chol displace- ment by ceramide from SM:Chol-rich liquid-ordered regions. Thus three kinds of domains coexist within a single vesicle in the presence of ceramide: gel, liquid-ordered, and liquid-disordered. In contrast, when 10 mol% egg diacylglycerol is added instead of ceramide, homogeneous vesicles, consisting only of liquid- disordered bilayers, are observed.
Ceramide 1-phosphate stimulates proliferation and differentiation of mouse myoblasts.
P9
P Gangoiti1, C Bernacchioni2, MH Granado1, C Donati2, AGómez-Muñoz1, P Bruni2
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain and 2Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Firenze, Firenze, Italy
Bioactive sphingolipids including sphingosine, sphingosine 1- phosphate, ceramide, GM3 ganglioside have been recently emerged as important regulators of skeletal muscle cell biology being capable of regulating key cellular parameters including myoblast proliferation and myogenesis. However, no information is presently available on the possible biological effects of ceramide1-phosphate (C1P) in these cells. Here we provide the first experimental evidence that C1P acts both as mitogen and pro- myogenic agent in C2C12 myoblasts. C1P (15µM) was found to stimulate DNA synthesis and accelerate cell cycle. Specific inhibitors of PI3K or ERK1/2 signaling pathways strongly attenuated the C1P action, whereas pertussis toxin treatment, or inhibition of p38 MAPK or JNK were uneffective. In agreement, C1P was responsible for a rapid phosphorylation of Akt and ERK1/2. Notably, C1P was disclosed to exert also a robust promyogenic effect. It enhanced the expression of myogenic markers such as myosin heavy chain and caveolin-3 and hastened the fusion of mononucleated myoblasts. Thus, in this study a novel important biological action of C1P in myoblasts has been highlighted, which possibly will be exploited in the future to enhance skeletal muscle regeneration.
The first irreversible inhibitor of acid ceramidase. Preliminary characterization and cytotoxicity studies.
P10
L Camacho, C Bedia, J Casas, G Fabrias
Dept. of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Instituto de Química Avanzada de Cataluña, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Acid ceramidase (AC) catalyzes the degradation of ceramide into sphingosine and free fatty acids within the lysosomes. Mutations in the AC gene (ASAH1) result in Farber disease, a fatal human genetic disorder. The involvement of AC in cell death in both physiological and pathological conditions has been extensively documented1 and different studies support AC as a drug target in cancer.2 In agreement, AC inhibitors have been successfully used to slow the growth of cancer cells, alone or in combination with other anticancer treatments. Continuing with ongoing projects aimed at the discovery of novel AC inhibitors, in this communication we report on the activity of compound RBM15 as the first irreversible inhibitor of AC. Using Farber cells transduced to overexpress AC, this com- pound inhibited the hydrolysis of CerC12NBD dose- dependently both in intact cells and in cell lysates with IC50 values in the low µM range in both cases.Time-course and dilution experiments proved that inhibition was irreversible. AC inhibition was also evident in the ceramidome, as concluded form HPLC-MS analyses of sphingolipid extracts from cells treated with RBM15. A preliminary account of the cytotoxicity of this molecule over the human adenocarcinoma cell line A459 is presented.
Reduced hiv-1 infection by inhibition of dihydroceramide desaturase.
P11
JM Munoz-Olaya1, C Vieira2, J Sot3, J Casas1, SJimenez-Baranda2, JL Abad1, S Grijalvo1, A Delgado1,4, A Llebaria1, A Alonso3, FM Goñi3, S Mañes2, G Fabrias1
1Dept. of Biomedicinal Chemistry, IQAC-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain – 2Dept. of Immunology and Oncology, CNB-CSIC, Madrid, Spain – 3Dept. of Biochemistry, and Unidad de Biofísica CSIC-UPV/EHU, University of the Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain – 4Pharmaceutical chemistry Unit, School of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
HIV-1 infects permissive cells by the gp41-mediated fusion of viral and targets cell membranes. This fusion event requires the sequential interactions of the gp120 viral envelope with CD4, the primary viral receptor, and CXCR4 or CCR5, the coreceptors required for HIV-1 cell entry and infection. Accumulated evidence indicates that lipid rafts have an essential role in the HIV-1-induced lateral associations required for viral infection. Disruption of cell membrane rafts by cholesterol depletion before viral exposure inhibits virus entry. Similar effects are observed with either inhibitors of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis or inhibitors of glucosylceramide synthase. Here we describe the synthesis of compound GT11pyr and its use as pharmacological tool against HIV cell entry. This compound inhibited the HIV-1 envelope-mediated fusion with target cell membranes in a dose-dependent manner. Biophysical studies with model membranes agree with the biological data. The overall findings reinforce the therapeutical interest of dihydrocer- amide desaturase in anti HIV-1 therapy and other raft-associated diseases.
Acidic and neutral sphingomyelinase inhibition by dihydroceramide and dihydrosphingomyelin analogues.
P12
F Simbari1, X Matabosch1, G Fabriàs1, A Llebaria1, A Delgado1,2, T Levade3, J Casas1
1Dept. of Biomedicinal Chemistry, Instituto de Química Avanzada de Cataluña (CSIC), Barcelona, Spain – 2Unidad de Química Farmacéutica (Unidad Asociada al CSIC), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain – 3INSERM U858, Institut Louis Bugnard, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Rangueil, Toulouse, France
Sphingomyelin (SM) is the primary sphingolipid in mamma- lian cells and plays important structural and functional roles. SM hydrolysis can be carried out by different isoforms of sphingomye- linase (SMase), producing phosphorylcholine and the intracellular effector ceramide. Ceramide diffuses within membranes acting as a second messenger. Generation of ceramide in various cellular systems is currently recognized as critical to the initiation of vital cellular processes such as differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis. In this communication we describe the inhibitory activity of acidic and neutral SMases by dihydroceramide and dihydrosphin- gomyelin analogues, using C6-NBD-sphingomyelin as substrate. Acidic SMase activity was determined with A549 cell homoge- nates whereas homogenates from acidic SMase-deficientNiemann-Pick cells were used as neutral SMase enzymatic source. The most active compounds were tested in intact cells and their effect on the cellular sphingolipid profile was also studied.
Regulation of DHS1P release in F9 mutant cells by fumonisin- B1.
P13
SM Pak1, NY Park1, SM Kim1, KO Shin1, JY Kwak1, HS Yoo1, S Oh2, WJ Kim3, YM Lee1
1College of Pharmacy and CBITRC, Chungbuk National University – 2Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, Ehwa Womans University 3Department of Life Sciences, Soonchun- hyang University, Korea
The main goal of our study was to determine the regulation mechanism of dihydrosphingosine 1-phosphate (DHS1P) release from F9 mutant cells. We used a specific mutant (F9-12) of F9 cells over-expressing Sphk1 and showing null of S1P lyase. FB1 treatment (50 uM) exhibited concurrent increases of DHS and DHS1P in F9-12 cells. In this condition, the increased DHS and DHS1P also efficiently released outside. ISP-1 and DMS treatment largely attenuated the accumulation of DHS and DHS1P in both inside and outside of cells. FB1 treatment induced a small percentage of apoptotic cells, indicating the releases of DHS and DHS1P were not mediated by apoptosis. DHS1P release may be regulated by the rate of sphingolipid biosynthesis and Sphk activity. We further investigated the effects of ABC transporters on DHS1P release. By using ABC transporters inhibitors, verap- amil, MK-571 and glyburide, the involvement of ABC trans- porters on DHS1P release was verified.
“This work was supported by the Korea Research Foundation Grant funded by the Korean Government (MOEHRD)” (The Regional Research Universities Program/Chungbuk BITResearch-Oriented University Consortium)
Tumour biology of melanoma: a novel role of acid sphingomyelinase
P14
L Bizzozero1, G Milani2, E Clementi1,3, C Perrotta1
1Department of Preclinical Sciences, University of Milano, Milano, Italy; 2H. San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy; 3E. Medea Scientific Institute, Bosisio Parini, Italy
Recent evidence indicates that Acid Sphingomyelinase (A-SMase),plays important role in tumour biology, including tumour response to chemotherapeutic drugs. The effects of A-SMase were shown in vivo to results from a combination of effects of the enzyme expressed by the tumour cells themselves, and the surrounding microvascular endothelial and inflammatory cells. We decided to investigate the specific role of A-SMase expressed by melanoma B16 cells which show different tumorigenic and metastatic properties dependent on their melanin content. In order to investigate a possible correlation between A-SMase expression and B16 cells phenotype we isolated several B16 clones on the basis of pigmentation, indicating the pigmented clones as “black”, and the not- pigmented as “white” and we observed a higher expression and activity of A-SMase in the white B16 clones. In vivo preliminary experiments showed that the white and the black clones differ in terms of growth rate, invasiveness and histological characteristics. These data suggest a strong relationship betweenA-SMase expression and tumour behav- iour. These studies might help refine therapeutic strategies against tumour based on regulation of A-SMase activity/ expression.
Ceramide induces autophagic death and HMGB1 release in human glioma cells.
P15
P Giussani, R Bassi, V Anelli, F De Zen, L Brioschi, P Viani, L Riboni
Dept Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology,LITA-Segrate, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
Gliomas are among the deadliest of human cancers, and exhibit striking resistance to therapy. Glioma cells are frequently resistant to apoptosis, the induction of autophagy recently emerging as a potential effective therapeutic approach. The molecular mechanisms underlying autophagic death in glioma cells remain largerly unknown. The aim of this research was to investigate whether the sphingoid mediator ceramide (Cer) may play a role in glioma cell autophagic death. Treatment of human glioma cells with the alkylating agent temozolomide (TMZ) results in the increase of Cer levels, followed by cell death. The administration of short-chainCer analogues mimics TMZ in inducing glioma cell toxicity. After TMZ and Cer treatment, no formation of apoptotic small bodies occurs. Acridine orange staining and western blot of the autophago- some marker LC3B-II indicate TMZ- and Cer- induce autoph- agy. In agreement, co-treatment of cells with the autophagic inhibitor 3-methyladenine reverses toxicity. Moreover, glioma cells undergoing Cer-induced autophagy release large amounts of HMGB1 (high mobility group box 1), after its translocation from the nucleus to cytosol. On its turn, HMGB1 acts as an autocrine stimulus via RAGE receptors, by inducing cell growth and migration. In conclusion, our data implicate Cer as mediator of TMZ-induced autophagic death in glioma cells and suggest glioma cells dying by autophagy provide HMGB1 as extracellular signal to enhance the growth of viable cells.
Desensitization and internalization of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors induced by cis-4-methylsphingosine.
P16
M ter Braak1, B Hegen1, V Hardel1, KH Jakobs1, G van Echten- Deckert2, D Meyer zu Heringdorf 1,3
1Institut für Pharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, 2Kekulé- Institut, LIMES Membrane Biology and Lipid Biochemistry, Universität Bonn and 3Institut für Pharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt, Germany
Cis-4-methylsphingosine (cis-4 M-Sph) is a synthetic sphingosine analogue that is readily taken up by cells and phosphorylated to cis-4-methylsphingosine-1-phosphate (cis-4 M-S1P), which accumu- lates intracellularly. Previous reports demonstrated that cis-4 M-Sphmimicked the mitogenic effect of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in Swiss 3 T3 fibroblasts, but induced apoptosis in neuronal cells. Here, we analysed the influence of cis-4 M-Sph on S1P receptor signalling in HEK-293 cells and mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Addition of cis-4M-Sph to the cells induced increases in intracellular Ca2+concentrations ([Ca2+]i) that were slower than those by S1P but faster than those by sphingosine. Pre-incubation with cis-4 M-Sph, but not with sphingosine, reduced ([Ca2+]i increases by S1P in a time- andconcentration-dependent manner, while it had no influence on ([Ca2+]i increases by LPA. Both the stimulation of acute ([Ca2+]i increases and the inhibition of S1P-induced ([Ca2+]i increases were dependent on the presence of sphingosine kinase-1, indicating that they were mediated by cis-4 M-S1P. Confocal microscopy revealed that cis-4 M-Sphinduced an internalization of S1P receptors. It is concluded that cellular production of cis-4 M-S1P can lead to S1P receptor desensitization and internalization.
Space environment and lipid domains rich in sphingomyelin-cholesterol content.
P17
E Albi1, M Peverini1, R Lazzarini1, M Viola Magni1, G Perrella2
1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Physiopathology Section, University of Perugia. – 2Department of Experimental and Clinical Pathology and Medicine, University of Udine
It has been shown that in FRTL-5 cells UV treatment induced an increase ofN-SMase activity higher in proliferating cells (TSH+) than in quiescent cells(TSH-). Differently, in the space the enzyme activity increase of TSH+ cells was similar to that of TSH- cells. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of the cosmic environment on lipid domains in relation to FRTL-5 TSH+cell activity during the 15-days on the Space Shuttle (Experia Mission).The activity of N-SMase and the content of RNA polymerase II were evaluated in the cells whereas the lipid composition was analyzed in the culture medium at the re-entry of the shuttle or after 48 hours of cell culture at 37 C. The results showed low value of N-SMase activity and RNA polymerase II content. After 48 hours at 37 C the SMase activity and the content of RNA polymerase II increased in the cell. In the culture medium the content of PE, PI, and PS was similar in the two experimental conditions whereas the PC, SM and CHO content decreased in the space with respect to the medium of the cells after 48 hours at 37 C. It is possible that in space the cells are hungry of lipid domains that are able to make them more stable, slowing down the proliferative activity and protecting them from the damage.
Role of the third amino acid of the e/dry motif in g protein selectivity of s1p receptors.
P19
M Jongsma, FS den Boon, PB van Loenen, MC Michel, SLM Peters, AE Alewijnse
Dept. Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapy, Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors show variance in the third amino acid of the conserved E/DRY motif. This study investigates whether this amino acid is important in G-proteinselectivity of these receptors. The most remarkable differences were observed for the S1P1 mutant receptors. The S1P1ERH and S1P1ERA mutant receptor showed a decrease in the potency of S1P and SEW2871 to inhibitforskolin-induced cAMP accumulation whereas the potency for FTY720-P was unchanged. The potency of S1P and FTY720-P to induce increases in intracellular calcium concentrations were shifted to the left at the S1P1ERH mutant receptor. The ERH to ERY or ERA mutations of the S1P2 and S1P3 receptor did not induce major changes in signaling. In conclusion, this study is a first indication that the tyrosine residue of the E/DRY motif may restrict the S1P1 receptor from activating multiple G-proteins. However, introducing a tyrosine residue in the S1P2 or S1P3 receptor did affect but did not limit the signaling of these receptors. Interestingly, besides these findings we show that some mutations differentially affected the signaling of the tested ligands.
Importance of connexin-43 in the regulation of sphingolipid metabolism in primary skeletal muscle cells.
P20
F Bini1, J von Maltzahn2, V Wulf2, K Willecke2, Meacci E1
1Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Florence, Italy; 2Institut für Genetik, Abteilung Molekulargenetik, Universität Bonn, Germany; elisabetta.meacci@unifi.it
Diverse intercellular signalling pathways influence the regulation of myoblast differentiation of skeletal muscle during development and regeneration. One of them is mediated by gap junctions, i.e. intercellular conduits formed by docking of two hemichannels composed of connexin (Cx) proteins. The expression of Cx43 is upregulated during the regeneration of adult skeletal muscle. In vitro studies revealed that Cx43 expression is required for normal myo- genesis. In agreement with this evidence, we have recently shown that the regulation and assembly of connexins into gap junctions and Cx43 protein in particular represent critical events in myoblast differentiation elicited by sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive lipid involved in this biological process and in the activation of muscle stem cells. Here we investigated the possible interaction between Cx43 expression and function on sphingolipid metabolism in primary cultures of myoblasts obtained from wild type andCx43-knockout (Cx43-/-) newborn mice. Interestingly, we found that sphingolipid metabolism is significantly altered in Cx43-/- cells compared to wild type and heterozygous Cx43-/+ cells. These findings suggest that the ability of myoblasts to share information and/or signalling pathways mediated by Cx43 is required for the correct balance between sphingolipids, the ceramide and S1P. Ceramide and S1P act in opposite manner regulating the coordinated differentiation of myoblasts to their final fate.
(Grants from Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Pistoia e Pescia, Programma Vigoni)
S1P and its analogs are killing neurons.
P21
N Hagen, AH Merrill Jr1, G van Echten-Deckert
Kekulé-Institute,LIMES Membrane Biology & Lipid Biochemistry, University Bonn, Germany
1School of Biology and Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, USA
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is known to induce proliferation in most cell types described so far. However, in the present study we demonstrate that terminally differentiated neurons, which store S1P as a result of S1P-lyase deficiency, are directed into apoptosis. Using liquid chromatography (LC) electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry we determined the amounts of different bioactive sphingolipids in neurons prepared from lyase deficient versus wildtype and heterozygous mice. Our results confirm the hypothesis based on results obtained with the metabolically stable sphingoid phosphate cis-4-methylsphingosine-phosphate that S1P induces neuronal apoptosis when it reaches a certain threshold value. In addition the molecular mechanism responsible for this effect involves aberrant cell cycle activation as described before in wild type neurons accumulating the semi-synthetic cis-4-methylsphingo-sine-phosphate. Of interest, FTY720 showed a similar yet less pronounced apoptotic effect in wild type neurons. We thus propose cis-4-methylsphingosine as a new synthetic prodrug, which might help understand the role of S1P in neuronal cell death.
6th Meeting
6th Meeting
Bilbao, Spain, Nov 22-25, 2007
Inside and out the “sphingolipid rheostat”
IL1
Riccardo Ghidoni
Lab. Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, San Paolo University Hospital, Medical School, University of Milan – Via A. di Rudinì, 8, 20142 Milan – Italy
A “sphingolipid rheostat” has been proposed to explain the opposite roles in cell growth arrest and survival of ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate [Cuvillier O. etal, Nature, 381, 800, 1996]. Based on the fact that these two metabolites are interconvertible, it has been proposed that it is not the absolute amounts of these metabolites but rather their relative levels that determines the cell fate [Maceyka M. et al, BBA, 1585, 193, 2002]. After a decade, the complexity of the signaling pathways by the integrated sphingolipid network requires a rivisitation of this paradigm. The body of such revisitation focuses on: i) the consistency and size of subcellular pools of individual sphingolipids involved in the signaling pathways, ii) the evidence that other species (as ceramide-1-phosphate) may participate in the cell fate, iii) the still obscure role of the “intermediate” free sphingosine, iv) the “time” factor, including the half-life of each mediator, v) the occurrence of potential “dominant” and “recessive” signals.
Ceramide-1-phosphate: a lipid second messenger in eicosanoid synthesis.
IL2
Charles E. Chalfant
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia CommonwealthUniversity-School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298-0614; Research Service, Hunter Holmes McGuire Veterans Administration Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249; and The Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA 23298.
Ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P) is a new addition to the growing group of bioactive sphingolipids, which includes ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate. Previous findings from our laboratory have demonstrated the interaction between C1P and group IVA cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2a) at the mechanistic level. Specifically, C1P was shown to enhance the activity of cPLA2a in a specific manner thereby acting as a positive activator of cPLA2a (Subramanian, P., et al. (2005) J.Biol.Chem. 280, 17601-7). In this study, we have identified several key amino acids adjacent to the CBR II region of the CaLB domain of cPLA2a? required for interaction with C1P. Therefore, the interaction site for C1P lies within the CaLB domain of cPLA2a, and is thus, distinctly different from the binding site for the anionic lipid, PIP2. Mutagenesis of the interaction site for C1P also inhibited the ability of cPLA2a to translocate in response to several inflammatory agonists. The requirement of the C1P/cPLA2a interaction for activation of enzyme will be discussed in detail. The regulation of the C1P-generating enzyme, ceramide kinase, by inflammatory agonists and in vivo will also be discussed.
Bioactive sphingolipids in inflammation and cancer.
IL3
Lina M. Obeid, M.D.
Departments of Medicine and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, and The Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC.
Our laboratory focuses on the role of the bioactive sphingolipids ceramide andsphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in regulation of cell growth. To this end, we study the regulation of enzymes involved in ceramide and S1P synthesis and breakdown. Here we describe new data implicating a golgi alkaline ceramidase enzyme in generation of S1P. Moreover we show that sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1), the predominant enzyme that generates S1P in cells, is regulated in inflammation and in cancer. Studies on regulation of SK1 by hypoxia will be presented. In addition, using a cancer cell/endothelial co-culturemodel and a mouse matrigel plug model, we demonstrate that SK1 expression in the tumor causes S1P generation leading to de novo blood vessel formation. Finally in very recent studies we demonstrate a critical role for SK1 in animal models of inflammatory bowel disease and of colon cancer. Taken together these studies implicate the bioactive sphingolipid SK1-S1P pathway in inflammatory diseases and in carcinogenesis.
Therapies of cancers and sphingolipid storage diseases by novel synthetic analogs of sphingolipids.
IL4
Shimon Gatt and Arie Dagan
Department of Biochemistry, Hebrew University-Hadassah school of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel 91120.
The purpose of our studies was to synthesize non-natural analogs of sphingolipids that would affect their metabolism in two directions: a. Elevate ceramide, for killing cancers. b. Decrease the levels of sphingolipids for therapy of sphingolipidoses.
1.We have synthesized sphingolipids to each of which a fluorescent molecule is linked, enabling us to omit the use of radioactivity and analyze effects on sphingolipid metabolism by quantification of the fluorescence of the respective products.
2.We have synthesized novel, non-natural synthetic analogs of sphingolipids that inhibited the hydrolysis of ceramide or its conversion to more complex sphingolipids.
This led to an elevation of the ceramide, leading to death by apoptosis of a variety of cancer cells.
3.Administration of the synthetic sphingolipid-analogs to tumor-bearing mice by intradermal or intraperitoneal injections, or by giving them per-os, ie, in their drinking water, resulted in a reduction and even disappearance of the tumors, while in mice that have not received our synthetic analogs the tumors continued growing.
4.Other, synthetic analogs of sphingolipids were prepared for therapy of two sphingolipid storage diseases, ie, Niemann-Pick and Gaucher diseases, in which sphingomyelin and glucosylceramide accumulate respectively. The analogs were tested for two therapeutic approaches. In the first (Substrate Reduction Therapy) the analogs inhibited the biosyntheses of sphingomyelin (for Niemann-Pick disease) and/or glucosylceramide (for Gaucher disease), thereby decreasing their respective levels.
In the second therapeutic approach (Chaperone Therapy) the analogs linked to the mutated enzyme (eg. acid sphingomyelinase) and protected it from being inactivated in the endoplasmic reticulum. The enzyme-analog complex was then transported to the lysosomes of Niemann-Pick disease cells, where the accumulated sphingomyelin displaced the analog and was hydrolyzed by the residual activity of the mutated sphingomyelinase.
The Extended Family of Neutral Sphingomyelinases: roles and regulation.
IL5
Yusuf A Hannun
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina,175 Ashley Ave, Charleston, SC 29425,USA.
Sphingomyelinases (SMases) are key enzymes that regulate the formation of ceramide through the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin substrates. Recent results have led to the identification of a novel family of neutral SMases including the yeast Isc1 and mammalian nSMase2. These enzymes belong to an extended family of enzymes that appear to share similar in vitro catalytic mechanisms and similar mechanisms of regulation by anionic phospholipids. The yeast Isc1 hydrolyzes yeast inositol phosphoceramides, localizes to mitochondria, is activated by mitochondrial anionic phospholipids, and participates in thepost-diauxic response of yeast cells. In human cells, TNF and other cytokines cause acute activation of nSMase2 over 5-30 minutes. This is accompanied by translocation of the enzyme to the plasma membrane. Evidence will be presented demonstrating palmitoylation of the enzyme and its localization to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. Activation of nSMase2 in response to TNF plays an important role in mediating regulation of expression of adhesion molecules and prostaglandin formation. These and other studies are beginning to define specific functional pathways of ceramide and sphingolipid metabolism, but they also introduce two additional layers of complexity to the understanding of sphingolipid action: a) the interconnection of lipid metabolism, and 2) the compartmentalized metabolism and action of these lipids.
Optimization and validation of the fluorogenic sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase assay and application to library screening.
O1
Luz Camacho-Castillo1, Carmen Bedia1, Josefina Casas1, Paul P. Van Veldhoven2, Gemma Fabriàs1.
1 Research Unit on BioActive Molecules (RUBAM), IIQAB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain 2 Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Campus Gasthuisberg, LIPIT, Leuven, Belgium.
Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SPL) is an endoplasmic reticulum resident enzyme responsible for the degradation of the bioactive lipid compound sphingosine-1- phosphate (S1P). The disruption of SPL function by small molecules has been shown to induce lymphopenia in mice.1 This suggests that this enzyme represents a novel target for immunomodulatory therapy. Screening for new SPL inhibitors requires however the availability of a reliable and fast enzyme assay. The measurement of the SPL activity has been carried out for years using radiolabeled dihydrosphingosine-1- phosphate as substrate in a rather tedious assay.2 A new assay using a fluorescent substrate has been recently reported, but requires still extraction and RP-HPLC.3 A simple and reproducible assay based on the release of umbeliferone from an appropriate substrate (RU13) was developed in our laboratories.4
In this communication we describe the optimization of this assay and its validation by using several cell lines with different degree of SPL activity. We also report on a simplified format for library screening using semi-purified human SPL expressed in E. coli5 and its application to the discovery of SPL inhibitors. Finally, the effect of RU13 on the sphingolipidome, as determined by LC-MS, is also reported.
1. S.R. Schwab, J.P. Pereira, M. Matloubian, Y. Xu, Y. Huang, J.G. Cyster, Lymphocyte sequestration through S1P lyase inhibition and disruption of S1P gradients. Science, 2005.309, 1735-9
2.P. P. Van Veldhoven, G. P. Mannaerts, Sphingosine-phosphate lyase. Adv. Lipid Res. 1993, 26, 69-98.
3.P. Bandhuvula, H. Fyrst, J. D. Saba, A rapid fluorescent assay for sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase enzyme activity J. Lipid Res. 2007, in press.
4.C. Bedia, J. Casas, G. Fabrias. Fluorimetric determination of sphingosine-1- phosphate lyase activity. 5th International Meeting of the Sphingolipid Club. Calella,Spain, 2006.
5. P. P. Van Veldhoven, S. Gijsbers, G .P. Mannaerts, J. R. Vermeesch, V. Brys, Human sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase: cDNA cloning, functional expression studies and mapping to chromosome 10q22. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2000, 1487, 128-134.
Sphingolipid-based giant unilamellar vesicles electroformed under physiological ionic strength conditions.
O2
L-Ruth Montes1, Alicia Alonso1, Felix Goñi1 and Luis A. Bagatolli2*
1 Unidad de Biofisica (Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV/EHU), Depto. de Bioquimica, Universidad del Pais Vasco. 2 Dpt. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/MEMPHYS, University of Southern Denmark.
In the last years giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) have become objects of intense scrutiny by chemists, biologists, and physicists who are interested in the many aspects of biological membranes. In particular, this “cell size” model system allows direct visualization of particular membrane-related phenomena at the level of single vesicles using fluorescencemicroscopy-related techniques. However, the conventional preparation of GUVs currently requires very low salt concentration, thus precluding experimentation under physiological conditions. Here we show that GUVs can be prepared using a new protocol based on the electroformation method either from native membranes or organic lipid mixtures at physiological ionic strength. Additionally, for the GUVs composed of native membranes we show that membrane proteins and glycosphingolipids preserve their natural orientation after electroformation. We anticipate our result to be important in order to revisit a vast variety of findings performed with GUVs under low or no salt conditions. As an example, we show images of GUV composed of sphingolipids, and the effect of a sphingomyelinase on sphingomyelin-containing vesicles.
Drug target identification in sphingolipid metabolism by computational systems biology tools : MCA and MPA.
O3
F.Betul Kavun, Kutlu Ulgen
Department of Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University, Bebek 34342, Istanbul,Turkey
Sphingolipids are a class of lipids regulating cellular processes that are critically important in cell’s fate. These cellular processes function in cancer development and progression, thus this fact underlies the basics of the novel cancer therapy approach. The pharmacological manipulation of the sphingolipid metabolism in cancer therapeutics necessitates the detailed understanding of the pathway. Mathematical modeling is employed to unravel the complexity of biological systems, where the information we have gained from the use of two the computational systems biology tools in this paper is expected to shed light on the sphingolipid metabolism.
In this study, Saccharomyces cerevisiae is employed as the model organism since detailed and complete data for this organism are available in the literature. Moreover, the sphingolipid metabolic and regulatory pathways are conserved across species and they resemble each other in all eukaryotes. Metabolic control analysis and metabolic pathway analysis are here performed in a comparative manner to identify potential drug target enzymes among sphingolipid pathway that can be further utilized in drug design studies for cancer therapy. Our aim was to rank the enzymes in SL pathway according to their roles in controlling the metabolic network by MCA and to identify the physiologically connected reactions, i.e. biologically significant and functional modules of network by MPA. The ultimate goal of this work is to achieve a set of candidate drug target enzymes and to compare the resulting critical control enzymes identified from both metabolic control analysis and metabolic pathway analysis. In fact this will be the comparison of metabolic control analysis and metabolic pathway analysis in terms of their efficiency in drug target identification. The final set of candidate drug target enzymes are selected by handling the results from both metabolic control and pathway analysis. Palmitoyl-CoA Synthase (rxn 1),Glycerol-3- Phosphate Acyltransferase (rxn 2), CDP-DAG Synthase (rxn 4), Phosphatidylinositol synthase (rxn 5), Inositol-1-phosphate synthase (rxn 6),Phosphoserine-Phosphatase (rxn 9), Serine Palmitoyl Transferase (rxn 11), Acyl-CoAbinding protein (rxn 12), Sphingolipid long chain base kinase (rxn 15 and 20),4-Hydroxylase (rxn 21), Ceramide Sythase (rxn 23), GPI Remodelase (rxn 27) andAcetyl-CoA Synthethase (rxn 34) are proposed as potential drug targets by both MCA and MPA. The mathematical tools’ efficiency for drug target identification performed in this study is also validated by the clinically available drugs.
Osmotic shock-elicited neutral sphingomyelinase activity in human red blood cells.
O4
David J. Lopez,1 Meritxell Egido-Gabas, 2 Josefina Casas,2 Marie Garnier,3 Banafshe Larijani,3 Felix M. Goni1 and Alicia Alonso1*
For years, sphingolipids have been thought to work as mere structural lipids in cells, however in the past decade their role in cell signalling has been underlined. A particularly well studied sphingolipid is ceramide, which acts as an important second messenger in cell death processes, although its putative role as an inducer of cell proliferation has also been described. Ceramide may be synthesized following two pathways: de novo synthesis and sphingomyelin (SM) hydrolysis. The first one occurs in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) via condensation of L-serine with palmitoyl-CoA to form 3-ketosphinganine. The second pathway appears to occur mainly in the plasma membrane, as a result of sphingomyelinase (SMase) activation by an appropriate effector of the so-calledsphingolipid signaling pathway.
Lang et al., studying the processes occurring during erythrocyte death, described an increase in ceramide content after 15 hour-incubation of human red blood cells (RBC) in a hypertonic medium. Gatt, Loyter and co-workers had reported some years back that incubation of chicken erythrocytes in a hypotonic medium resulted in the hydrolysis of SM. Because of the newly acknowledged importance of ceramide signaling, in RBC as well as in other cells, it was important to explore and define any latent sphingomyelinase activity in human erythrocytes. This work deals with the characterization of a sphingomyelinase activity in human RBC that is elicited upon incubation in either hypotonic or hypertonic media. The decrease in SM content has been monitored by three different techniques, namely thin layer chromatography (TLC), reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and electrospray mass spectrometry (ESI-MS). This intrinsic activity is calcium and magnesium-dependent and causes an increase in ceramide content whose maximum is reached 3-6 minutes after establishing the osmotic shock at neutral pH. The activity is blunted after addition of neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase) inhibitors such as GW4869 or spiroepoxide. Some studies have used detergents as activators of sphingomyelinases; in this case, Triton X-100 (TX-100) slightly increases the SM hydrolysis.
Up to seven different groups of sphingomyelinases have been described. Among the ones present in mammals, some are active at neutral pH only in the presence of magnesium ions. One type of neutral sphingomyelinases, nSMase 2, has been localized in the plasma membrane (PM), is magnesium-dependent and is inhibited by nSMase inhibitors such as GW4869. The activity described in the present work might belong to this group of neutral sphingomyelinases.
*Corresponding author: alicia.alonso@ehu.es
FasL-triggered inhibition of sphingomyelin synthesis is involved in ceramide increase and cell death in Jurkat leukemia T cells.
O5
Delphine Milhas1, Hervé Benoist1, Virginie Garcia1, Zhe-Xiong Jin2, Hisanori Umehara2, Toshiro Okazaki3, Thierry Levade1, and Bruno Ségui1
1 Inserm U858, Institut de Médecine Moléculaire de Rangueil, BP 84225, 31432 Toulouse Cédex 4, France. 2 Division of Hematology and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan. 3 Department of Clinical Laboratory, Medicine/Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori683-8504, Japan.
Ceramide is converted to sphingomyelin (SM) by SM synthase (SMS). Herein, we show that in human leukemia Jurkat cells, FasL treatment inhibited SMS activity in a dose- andtime-dependent manner. SMS inhibition elicited by FasL was abrogated by zVAD-fmk, abroad-spectrum caspase inhibitor, and did not occur in caspase-8- deficient cells. Thus,FasL-mediated SMS inhibition likely depends on caspase activation. Mechanisms involved in SMS inhibition upon FasL treatment are currently under investigation. RT-PCR analysis indicated that Jurkat cells expressed SMS1 but not SMS2. Jurkat cells stably expressing SMS1 siRNA displayed approximately 40-50% reduction of SM synthase activity and 15% decrease of SM content. Whereas PC level was increased by 20%, basal ceramide and diacylglycerol contents were not modified by SMS1 silencing. FasL-induced apoptosis and ceramide production were enhanced in SMS1 knockdown Jurkat cells. Our data indicate that the inhibition of ceramide conversion to SM is accompanied by an enhancement ofFasL-induced cell death in Jurkat cells.
Expression of alkaline sphingomyelinase (NPP7) in human liver and liver tumorigenesis.
O6
Yajun Cheng1, Jun Wu2, Erik Hertervig3, Stefan Lindgren4, Deming Duan2, Åke Nilsson3,Rui-Dong Duan1
1.Biomedical Center, B11, Institute of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Lund Sweden.
2.Institute of Biotechnology, Beijing, China.
3.Gastroenterology Division, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
4.Gastroenterology Division, Lund University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
Alkaline sphingomyelinase (alk-SMase) is a novel member of nucleotide pyrophosphatase / phosphodiesterase (NPP) family and is therefore also called NPP7. It is an ecto-enzymeexpressed in the intestinal mucosa of many species. High activity was previously also found in the bile of human but not that of other species including rat, mouse, guinea pig, rabbit, pig, and baboon. In the intestine, the enzyme may prevent colonic tumorigenesis by generating ceramide, reducing the formation of lysophosphatidic acid and inactivatingplatelet-activating factor. Loss of function mutation of alk-SMase has been identified in colon cancer HT29 cells. The present study investigates alk-SMase expression in normal and diseased human liver. Northern blot identified positive mRNA band in human liver but not in rat liver. Western blot detected 3 protein bands in normal human liver and the largest one is released into human bile. Deglycosylation studies indicated that the three bands represent the enzyme with different degrees of glycosylation. No band was identified in rat liver by Western blot. Searching GenBank of expressed sequence tag (EST) found that the enzyme might be expressed in human fetal liver as early as 20-weekgestation. Analysis of SMase activities in 30 human liver biopsy samples showed relatively high activity of alk-SMase in cholestatic diseases and low activity in steatosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). In Hep G2 liver cancer cells, RT-PCR identified 3 transcripts with 1.4 kb, 1.2 kb and 0.4 kb, respectively. DNA sequence showed that the 1.4 kb form is the wild type cDNA of alk-SMases with 5 translated exons, the 1.2 kb product lacks exon 4, and the 0.4 kb form is only a combination of exon 1 and 5. Genomic sequence indicated that these aberrant transcripts are resulted from the alternative splicing. Transient expression of the 1.2 kb did not show any alk-SMase activity. When HepG2 cells were cultured, the alk-SMase activity was low in monolayer cells but increased in polarized HepG2 cells. In addition, searching GenBank with full insert sequence (FIS) identified a “big”alk-SMase from a human liver tumor, which contains the full sequence of the enzyme plus a 73 amino acid tag at the N-terminal. The N-terminal tag changed the signal peptide ofalk-SMase that originally presents at the N-terminal, and significantly reduced the enzyme activity. In conclusion, liver expression of alk-SMase occurs specifically in human, and the expression is changed in association with hepatic tumorigenesis and diseases.
Nitric oxide boosts chemoimmunotherapy via inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase in a mouse model of melanoma.
O7
Cristiana Perrotta1, Laura Bizzozero2, Sestina Falcone2, Patricia Rovere-Querini1, Alessandro Prinetti3, Edward H. Schuchman4, Sandro Sonnino3, Angelo A. Manfredi1,5 and Emilio Clementi2,6
1H San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milano, Italy; 2E. Medea Scientific Institute, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy; 3Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Milano, 20090 Segrate, Italy; 4Department of Human Genetics, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA; 5Università Vita- Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milano, Italy; 6Department of Preclinical Sciences, University of Milano, 20157 Milano, Italy.
Cisplatin is one of the most effective anticancer drugs, but its severe toxic effects, including depletion of immune-competent cells, limit its efficacy. One promising strategy to reduce the toxicity of chemotherapy maintaining its efficacy is the combination of chemotherapy with immunotherapy. Among immunotherapies, approaches based on dendritic cells (DCs) vaccines are particularly promising. A major limitation for combination chemoimmunotherapy is that the chemotherapeutic drugs induce apoptotic death of immune competent cells used for immunotherapies. A strategy that protects selectively DCs but not tumour cells from the cytotoxic action of chemotherapeutics would therefore significantly enhance the efficacy of combined chemoimmunotherapy allowing reduced dosage of the chemotherapeutics to limit their toxic effects against normal tissues. To address the issue we took advantage of the properties of nitric oxide (NO). NO enhances resistance of DCs to the toxic effect of the tumour environment in vivo and increases DC cytotoxic, endocytic and antigen presenting functions. Here we report the results of a chemoimmunotherapy in which systemic treatment with cisplatin was combined with intratumour delivery of DCs, previously treated ex vivo with a pulse of NO released by the NO donor DETA-NO. The therapy, tested in the B16 mouse model of melanoma, was significantly more efficacious than cisplatin alone, leading to tumour regression and animal survival at low doses of cisplatin that alone had no therapeutic effect. Tumour cure was not observed combining cisplatin with DCs not exposed toDETA-NO, indicating the key role of the NO pretreatment. We investigated the mechanisms responsible for the synergic effect of NO-treated DCs and cisplatin and found that NO-treated DCs were protected both in vitro and in vivo from cisplatin-inducedcytotoxicity. Cisplatin triggered DC apoptosis through increased expression and activation of acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase); pre-treatment of DCs with DETA-NO prevented such activation and inhibited activation of the downstream proapoptotic events, including generation of ceramide, activation of caspases 3 and 9 and mitochondrial depolarization. The effects of NO were mediated through generation of its physiological messenger cyclic GMP. We conclude that NO and NO generating drugs represent promising tools to increase the efficacy of chemoimmunotherapies in vivo, promoting the survival and increasing the function of injected cells by targeting a key pathway in cisplatin-induced cytotoxicity.
Ceramide kinase mediates toll-like receptor 4-induced inflammation in vascular smooth muscle cells.
O8
Kristy L Houck, Todd E Fox, Mark Kester
Penn State University, 500 University Drive, Mail Code R130,Hershey PA 17033, USA
Sphingolipid metabolites have recently been implicated in toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling. Activation of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TLR4 signaling is dependent upon production of ceramide by acid sphingomyelinase (Cuschieri et al, Surg Infect, 2007). Yet, the role of ceramide metabolites to contribute to TLR4-induced inflammatory responses has not been investigated. Specifically, we now hypothesize that TLR4-inducedproliferation and inflammation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is dependent upon activated ceramide kinase (CERK) and resulting production of ceramide-1-phosphate(C1P). We demonstrate that LPS treatment of A7r5 VSMC leads to elevated CERK mRNA and protein expression. This increased expression of CERK correlates with increasedLPS-induced C1P mass, quantified by LC/MS/MS analysis. We show that LPS- andceramide-1-phosphate-, but not ceramide-treatment, leads to hallmarks of vascular inflammatory disease, including increased VSMC proliferation, positive remodeling, and production of inflammatory mediators. In addition, LPS-treated mouse blood samples had increased levels of ceramide-1- phosphate at the expense of ceramide. Taken together, our studies implicate ceramide-1-phosphate as a potential biomarker and /or mediator of vascular inflammation in diseases such as atherosclerosis or restenosis after angioplasty. These studies were funded, in part, by NIH RO1 HL076789 to MK.
Grape polyphenols regulate a critical cross-link between sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and vascular endothelial growth factor- signalingpathwaysS1P-mediated transactivation of VEGF-receptor-2 (Flk-1/KDR).
O9
Chantal Barthomeuf1,2 and Richard Beliveau3
1 Univ Auvergne, Lab de Pharmacognosie et Biotechnologies, Clermont-Fd (France)2INSERM-484, 3 Hôpital Ste Justine-UQAM, Service d’Hémato-Oncologie, Hôpital Ste- Justine/UQAM, Montréal, (Québec, Canada).
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive lipid released by activated platelets has emerged as an essential mediator of angiogenesis, a stimulus of the metastatic cascade and, a crucial link between inflammation, coagulation and angiogenesis. S1P is the ligand of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR) of the endothelial differentiation gene (Edg) family, namely edg-1, edg-3, edg-5, edg-6 and edg-8. Ligation to Edg-1, the preferential Edg receptor in ECs, promotes Edg-1 translocation into caveolae and, pertuissis toxin (PTx)- sensitive dependent activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3-K)/Akt, MEK/ERK and p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Edg-1 plays a major role in EC and smooth muscle cell function. It is most notably involved in migration, proliferation and differentiation of endothelial cells (ECs). Recent studies have shown that S1P promotes Src family kinase-dependent transactivation of vascular the endothelial growth factor Flk- 1/KDR also called VEGFR-2. Flk-1/KDR transactivation enhances eNOS and Akt activation in elicited cells (1). We have recently reported that grape polyphenols regulates a PI3K- dependent process: serum-mediated invasiveness of estrogen-receptor (ER)-negativebreast cancer cells (2) and, inhibit S1P and VEGF-induced EC chemotaxis (3). We have established a link between inhibition of S1P-mediated chemotaxis, reduction of platelet- activating factor (PAF) synthesis and down-regulation of p38 MAPK activation in elicited cells (2, 3). The aim of this study was to verify if the regulation of these S1P-dependenteffects could be due to inhibition of Flk-1/KDR transactivation. Western blots unambiguously demonstrate that in S1P-stimulated cells, Flk-1/KDR phosphorylation occurs as early as 3 min after S1P stimulation and, is decreased by pre-treatment with SGE or PTx. It has been found that although SGE decreases PAF synthesis and EC chemotaxis in S1P-stimulated cells, it did not modify the time-course of these events. They reach a maximum 7.5 min after S1P stimulation. Given the stimulatory effect of Flk-1-KDR on EC migration and PAF synthesis and, the kinetic of these events in SGE- pretreated cells, the suppression of Flk-1-KDR transactivation in S1P-elicited cells plays certainly a crucial role in the regulation of S1P-mediated chemotaxis and PAF synthesis by grape polyphenols. Since GPCR-dependent processes are involved in the promotion of inflammation, angiogenesis, coagulation and tumor invasiveness by S1P (5), this study has evidenced a mechanism playing a crucial role in the prevention of angiogenesis- dependent diseases by wine and grape polyphenols and, their tumor chemopreventive andanti-metastasis effects. Note that these data are the first to establish that certain dietary polyphenols regulate a critical cross-link between VEGF- and S1P-dependent signaling.
1 Tanimoto T et al. J Biol Chem 2002, 277: 42997-3001
2 Barthomeuf C et al. 2007 AACR Proceed, April 14-18, LA, Abstract 2656 3 Barthomeuf C. et al. Free Rad Biol Med 2006, 40:581-90
4 Barthomeuf C et al. NS-Arch Pharmacol 2007 374: 331-3325 Barthomeuf C Free Rad Biol Med 2007 42:312-313
Role for sphingosine kinase-1 in survival and progression of LNCaP prostate cancer cells to androgen independence.
O10
Audrey Dayon 1,2, Nelly Pirot 1,2, Nicolas Doumerc 2,3, Catherine Mazerolles 4, Leonor Nogueira 5, Muriel Golzio 1,2, Justin Teissié 1,2, Guy Serre 5, Pascal Rischmann 1,2,3, Bernard Malavaud 1,2,3, Olivier Cuvillier 1,2,3
1 CNRS, Sphingolipids and Cancer Research Laboratory, Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, UMR5089, Toulouse, F-31000 France
2 Université Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, F-31000 France
3 CHU Toulouse, Hôpital Rangueil, Service d’Urologie et de Transplantation Rénale, Toulouse, F-31000 France
4 CHU Toulouse, Hôpital Rangueil, Laboratoire Anatomie Pathologique et Histologie- Cytologie, Toulouse, F-31000 France
5 CHU Toulouse, Hôpital Purpan, Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Cytologie, Toulouse,F-31000 France
Androgen depletion, which is known to be associated with decreased cell proliferation and lower prostate specific antigen (PSA) secretion in LNCaP prostate cancer cells, triggers a rapid and significant but transient (< 48 h) inhibition of the oncogenic lipid kinase Sphingosine Kinase-1 (SphK1). The inhibition of SphK1 is instrumental as its overexpression can counteract the loss of proliferation induced by androgen privation. In orthotopically xenotransplanted animal models (SCID mice), the loss of tumor volume after castration is also correlated with a marked SphK1 inhibition in the prostatic tissues.
The addition of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to androgen deprived LNCaP cells restablishes cell proliferation as well as PSA secretion. SphK1 activity is implicated in this action since the overexpression of a dominant negative form of SphK1 or treatment with specific pharmacological SphK1 inhibitors inhibit the proliferative effects of DHT.
Noteworthy, longer exposure of LNCaP cells to androgen-free conditions (beyond 48h and up to 42 days) is linked to a progressive increase in SphK1 activity (up to 4-fold increase at 42 days), Akt activation and ERK 1/2 stimulation. These events are associated with a neuroendocrine differentiation of these cells (as shown by the morphological changes in cell phenotype and increased levels of the Neuron Specific Enolase (NSE) marker).
Collectively, these results implicate SphK1 in the progression of prostate cancer cells to androgen independence. The mechanisms by which SphK1 activity is increased during this phenomenon are still under investigation.
Genetic deletion of the sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase confers resistance to anticancer drugs.
O11
Colié S. 1, Kedjouar B. 1, Garcia V. 1, Carpentier S. 1, Van Veldhoven P.P. 2, Levade T. 1 and Andrieu-Abadie N. 1
1 INSERM U858, Institut de Mèdecine Moléculaire de Rangueil, BP84225, 31432 Toulouse Cedex 4, France.
2 LIPIT, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Begium.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive metabolite of sphingolipid metabolism, which modulates cell survival, proliferation and migration, as well as angiogenesis and lymphocyte trafficking. The intracellular concentration of this oncogenic lipid is governed by the activities of three different enzymes that catalyse its synthesis or removal. One of them, sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase (SPL), encoded by the Sgpl1 gene, is responsible for the irreversible degradation of S1P.
In order to investigate the role of SPL in cell survival, we used embryonic fibroblasts derived from SPL-deficient mice (KO), and compared their susceptibility to various apoptotic inducers to that of cells from heterozygous (HET) or wild type (WT) animals. Here we demonstrated that SPL-deficient cells are resistant to the toxic effect of etoposide, doxorubicin or other cytotoxic agents such as staurosporine. In mutant cells,stress-induced caspase activation and phosphatidylserine externalization were strongly inhibited. Moreover, the ability of SPL to protect cells from apoptosis was correlated with an accumulation of S1P in SPL-deficient cells. Interestingly, heterozygous disruption of the gene encoding for SPL was associated with a partial resistance to apoptosis and moderately elevated S1P levels. Finally, SPL deficiency led to increased cell migration in an in vitro scratch-wound assay resulting in accelerated wound closure, indicating an important role for SPL in this process.
These results suggest that, by affecting S1P metabolism, SPL may contribute to cell resistance upon antitumor treatment and could favor tumor progression.
(Supported by INSERM, Université Paul Sabatier, and Ligue contre le Cancer)
Role of sphingosine kinase in the antiapoptotic action of TGF-beta in murine mesoangioblasts D16.
O12
Chiara Donati1, Francesca Cencetti1, Paola Nincheri1, Silvia Brunelli2,3, Emilio Clementi4, Giulio Cossu2,5, Marta Farnararo1 e Paola Bruni1
1 Department of Biochemical Sciences, University of Florence, Florence
2 Stem Cell Research Institute, Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan
3 Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale ed Ambientale e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza
4 Dipartimento di Scienze Precliniche LITA-Vialba, Università di Milano
5 Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Milano
Mesoangioblasts are a novel class of stem cells able to differentiate into diverse mesodermal cell types such as adipocytes, osteoblasts, smooth and skeletal muscle cells. These cells are presently regarded as suitable candidates for cell therapy of muscle degenerative diseases since they have been demonstrated capable of regenerating, in animal models, the dystrophic muscle [1]. The characterization of the physiological agonists that regulate proliferation and survival of these stem cells becomes fundamental to enhance their therapeutic efficacy.
TGF-beta plays a critical role in the maintenance of the homeostasis between cell growth and apoptosis, however, depending on the cell type, a dual role of the citokine able of inducing proapoptotic or survival responses has been reported [2]. As regards the molecular mechanism of action, in the last few years a cross-talk between TGF-beta and sphingolipid signalling has been demonstrated to take place. It has been recently demonstrated that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a sphingolipid derived from sphingomyelin catabolism, involved in the regulation of fundamental biological effects [3], exerts a potent antiapoptotic action in murine mesoangioblasts [4].
In this study it is reported that TGf-beta exerts a marked antiapoptotic action in mesoangioblasts with a mechanism that involves activation of sphingosine kinase (SphK), which is the enzyme responsible for S1P formation. Treatment with the cytokine indeed efficaciously protected mesoangioblasts from apoptosis induced by serum starvation or staurosporine or C2-ceramide treatment assessed by various means such as activation ofcaspase-3 and determination of cytoplasmic histone-associated-DNA-fragments. The protective action of TGF-beta from staurosporine-induced apoptosis resulted strongly reduced when SphK activity was inhibited either by pharmacological inhibitors or by overexpression of the dominant negative mutant of the enzyme and when its expression levels were downregulated by specific siRNA transfection. Finally, staurosporine-induceddownregulation of SphK was counteracted by TGF-beta treatment. Interestingly, TGF–betaantiapoptic action was impaired when ERK1/2 activation was inhibited by the specific inhibitor U0126.
References[1] Sampaolesi M., Blot S., D’Antona G., Granger N., Tonlorenzi R., Innocenzi A., Mognol P., Thibaud J.L., Galvez B.G., Barthelemy I., Perani L., Mantero S., Guttinger M., Pansarasa O., Rinaldi C., Cusella De Angelis M.G., Torrente Y., Bordignon C., Bottinelli R., Cossu G. (2006) Nature 444(7119), 574-579[2]Sanchez-Capelo A., (2005) Cytokine Growth Factor Rev. 16, 15-34[3]Spiegel S. and Milstein S. (2002) J. Biol. Chem, 277, 25851-25854[4]Donati C., Cencetti F., Nincheri P., Bernacchioni C., Brunelli S., Clementi E., Cossu G. and Bruni P. (2007) Stem Cells, 25(7), 1713-1719
Sphingosine 1-phosphate stimulates aldosterone secretion through a mechanism involving the PI3-kinase/PKB and MEK/ERK 1/2 pathways.
O13
Leyre Brizuela, Miriam Rábano, Patricia Gangoiti, Natalia Narbona, José María Macarulla, Miguel Trueba, and Antonio Gómez-Muñoz
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. Faculty of Science and Technology. University of the Basque Country. P.O. Box 644. 48080 – Bilbao (Spain)
We reported recently that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a novel regulator of aldosterone secretion in zona glomerulosa cells of adrenal glands, and that phospholipase D (PLD) is implicated in this process. We now show that S1P causes phosphorylation of protein kinase B (PKB) and extracellularly regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2), which is an indication of their activation, in these cells. These effects are probably mediated through interaction of S1P with the Gi protein-coupled receptors S1P1/3, as pre-treatment with pertussis toxin or with the S1P1/3 antagonist VPC 23019 completely abolished phosphorylation of these kinases. Inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) ormitogen-activated kinase kinase (MEK) blocked S1P-stimulated aldosterone secretion. This inhibition was only partial when the cells were incubated independently with inhibitors of each pathway. However, aldosterone output was completely blocked when the cells werepre-treated withLY294002 and PD98059, simultaneously. These inhibitors also blocked PLD activation, which indicates that this enzyme is downstream of PI3K and MEK in this system. We propose a working model for S1P in which stimulation of the PI3K/PKB and MEK/ERK pathways leads to stimulation of PLD and aldosterone secretion.
Key words: adrenal gland; ceramide; mitogen-activated protein kinase; glomerulosa cells; mineralocorticoids; phospholipase D; protein kinase B; sphingolipids; steroids.
J. Lipid Res. 2007. 48:2264-2274.
Enhancement of NO-mediated and attenuation of EDHF-mediated vasorelaxation via activation of sphingosine kinase by muscarinic receptor stimulation.
O14
Stephan L.M. Peters, Arthur C.M. Mulders, Marie-Jeanne Mathy, Dagmar Meyer zu Heringdorf1, Michael ter Braak1, Najat Hajji, Dominique C. Olthof, Martin C. Michel and Astrid E. Alewijnse.
Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapy, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
1 Institute of Pharmacology, University Hospital Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45122 Essen, Germany.
Local formation of the sphingomyelin metabolite sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) within the vascular wall has been shown to modulate vascular contraction and relaxation. In the present study we investigated whether sphingosine kinase plays a role in muscarinicreceptor-mediated NO production and relaxation in different vascular beds. In a vascular endothelial cell line, expressing muscarinic M3 receptors and YFP-tagged sphingosine kinase, activation of the M3-receptor leads to a rapid translocation of sphingosine kinase from the cytosol to the plasma membrane. Moreover, the sphingosine kinase inhibitor dimethylsphingosine (DMS, 10 mM) attenuated NO production in this cell line after muscarinic receptor stimulation with the agonist methacholine. Accordingly, in isolated rat aorta the relaxant responses to methacholine were attenuated in the presence of DMS. Interestingly, DMS enhanced the relaxant responses to methacholine in mesenteric artery preparations. In this preparation, methacholine-induced endothelium-derivedhyperpolarizing factor- mediated (i.e. non NO and non-eicosanoid-dependent) relaxation was enhanced by DMS. In addition, DMS enhanced the dilatory actions of the putative endothelium- derived hyperpolarizing factor C-type natriuretic peptide.
We conclude that stimulation of endothelial muscarinic receptors induces sphingosine kinase signalling subsequently resulting in differential effects in different vessel types. Whereas locally produced S1P enhances NO-mediated vasorelaxation, it attenuatesEDHF-mediated vasodilation. A disturbed regulation of sphingolipid metabolism in the vascular wall may therefore play a role in the aetiology/pathology of disease states characterized by endothelial dysfunction.
Sulfogalactosylceramides in motor and psycho-cognitive adult metachromatic leukodystrophy: relations between clinical, biochemical analysis and molecular aspects.
O15
Benoit Colsch(1,2), Carlos Afonso (1), Jean-Claude Turpin (3), Jacques Portoukalian (4),Jean-Claude Tabet (1) and Nicole Baumann(1,2).
(1)University Pierre and Marie Curie UMR CNRS 7613, 4 Place Jussieu, 75252 Paris cedex 05, France;
(2)UMR INSERM 711 Salpetriere Hospital, 47 Boulevard de l’Hopital, 75651 Paris cedex 13, France;
(3) Association pour la Recherche en Neurochimie Salpetriere Hospital, 47 Boulevard de l’Hôpital, 75651 Paris cedex 13, France;
(4) Laboratory for dermatologic research EA 4169 University Lyon 1, Edouard Herriot hospital, 5 Place d’Arsonval, 69437 Lyon cedex 03, France.
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is a human autosomal recessive lysosomal neurodegenerative disorder that results from the accumulation of sulfatides in the central and peripheral nervous system. It is due to the enzyme deficiency of the sulfatide sulfatase i.e. arylsulfatase A (ASA). During adolescence and/or adulthood , there are 2 clinical presentations. It may be that of a degenerative disease of the central nervous system with mainly spastic manifestations or a spino-cerebellar ataxia, or that of a psychosis.As several lines of evidence indicate that the psychotic form of MLD could be a model of psychosis, we decided to do a pluridisciplinary study on 11 psycho-cognitivecases involving mental and psychiatric testing in comparison with 5 motor cases, a biochemical study with enzyme assays and quantitative mass spectrometry of urinary sulfatides, so as to determine whether there were biochemical particularities related to the psychotic forms. For quantitative mass spectrometry, a non physiological sulfatide with C17:0 fatty acid was synthesized. Urinary sulfatides consisted of C22:1/d18:1, and /or C22:0/d18:2 (m/z 862.7),C22:0 (OH)/d18:1 (m/z 878,8), C24:0/d18:1 and / or C24:0/C23:1(OH)/d18:2 (m/z 890,7), C24:0(OH)/d18:1(m/z 906.5). We had shown previously that there were different ASA mutations in the psychiatric adult form (heterozygous I179S) versus the adult motor form (homozygous P426L) and also characteristic polymorphisms in the psychiatric forms. We show here that there were no relations with the level of ASA and with the mass spectrometric study of the sulfatide isoforms which were identical in the 2 clinical forms.
Cellular Antioxidant Mechanisms Regulate TNF-α and Doxorubicin-InducedNADPH Oxidase Activity Through Glucosylceramide Synthase.
O16
B.M. Barth, S.J. Gustafson, and T.B. Kuhn
Alaskan Basic Neuroscience Program, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, 900 Yukon Drive, Room 194, Fairbanks, Alaska 99775 USA
The treatment of advanced malignancies involves various therapeutic agents as well as radiation therapy. The most advanced cancers have emerged as being highly invasive and resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. Cancers of the nervous system are especially detrimental because of the dramatic impact on the everyday lives of patients. The sensitive location can make these cancers inoperable or make surgical intervention highly impractical. Furthermore, certain cancers of the brain respond minimally at best to chemotherapy and radiation, altogether giving poor prognosis to those effected. Chemotherapy results in increases in ceramide that can in turn induce cell stress, and ultimately apoptosis. Clearance of ceramide, in addition to regulation of drug transporters has linked the up-regulation of glucosylceramide synthase to cancer multi-drug resistance. Additionally, the up-regulation of sphingosine kinase has been linked to increased cancer cell survival and invasiveness.
Previously we had demonstrated that TNF-αinduced the NADPH oxidase, and subsequent reactive oxygen species, in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells in a neutral sphingomyelinase-dependentmechanism. In this study, we demonstrated that TNF-α and doxorubicin-induced NADPH oxidase activity resulted in oxidation and down-regulation of glucosylceramide synthase and sphingosine kinase in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. We further demonstrated that glucosylceramide inhibited the NADPH oxidase, demonstrating an intriguing cellular antioxidant mechanism. Despite the presence of an NADPH oxidase, two human glioblastoma cell lines, U-87 MG and LN-18, responded to TNF-αand doxorubicin with no significant increase in reactive oxygen species. We determined through enzyme assays that the glioblastomas had increased superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glucosylceramide synthase activities compared to the neuroblastoma cell line. We propose that the increased cellular antioxidant capacity is another mechanism that promotes the resistance of these advanced cancers to chemotherapy, by protecting enzymes with important function in invasiveness and multi-drug resistance. Therefore selective targeting of the cellular antioxidant enzymes, including glucosylceramide synthase, or the up- regulation of the NADPH oxidase may be a useful strategy for the treatment of advanced drug resistant and invasive cancers.
Inhibition of glucosylceramide synthesis induces a cytokinesis arrest and blocks stage differentiation in Giardia lamblia.
O17
Sonda S, Štefanić S. and Hehl AB.
Institute of Parasitology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 266a, CH-8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
Sphingolipid biosynthesis pathways have recently emerged as a promising target for therapeutic intervention against pathogens, including parasites. A key step in the synthesis of complex sphingolipids is the glucosylation of ceramide, mediated by glucosylceramide (GlcCer) synthase, whose activity can be inhibited by PPMP (1-Phenyl-2-palmitoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol). Here we investigated whether PPMP affects the pathogen parasite Giardia lamblia, a major cause of intestinal disease worldwide and morbidity in young children. PPMP treatment was found to block in vitro G. lamblia replication at concentrations not affecting host cell metabolism. Importantly, PPMP inhibited the completion of cell division at a specific stage in late cytokinesis. In addition, PPMP inhibited the formation of cysts, the parasite stage responsible for the disease transmission. Moreover, an active glucosylceramide synthase inhibited by PPMP was for the first time identified and characterized in the parasite.These results show that PPMP is a powerful inhibitor of G. lamblia in vitro and that as yet uncharacterized sphingolipid biosynthetic pathways are potential targets for the development of anti-G. lamblia agents.
The cytosolic sialidase Neu2 is substrate of degradation by autophagy during myoblast atrophy.
O18
Alessandro Fanzani a, Stefani a Rossia, Elena Stoppani a, Roberta Giuliani a, Francesca Colombo a, Wim Martinet b, Augusto Preti a and Sergio Marchesini a
a Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, Unit of Biochemistry,University of Brescia, Italy. b Division of Pharmacology, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium.
The sialidase Neu2 is an exoglycosidase able to remove sialic acid residues from glycoproteins and glycolipids. Here we investigated the behavior of Neu2 during muscle atrophy, being this enzyme expressed in the cytosol of muscle myofibers. To this purpose, we employed an in vitro model consisting of terminally differentiated C2C12 myotubes which underwent atrophy when exposed to either starvation medium or dexamethasone treatment. Neu2 expression resulted significantly down-regulated in atrophic myofibers, as both the transcript level and enzymatic activity were significantly delayed. Interestingly, the loss of Neu2 activity in atrophic myotubes occurred by protein degradation mediated by an autophagic-dependent proteolytic system. In particular, Neu2 was degraded in atrophic myofibers by lysosomal cathepsin L and B forms, as demonstrated by in vivo and in vitro degradation assays. Therefore, the impairment of sialidase Neu2 during muscle atrophy further suggests the expression of this enzyme as causally linked to proper differentiation and maturation of muscle myofibers.
A role for furin in TNFalpha-induced activation of the MMP/sphingolipid mitogenic pathway.
O19
Edwige Tellier 1, Anne Nègre-Salvayre 1, Beatrice Bocquet 1, Shigeyoshi Itohara 2 Yusuf A. Hannun 3 Robert Salvayre 1, Nathalie Augé 1
1. SERM UMR-466, Dept of Biochemistry, IFR-31, CHU Rangueil, Toulouse, France
2. RIKEN Brain Research Institute, Wako-Shi, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
3. Medical University South Carolina, Dept of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA.
Neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase), the initial enzyme of the sphingolipid signaling pathway, is thought to play a key role in cellular responses to TNFa, such as inflammation, proliferation and apoptosis. The mechanism of TNFa-induced nSMase activation is only partly understood. Using biochemical, molecular and pharmacologicpharmacological approaches, we find that nSMase activation triggered by TNFa is required forTNFa-induced proliferation and in turn requires a proteolytic cascade involving furin,MT1-MMP and MMP2, and leading finally to ERK1/2 phosphorylation and DNA synthesis, in smooth muscle cells (SMC) and fibroblasts. PharmacologicPharmacological and molecular inhibitors of MMPs (Batimastat), furin (a1-PDX inhibitor-transfected SMC), MT1-MMP (SMC overexpressing a catalytically inactive iMT1-MMP), MMP2 (fibroblasts from MMP2-/- mice), and various siRNA strategies (siRNAs targeting furin, MT1-MMP, MMP2 and nSMase) resulted in near complete inhibition of the activation of nSMase, SK-1, and ERK1/2 and of subsequent DNA synthesis. Exogenous MT1-MMP activated nSMase and SMC proliferation in normal but not in MMP2-/- fibroblasts, whereas exogenous MMP2 was active on both normal and MMP2-/- fibroblasts.
Altogether these findings highlight a pivotal role for furin, MT1-MMP and MMP2 inTNFa-induced sphingolipid signaling, and they identify this system as a possible target to inhibit SMC proliferation in vascular diseases.
C2-Ceramide effect on hippocampal pyramidal neurons: an electrophysiological approach by using patch clamp tight- seal whole cell recording technique.
O20
H.Saybasili, Ö. Genç, T. Köker, Y.P. Tan
Boğaziçi University, Biomedical Engineering Institute, 34342, Be bek, Istanbul, Turkey
Ceramide, besides its structural role in cell membrane as a sphingolipid, has essential roles in apoptosis, cell growth and differentiation. In this study, the effect of C2- ceramide (10 µM) application on whole cell currents recorded by patch-clamp technique from soma of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons was investigated. Evoked post-synaptic currents were recorded with low frequency (0.1 Hz) stimulation of Schaffer Collateral. It was observed that ceramide depressed the amplitude of NMDA currents (23 %±8 pA, n=5); the NMDA current was blocked with AP5(60 µM) application to artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF). Non-NMDA currents were isolated by applying AP5 at -50mV, C2- ceramide application did not cause significant change in the non-NMDA current amplitude (n = 4). Thus, C2-ceramide leads to a selective depression on the NMDA current; this indicates that sphingolipids have a modulatory effect on the cell membrane besides their roles as secondary messengers inside the cell.
Keywords: C2-ceramide, hippocampal synaptic currents, NMDA and AMPA receptors,patch-clamp tight-seal whole cell technique.
* This work wasğaziçi supported University by grants Research 02S104 Fund and. 07HX101 from Bo
FAN (Factor Associated with Neutral sphingomyelinase activation) modulatesTNF-induced ceramide production, cytokine gene expression and neutrophil recruitment.
O21
Anne Montfort1, Victorine Douin-Echinard1, Pascal Martin2, Virginie Garcia1, Jason Iacovoni1, Caroline Nevoit1, Thierry Levade1, Hervé Benoist1 and Bruno Ségui1
1 Inserm U858, Institut de Médecine Moléculaire de Rangueil, BP 84225, 31432 Toulouse Cédex 4, France.
2 Laboratoire de Pharmacologie-Toxicologie, INRA BP3, 180 chemin de Tournefeuille, 31931 Toulouse Cédex 9, France.
Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF) is a pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine that signals the majority of its biological effects through its receptor TNFR1. FAN (Factor associated with neutral sphingomyelinase activation) is an adaptor protein that constitutively binds to a membrane proximal domain of TNFR1, referred to as the Neutral Sphingomyelinase Domain (NSD). In response to TNF, both the NSD and FAN are essential for the activation of neutral sphingomyelinase, which hydrolyses plasma membrane sphingomyelin (SM) into ceramide, a putative bioactive lipid involved in cell death and inflammation.Over-expression of a dominant-negative form of FAN (DFAN) inhibited TNF-induced SM breakdown and ceramide generation in fibroblasts. In addition, TNF-mediated IL-6secretion was impaired in cells over-expressing DFAN. Microarray analysis was performed in fibroblasts derived from wild-type or FAN knock out mouse embryos to evaluate FAN’s role in TNF-induced gene expression. Approximately 50% of TNF-induced genes exhibited lower expression levels in FAN- deficient fibroblasts. We noticed that the main biological function associated with FAN- dependent gene expression is chemotaxis. Of particular interest, TNF-induced expression of cytokines/chemokines, such as IL-6, CXCL-2 and GM1960 was impaired in FAN-deficient cells. This observation was confirmed by real time PCR as well as by ELISA. To evaluate the role of FAN in TNF signalling in vivo, intraperitoneal TNF injection was performed in wild-type and in FAN-deficient mice. Neutrophil recruitment into the peritoneal cavity was reduced by 70% in FAN-deficient mice. Altogether, our results indicate the involvement of FAN in the activation of the TNF- inducedsphingomyelin-ceramide signalling pathway, which may participate in both gene expression and inflammatory responses.
(Supported by INSERM, Université Paul Sabatier, Association pour la recherche sur le cancer and Ligue contre le Cancer)
Involvement of ceramide in the tissue protective effect of ectoin during ischemia/reperfusion of small bowel.
O22
Lai Wei1, René H. Tolba1, Reinhard Büttner2, Annika Wedeking, Gerhild vanEchten-Deckert
Kekulé-Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry and 1House of Experimental Therapy, 2Institute of Pathology, University of Bonn, Germany.
Using a standardized surgical rodent model of intestinal manipulation we have reported recently that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) were elevated in intestinal muscularis post-surgery. In addition, our data suggested that these two ceramide-derived molecules might be involved in the local inflammatory reaction occurring after surgery [1]. Based on these results, we hypothesized that a reduction of ceramide, the common precursor of both, S1P and C1P might improve morbidity known to occur after abdominal surgery. Since ectoin, a compatible solute, that enables microorganisms to survive under extreme conditions, was reported to prevent UVA induced ceramide increase thus rescuing keratinocytes from apoptotic cell death [2], we extended our working hypothesis. We assumed that reduction of ceramide, a well-knownmediator of cellular stress by ectoin might improve tissue quality following different kinds of stress. To simplify matters we analyzed in a first approach whether ectoin is able to improve tissue quality in rat bowel subjected to ischemia/reperfusion and whether this effect is correlated with tissue ceramide content. It is generally accepted that ischemia/reperfusion is accompanied by a complex damage mechanism that primarily affects intestinal mucosa but also involves intestinal muscularis, the latter having been neglected for quite a while [3]. Although intestinal mucosa has high regenerative ability, morphological recovery of the injured ileal mucosa after 24-hours cold storage requires at least 1 month [4]. This prolonged damage from ischemia/reperfusion injury makes it a major obstacle for successful small bowel transplantation. It is therefore of primary interest to reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury after organ preservation thus improving the clinical outcome of small bowel transplantation. Our results demonstrate that ectoin indeed convincingly prevents tissue damage following ischemia and this effect is accompanied by the reduction of ceramide in intestinal tissue. Of interest, a synthetic derivative of ectoin, incapable to overcome tissue injury, did not affect the content of ceramide, either.[1]M. Dragusin, S. Wehner, S. Kelly, E. Wang, A.H. Merrill, Jr., J.C. Kalff and G. vanEchten-Deckert, FASEB J 20, 1930-1932 (2006).[2]j. Buenger and H. Driller, Skin Pharmacol.Physiol 17, 232-237 (2004).[3]A. Turler, J.C. Kalff, P. Heeckt, K.M. Abu-Elmagd, W.H. Schraut, G.J. Bond, B.A. Moore, G. Brunagel and A.J. Bauer, Gastroenterology 122,1886-1897 (2002).[4] I. Takeyoshi, S. Zhang, M. Nomoto, Y. Zhu, Y. Kokudo, T. Suzuki, N. Hamada, A. Nemoto, T.E. Starzl and S. Todo, Transplantation 71, 1-7 (2001).
Inhibition of angiogesis in Krabbe’s disease: endothelial cytoskeleton disassembly by the glycosphingolipid psychosine.
O23
1Belleri M., 1Coltrini D., 2Nico B., 2Ribatti D., 1Alessi P., 3Poliani P.L., 4Marchesini S.,5Bongarzone E., and 1Presta M.
1 Unit of General Pathology and Immunology and 4 Unit of Biochemistry, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia;
2 Department of Human Anatomy and Histology, University of Bari;
3 Department of Pathology, University of Brescia, Italy;
5 Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA.
Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD), or Krabbe’s disease, is a neurological disorder of infants caused by the reduction of the lysosomal enzyme b-galactosylceramidase activity. This results in the accumulation of the intermediate metabolite psychosine (b- galactosylsphingosine) at micromolar levels in the CNS. The accumulation of psychosine induces apoptosis of oligodendrocytes, progressive demyelination, and the formation of multinuclear (globoid) cells derived from perivascular microglia, accompanied with block of cytokinesis.
Neovascularization plays an important role in CNS development. Here, we assessed the effect of psychosine on angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Also, the neovascularization process was investigated in Twitcher mice, a genetically and enzymatically authentic mouse model of human GLD.
When tested on endothelial cells of bovine and murine origin, micromolar levels of psychosine inhibited cell proliferation and cell attachment/spreading on different substrata. Moreover, psychosine reduced cell migration after mechanical wounding of the endothelial cell monolayer by impairing the repositioning of the microtubule organization center and the formation of membrane ruffles. Also, psychosine impaired the capacity of Fibroblast Growth Factor-2 (FGF2)-transfected murine aortic endothelial cell aggregates to invade a 3D-fibrin gel and to form solid sprouts. Similarly, psychosine prevented bovine aortic endothelial cells to enter a 3D-collagen gel and to organize capillary-like structures when stimulated by FGF2 plus Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF). Finally, psychosine caused cytoskeleton disorganization inducing the disruption of actin stress fibers in bovine aortic endothelial cells. In keeping with the in vitro observations, psychosine inhibited FGF2-induced in vivo neovascularization when delivered on the top of the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane.
On this basis, we performed histological and ultrastructural analysis of the brain of Twitcher mice at 2-5 weeks after birth. The cerebral cortex of Twitcher mice was characterized by reduced FVIII-vWF+ vascularity with dilated and structurally altered blood vessels when compared to control heterozygous and wild type littermates. Also, Twitcher mice showed a reduced capacity to mount an angiogenic response when challenged by a subcutaneous Matrigel implant containing angiogenic FGF2 plus VEGF. These results point to a primary defect in neovascularization of the nervous system of mutant animals.
Our study demonstrates that psychosine has antiangiogenic properties causing the disassembling of endothelial cell actin structures. This may be responsible for the reduced angiogenic potential of Twitcher mice, leading to defects in brain vascularization. Alterations in blood vessel development may contribute to the CNS damage that occurs in Krabbe’s disease.
THC induces ER stress, autophagy and tumor cell death via accumulation of de novo synthesized ceramide.
O24
María Salazar1*, Arkaitz Carrracedo1*, §, Íñigo J. Salanueva1, Sonia Hernández1, Cristina Blázquez1, Mar Lorente1, Ainara Egia1, §, Patricia Vázquez2, Sofía Torres1, Stephane García3, Juan Iovanna3, Manuel Guzmán1, Patricia Boya2 and Guillermo Velasco1#
THC exerts a wide variety of biological effects by mimicking endogenous substances – the endocannabinoids anandamide and 2-arachidonoylglycerol – that bind to and activate specific cannabinoid receptors: CB_1 and CB_2. One of the most exciting areas of research in the cannabinoid field is the study of the potential application of cannabinoids as antitumoral agents. Recent findings have shown that cannabinoid treatment of tumor cells leads to accumulation of /de novo/-synthesized ceramide,up-regulation of the transcriptional co-activator p8 and of several endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related downstream targets, including the pseudo-kinase Tribbles homologue 3 (TRB3). Activation of this pathway plays a major role in mediating the pro-apoptotic and antitumoral activity of cannabinoids. In this study, we investigated the role of this ERstress-related pathway in the antitumoral action of cannabinoids. Our data show that THC, via ceramide accumulation and eIF2α phosphorylation, up-regulates the expression of p8 and TRB3, which in induces autophagy. We show as well that autophagy is upstream of apoptosis in cannabinoid- induced tumor cell death. These findings define a new route for promoting the autophagic death of tumor cells and suggest that its activation constitutes a potential therapeutic strategy for inhibiting tumor growth.
Combination therapy for Tay-Sachs and related neurodegenerative diseases.
O25
M.B. Cachón-González, S.Z. Wang and T.M Cox
Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
The GM2 gangliosidosis are classical lysosomal storage diseases, in which neurodegeneration is caused by storage of GM2 ganglioside and related glycosphingolipids, primarily in neurones. β-hexosaminidase A – a heterodimer of the alpha and beta subunits – and the GM2 Activator Protein are absolutely required for GM2 degradation. The GM2 gangliosidoses, Tay-Sachs (TSD) and Sandhoff disease, are caused by defects in the alpha and beta subunits of β-hexosaminidase, respectively, in which failure to breakdown GM2 leads to motor and visual impairment, ataxia and dementia due to neuronal dysfunction and neuroinflammation. We have demonstrated that gene transfer (GT) can correct these diseases in mice. Substrate reduction therapy (SRT) has also been shown to improve outcome in a variety of lysosomal storage diseases, provided residual enzymatic activity remains. By addressing distinct but complementing pathways of disease, the combination of GT and SRT would be predicted to improve outcomes over and above those obtained with each individual therapy. We thus tested for therapeutic cooperation between these two treatment modalities. Murine models of Sandhoff disease, lacking the beta hexosaminidase subunit, develop typical signs of TSD and die by 20 weeks of age. We treated Sandhoff mice by stereotactic inoculation of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV) encoding the complementing human β-hexosaminidase genes at a single site in the striatum, and/or by SRT at a dose of 600mg/Kg/daily of the iminosugar,N-butyldeoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ; miglustat), which was added to their diet. Each treatment was provided either alone or in combination. GT was given at 4 weeks of age, and miglustat started one week later. A single intracranial injection of rAAV extended the mean survival of Sandhoff mice from the humane end point of 135±7 (sd., n=19) to 198±24 days (n=8) (p<0.001), and miglustat alone to 171±8 (n=8) (p<0.001). The combined regimen of GT and SRT extended life only to 211±26 days (n=8), which is not significantly different from that obtained by gene transfer alone (p=0.33). As predicted, GT and SRT are therapeutic in murine GM2 gangliosidosis since each improved survival and delayed the onset of disease, but they proved neither synergistic nor additive in this animal model of TSD. Furthermore, when brain gangliosides from untreated andmiglustat-treated animals was analysed by HPTLC at the age of 112 days the quantitities of GM2 ganglioside and the related GA2 were similar in both groups. Our findings suggest that the observed therapeutic effect of the iminosugar, NB-DNJ, miglustat in GM2 gangliosidoses is brought about by a mechanism independent of substrate inhibition -eventhough the agent is licensed for the related sphingolipidosis, Gaucher disease, as asubstrate-reducing agent.
Involvement of neutral-sphingomyelinase on differentiation and/or apoptosis of embryonic hippocampal cells.
O26
Marini F1, Bartoccini E1, Bernardini I1, Cascianelli G1, Garcia-Gil M2 Viola-Magni M1, Albi E1.
1 Dept. Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia;
2Dept. of Biology, University of Pisa.
During nervous system development, the precursors of neurons reside within the epithelium of the neural plate and then in the neural tube. Embryonic cells can be used for their therapeutic potential to treat neurological disorders. In fact they can be incorporated into the adult central nervous system following transplantation thanks to their ability of migration and differentiation. A critical problem of the neural transplantation is how to reduce their apoptosis and improve cell survival. Since nuclear sphingomyelin (SM) metabolism is involved in differentiation and/or apoptosis process (1), the aim of the present study was to analyse the neutral- sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) activity in nuclei free lysate (NFL) and purified nuclei of embryonic hippocampal cells. At this end HN9.10e cell line is used as experimental model. These cells are a somatic fusion product of hippocampal cells from embryonic day 18 C57BL/6 mice and N18TG2 neuroblastoma cells and have morphological and cytoskeletal features similar to their neuronal precursors (2). The differentiation is induced by vitamin D3 (3) whereas apoptosis is induced by serum deprivation (4).The results show that the nuclear N-SMase activity increases during the S-phase of the cell cycle in correspondence of the SM reduction and ceramide production. No changes are observed in NFL N-SMase. Vitamin D3 reduces DNA synthesis together to PCNA and cyclin D expression whereas bcl2 increases indicating a delay of cell cycle and an induction to differentiation supported by microscopy observations that highlight the dendrite and neurite growth. The NFL N-SMase and nuclear N-SMase activities increase after 2 and 12 hours respectively from Vitamin D3 treatment, before the S-phase of the cell cycle. The time for nuclear N-SMase activation is justified by the time necessary to vitamin D3 to reach the nucleus equal to 10 hours. Serum deprivation is accompanied by strong DNA synthesis inhibition, an early activation of nuclear N-SMase (after 1 hour) and a later activation of NFL N-SMase (after 12 hours). It can be concluded that cellular and nuclear SMases behave in different way in relation to the cell fate.
1)Ledeen RW, and Wu G. Biochim Biophys Acta 2006; 1761: 588-598.
2)Lee HJ, Hammond DN, Large TH, Roback JD, Sim JA, Brown DA, Otten UH,Wainer
BH.1990. J Neurosci 10: 1779-1787
3)Brown J, Bianco JI, McGrath JJ, Eyles DW. Neurosci Lett. 2003 Jun 5;343(2):139-
43
4)Albi E, Cataldi S, Bartoccini E, Viola Magni M, Marini F, Mazzoni F, Rainaldi G, Evangelisti M, Garcia-Gil M. J Cell Physiol, 2006, 206(1):189-195
Involvement of dihydroceramides in cell fate determination.
PA1
José M. Munoz-Olaya1, Xavier Matabosch1, Carmen Bedia1, Meritxell Egido-Gabás1, Josefina Casas1, Amadeu Llebaria1, Antonio Delgado1,2, Gemma Fabrias1.
1 Research Unit on BioActive Molecules (RUBAM), IIQAB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.
2 Pharmaceutical Chemistry Unit (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Ceramide is a well-known mediator of apoptosis that can be induced by a variety of signalling molecules or stress events, causing a transient intracellular increase in this bioactive lipid. Ceramide rise results from sphingomyelinase activity or de novo biosynthesis. In the latter, ceramide is biosynthesized from L-serine in four distinct steps, the last one being the 4-desaturation of dihydroceramide to ceramide by dihydroceramide desaturase.
For years, dihydroceramides have been regarded as innocuous lipids and mere precursors of their ceramide counterparts. This assumption was sustained by the failure of exogenous dihydroceramides with short N-acyl chains to mimic the antimitogenic effects caused by the respective ceramides in cultured cells. However, recent articles point towards a possible role of dihydroceramide in programmed cell death1.
XM462 is a dihydroceramide analogue containing a sulphur atom at the C5 position of the long chain base. This compound inhibits dihydroceramide desaturase both in vitro and in intact cells, it features high chemical and metabolic stability and it is easily available by synthesis. Flow cytometry analysis of Jurkat A3 human leukemia cells revealed that XM462 produces a concentration-dependent increase in the number of annexin V-positive cells. Measurements by LC-MS confirmed accumulation of dihydroceramides at these concentrations. The design, synthesis and biological activity of this compound are presented and discussed.
1W. Zheng, J. Kollmeyer, H. Symolon, A. Momin, E. Munter, E. Wang, S. Kelly, J. C. Allegood, Y. Liu, Q. Peng, H. Ramaraju, M. C. Sullards, M. Cabot, A. H. Merrill, Biochim. Biophys. Acta 2006, 1758, 1864-1884; J. Stiban, D. Fistere, M. Colombini, Apoptosis 2006, 11, 773-780; J. M. Kraveka, L. Li, Z. M. Szulc, J. Bielawski, B. Ogretmen, Y. A. Hannun, L. M. Obied, A. Bielawska, J. Biol. Chem. 2007, 282, 16718- 16728
Expression of intestianl and lung alkaline sphingomyelinase and neutral ceramidase in cystic fibrosis F508 transgenic mice.
PA2
Lena Ohlsson*, Lena Hjelte**, Michael Hϋhn †, Bob J. Scholte ††, Martina Wilke ††, MalinFlodström-Tullberg ††, Ake Nilsson*.
*Department of Clinical Sciences, Medicine (Gastroenterology and Nutrition), Lund University Hospital, S221 85 Lund, Sweden
**Stockholm CF Center, Department of Pediatrics, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
†Centerfor Infectious Medicine (CIM), Deparment of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karoliska University Hospital Huddinge, S-141 86 Stockholm, Sweden
††Departments of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Erasmus Medical Center P.O. Box2040, 3000 CARotterdam, The Netherlands.
Objetives: The instestinal brush border enzymes alkaline sphingomylinase (alk- SMase) and neutral ceramidasa (CDase) digest milk sphingomyelin (SM) in suckling neonates. Futhermore they have been implicated in sphingolipid signalling, which exhibits abnormalities in cystic fibrosis (CF). We asked wheter these enzyme are normally expressed in mice with DF508 (Cftrtm1Eur) mutation, a CF mouse model with well- characterized intestinal pathology. Methods: Alk-SMase and CDase were measured in tissues and intestinal contents of homozygous and heterozygous DF508 mice and wild type mice. Results: No difference was found in the level (activity per mg protein) of enzymes in small intestinal mucosa or content or in their longitudinal distribution. Despite a lower body weightF508of micethe the length of the small intestine and
the weight per centimetre colon were larger than in wild type mice. Alk-SMase and CDase levels in the lung was manifold lower than in the gut and did not differ between the groups. The level of acid SMase in the distal half of the small intestine was lower in CF than in wild type mice. Conclusion: Alk-SMase and neutral CDase are normally expressed in DF508 CF mice and may generate ceramide and sphingosine from milk and endogenous sphingolipid and normal rate.
Lateral segregation in a palmitoyl-sphingomyelin/ palmitoyl-ceramide lipid mixture.
PA3
Jon V. Busto*1, María Laura Fanani 2, Luisina De Tullio 2, Jesús Sot 1, Bruno Maggio 2, Félix M. Goñi 1, Alicia Alonso 1
1 Unidad de Biofísica (Centro Mixto CSIC-UPV/EHU), and Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidad del País Vasco (UPV/EHU)
2 Departamento de Química Biológica-CIQUIBIC,Facultad de Ciencias Químicas-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina (*) presenting author email: gbbbuvej@lg.ehu.es
Monomolecular films (monolayers) have been used to study the intermolecular organization of a lipid mixture containing palmitoyl-sphingomyelin (pSM) andpalmitoyl-ceramide (pCer). Lipid monolayers were formed after spreading a mixture of pSM including increasing proportions of pCer onto a clean air/water interface at 26ºC. The monolayers were then compressed while measuring surface pressure, area and potential. Multilamellar vesicles of the same lipid mixture have been analysed under differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Lipid monolayer compression isotherms show a clear pSMliquid-expanded to liquid-condensed phase transition which disappears with increasing proportions of pCer. A critical point is observed at 0.4 XpCer in the molecular area vs. composition study, with an ideal behaviour of the mixture below and above that composition. The mixture exhibits a clear hyperpolarization in the 0- 0.4 XpCer range with a marked decrease in the excess free energy of mixing, showing a favourable interaction of both molecules. Moreover, the phase diagram reflects an isobaric pSM phase transition in the same XpCer range, while an increase in monolayer stability is observed as an increase of the collapse pressure. Taken together, these data indicate a clear lateral segregation ortwo-phase separation, with a pSM-enriched less ordered phase and a pCer-enriched more ordered phase; this is corroborated by the calorimetric data on vesicles. This study may be relevant in terms of sphingolipid signalling and domain platform formation by ceramides.
Role of nuclear sphingolipids on vitamin D3 -induced differentiation in embryonic hippocampal HN9 cells.
PA4
Albi E1, Marini F1, Bartoccini E1, Meacci E2, Chico L3, Viola-Magni M1,Garcia-Gil M3
1 Dept. Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia;
2 Dept.Biochemical Sciences, University of Florence;
3 Dept. of Biology, University of Pisa.
Although 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (vitamin D3) modulates a number of functions in the nervous system, its mechanism of action is unclear.Sphingolipids are known to regulate cell fate but their effects depend on subcellular localization and the ratio betweenceramide/sphingosine-1-phosphate concentration. In the present work, we aimed to investigate whether vitamin D3 induces differentiation in the embryonic hippocampal HN9 cells, and whether nuclear sphingolipid metabolism is involved. Cells were treated with different concentrations of vitamin D3 for different periods of time; morphological differentiation was evaluated as process extension; NGF expression was measured byRT-PCR; nuclear neutral sphingomyelinase, sphingosine kinase-1 actities and ceramide content were measured as previously described (1-3). We have found that treatment with 50 nM vitamin D3 for two hours induces increase of nuclear neutral sphingomielinase activity; prolonged treatment (3 days) induces neurite growth and increases of NGF expression without altering nuclear sphingosine kinase-1 activity. Higher concentrations of vitamin D3 induce cell death. Therefore, vitamin D3- induced differentiation in murine embryonic hippocampal cells is accompanied by an early increase of nuclear neutral sphingomyelinase activity and ceramide content, followed by a raise in NGF expression.
1) Albi et al. J Cell Physiol. 2006 206(1):189-95. 2) De Palma et al. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2006 26(1):99-105. 3) Albi et al. Arch. Biochem Biophys. 2005 438:156-61.
Patterns of free and protein-bound epidermal sphingolipids in dogs.
PA5
Popa I, Thuy L., Pietukowska A, *Pin D, Haftek M, Portoukalian J.
Laboratory of Dermatological Research, EA3732 University Lyon-1, Edouard Herriot Hospital, Lyon; * Veterinary School of Lyon
The major role of the skin is to protect the body against harmful agents and water loss. There are several skin diseases in which the lipid composition in the intercellular matrix of the stratum corneum is different from that of healthy human skin, especially atopic dermatitis (AD). A comparable clinical picture of this illness can be found in atopic dogs of various breeds. Canine AD also presents evidence of lamellar lipids disorganization in the stratum corneum, similar to that described in humans. 12 tape strips were taken from the thorax of one normal dog and one AD dog. The epidermal free lipid were then extracted from these strips by a mixture of chloroform/methanol and the protein-bound lipids were released by alkaline treatment. The lipids were separated in different classes, analyzed by thin layer chromatography. Differences in the level of lipid components were found in each layer. Regarding the normal dog, the lipid components increase from the first to the 10th layer, then decrease in the lowest strips. In AD skin, we observed a high quantity of lipid in the medium strips and a marked reduction in the level of ceramide, -hydroxyl ceramide and the augmentation of free fatty and -hydroxy fatty acids. Furthermore, in the involved and non-involved skin of AD dog, different from those GM3, GD3, GT1, GQ1 gangliosides were present along with lactosylceramide.
Sphingolipid analogues: searching new bioactive drugs
PA6
Daniel Canals, Gemma Fabrias, Josefina Casas.
Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM); Department of Organic and Biological Chemistry,Chemical and Environmental Research Institute of Barcelona (IIQAB-CSIC); Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona,Spain.
The apoptotic activity of D-erythro-dihydroceramides (DHC’s) is a matter of controversy. Thus, it has been published that exogenously added short chain DHC’s do not exhibit apoptotic activity in different cell lines1,2, while L-threo-N-acetyl- sphinganine causes cell death in HL-60 cells1,3. Additionally, accumulation of natural DHC’s, but not ceramides, along with cell death occurs in human leukaemia cells treated with gamma-tocopherol,human neuroblastoma cells treated with fenretinide, as well as in prostate cancer cells4,5. Finally, a recent report describes that both long and short chain erythro-DHC’s do not simply lack apoptogenic activity, but counteract the apoptotic effect of ceramide by inhibiting ceramide channel formation in mitochondria in early apoptosis6. In this context, the synthesis of a small combinatorial dihydroceramide analogue library obtained by systematic variation of both the sphingoid and aliphatic and acyl chains has been carried out in our group7. Among them compound GVC8PH exhibited a well defined profile of time and dose- dependent apoptosis induction, and it has been selected to perform deeper studies. Results regarding its molecular mechanism, and its effect on the sphingolipid profile in A549 cells, a human alveolar epithelial cell line used in COPD studies, are reported.
1Bielawska A, et al., J Biol Chem., 1993, 268, 26226. 2Ogretmen B, et al., J Biol Chem.,2001, 276, 32506. 3Dragusin M, et al.,. J Lip Res, 2003. 44,1772. 4Jiang Q, et al., Proc. Natl Acad. Sci USA, 2004, 101, 17825. 5Kraveka K et al, J. Biol. Chem.2007, in press. 6Stiban J, et al. Apoptosis, 2006, 11, 773. 7 Villorbina G, et al. Bioorg. Med Chem, 2007, 15, 50.
A new family of sphingomyelin synthase inhibitors.
PA7
Meritxell Egido-Gabása, Xavier Mataboscha, Gemma Fabriàsa, Antonio Delgadoa,b, Josefina Casasa and Amadeu Llebariaa
a) Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM); Department of Organic and Biological Chemistry, Chemical and Environmental Research Institute of Barcelona (IIQAB-CSIC);Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain. b)Pharmaceutical Chemistry Unit (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain.
Sphingomyelin (SM) plays an important role both in cell signaling and membrane structure and dynamics. Alteration of its concentration may have important implications in the development of diseases, such as atherosclerosis and diabetes. Sphingomyelin synthase (SMS), the last enzyme involved in SM biosynthesis, transfers the phosphorylcholine moiety from phosphatidylcholine to the primary hydroxyl group of ceramide (Cer) to produce SM and diacylglycerol.
In this presentation we report on the synthesis and activity of a series of ceramide and sphingomyelin analogues. Initially, the SMS activity was determined in rat liver microsomes by using the fluorescent ceramide substrate NBD-C6-Cer, and monitoring its transformation to the corresponding NBD-C6-sphingomyelin by HPLC. Among all compounds tested, the most potent one inhibited SMS with an IC50 valueµ of 5 M. Kinetic experiments revealed that this compound was a non competitive inhibitor with a KiµM.ofPreliminary3 results in intact cells using Jurkat A3 and A549 cell lines indicated that the most active compounds caused a significant decrease in SMS activity without affecting glucosylceramide synthase activity. Measurements of sphingolipid concentrations by LC-MS confirmed these observations.
A new family of sphingomyelinase inhibitors.
PA8
Fabio Simbaria, Xavier Mataboscha, Gemma Fabriasa, Antonio Delgadoa,b, Amadeu Llebariaa, Josefina Casasa.
aResearch Unit on BioActive Molecules (RUBAM), IIQAB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.bPharmaceutical Chemistry Unit (CSIC Associated Unit), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Spain
Sphingomyelin (SM) is the primary sphingolipid in mammalian cells and plays important structural and functional roles. SM hydrolysis can be carried out by different isoforms of sphingomyelinase (SMase), producing phosphorylcholine and the intracellular effector ceramide. Ceramide diffuses within membranes acting as a second messenger. Generation of ceramide in various cellular systems is currently recognized as critical to the initiation of vital cellular processes such as differentiation, cell proliferation and apoptosis.
Inhibitory activity of acid SMase by a small library of SM analogues synthesized in our group is reported. SMase activity was determined using A549 cell homogenates and6-hexadecanoylamino-4-methylumbelliferylphosphorylcholine (HMU-PC) as substrate. The same compounds were also tested in intact A549 cells. Flow cytometry analysis suggested that these molecules caused a time and dose dependent apoptotic cell death. Their effect on the cellular sphingolipid profile was also studied for the most active inhibitors.
Role of COPI vesicles in lipid sorting.
PA9
Contreras F-Xabier*; Haberkant Per*, Thiele Christoph† Brügger Britta* and Wieland F*.
*Heidelberg University Biochemistry Center (BZH), Im Neuenheimer Feld 328, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
†Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstr. 108, 01307 Dresden, Germany.
Transport of proteins within the early secretory pathway is mediated by COPI and COPII vesicles, with p24 family membrane proteins as receptors for their coats. These types I transmembrane proteins are enriched in COPI vesicles and belong to the minimal machinery required for the formation of these vesicles. p24 proteins cycle within the secretory pathway, and exist as monomers or dimers depending on their subcellular localization. Recent results have shown that sphingomyelin (SM) and cholesterol are segregated from in vitro generated COPI vesicles. However, against this segregation, one defined sphingomyelin species, N-stearoyl-SM (SM 18:0), is enriched in COPI vesicles. In order to investigate the mechanism of this lipid sorting, we analyzed the affinities of p24 proteins with membrane lipids under in vivo and in vitro condition. To this end, we made use of photolabile phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and sphingolipids. Here we show thatp24-proteins do not partition into detergent resistant membranes (DRMs), indicating that COPI vesicle budding occurs from embrane platforms with a low concentration of SM and cholesterol. Furthermore, we investigated affinities of the p24-proteins to phosphatidylcholine, cholesterol and sphingolipids, and observed a specific interaction of p24 with SM. Finally we set up a new in vitro system in which polyenic fatty acid containing membrane lipids can undergo FRET with suitable donor molecules. Using this new biophycal approach we observed a specific p24 transmembrane domain-SMinteraction. From these in vivo and in vitro data we suggest that p24 proteins interact with SM and might play an important role in sorting of this lipid within the early secretory pathway.
Synthesis and evaluation of new aminocyclitols as analogues of the immunostimulant -galactosyl ceramide (KRN7000).
PA10
Youssef Harrak,a Carmen Bedia,a Carolina Barra,c Raúl Castaño,c Antonio Delgadoa,b, Amadeu Llebariaa
a) Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Departamento de Química Orgánica Biológica,IIQAB-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, España;
b) Universidad de Barcelona, Facultad de Farmacia, Unidad de Química Farmacéutica (Unidad Asociada al CSIC), Avda. Joan XXIII s/n; 08029 Barcelona, España;
c) Institut de Biotecnología i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
Interest in glycosphingolipids has increased in recent years, due, in part due to their ability to modulate the immuneresponses.1-3 For example, the β-galactosylceramide plakoside (A), isolated from the marine sponge Plakoris simplex, was found to be a non- cytotoxic immunosuppressant agent. On the other hand, KRN7000, an – galactosyl ceramide identified from SAR studies at Kirin Brewery, has been shown to be a potent activador of the immune system.
Over the last years, KRN7000 has become the most representative glycolipid used in the study on NKT cell stimulation. As described above, KRN7000 stimulates the production of both Th1 and Th2-related cytokines by NKT cells. In this work, we have prepared a series of KRN7000 analogues based on the aminocyclitol core structure with N-axial orN-equatorial sphingoid side chains. Preliminary studies on the immune responses mediated by NKT cells are reported.
Acknowledgements: Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia.
(1)Merrill, A. H.; Sweeley, C. C. In Biochemistry of Lipids, Lipoproteins and Membranes 1996,31, 309-339.
(2)Hannum, Y. A. Sphingolipid-Mediated Signal Transduction; R. G.Landes Company: Austin,1997.
(3) Porcelli, S. A.; Modlin, R. L. Annu. ReV. Immunol. 1999, 17, 297-329.
Chaperone effect of several iminosugars and aminocyclitols derivatives on defective glucocerebrosidases causing Gaucher disease.
PA11
G. Sánchez-Ollé1,2, M. Egido-Gabás3, J. Casas3, A. Chabás2,4, D. Grinberg1,2 and L. Vilageliu1,2
1 Departament de Genètica, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
2 CIBERER, Barcelona, Spain.
3 RUBAM (Research Unit on BioActive Molècules), Departament de Química Orgànica Biològica, Institut d’Investigacions Químiques i Ambientals de Barcelona (IIQAB-CSIC),Barcelona, Spain.
4 Institut de Bioquímica Clínica, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.
Gaucher disease (GD) is caused by the defective activity of lysosomal glucocerebrosidase (GBA) due mainly to mutations in the GBA gene. It results in the accumulation of glucosylceramide in the lysosomes of phagocytic cells, leading to several symptoms including hepatosplenomegaly, skeletal lesions and, sometimes, central nervous system involvement. Some of the GBA mutated enzymes retain the catalytic activity but impair proper folding and trafficking in the cell. It has been demonstrated that several compounds are able to act as pharmacological chaperones by increasing endoplasmic reticulum (ER) folding efficiency and lysosomal trafficking. However, this process is not general and different GBA mutations showed distinct chaperoning profiles.
Here we report the chaperone effect of two iminosugars N-(n-nonyl)deoxynojirimycin (NN- DNJ) and N-(n-butyl)deoxynojirimycin (NB-DNJ), and four aminocyclitols derivatives (C4- Ph, C8, C9 and C10) on different expressed mutant glucocerebrosidases. In particular, mutations N188S, N188S;E326K, N370S, I402T, D409H and L444P were analysed. COS-7cells were transfected with an expression vector carrying the wild-type or the mutated cDNAs. Stable transfectants were obtained with geneticin (G418) selection (500 µg/ml) and cultured either with or without NB-DNJ (5 and 10 µM), NN-DNJ (2.5 and 50µM), C4-Ph(10, 15 and 20 µM), C8 (10, 15 and 20 µM), C9 (10, 15 and 20 µM) and C10 (2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 20 µM). The ratio of enzyme activity with/without the compound was calculated. The values shown are the results of at least two experiments with 3 replicates.
NN-DNJ (5 µM) led to an increase (1.2 fold) in the activity of wild-type enzyme, as reported. Moreover, a 1.2 (5 µM) to 1.4 (2.5 µM) fold increase was shown for the N188S GBA and a 1.2 fold for the G377S enzyme. No significant changes in activity for the rest of the mutated enzymes were shown. NB-DNJ induced a 1.2-fold increase in the activity of the N188S and N188S;E326K GBAs, at 5 µM. No other significant effect was observed. C4- Ph seemed to produce a dose-dependant pattern on the wild-type and N188S GBAs. At 15µM, 1.2-fold increase for the N188S and the N188S; E326K enzyme and a 1.3-foldincreased for the wild-type GBA were detected. At 20µM, 1.3 and 1.4-fold increase was shown for the N188S and wild-type GBA respectively. No effect was showed at 10 µM. The other compounds, C8, C9 and C10, did not seem to have any chaperoning effect on the mutated enzymes at the concentrations used.
We can conclude that, in some conditions, the NN-DNJ, NB-DNJ and C4-Ph seem to have an effect as pharmacological chaperones on particular mutant enzymes. However, new conditions and new compounds should be assayed.
Characterization of the vasoactive properties of S1P receptors in rat aorta.
PB1
AE Alewijnse, M Jongsma, M-J Mathy, PB van Loenen, N Hajji, MC Michel and SLM Peters
Dept. Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapy, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
In the cardiovascular system, the bioactive sphingolipid sphingosine-1- phosphate (S1P) exerts its vasoactive effects predominantly via three specific G-protein coupled receptors, named S1P1, S1P2 and S1P3. These receptors are differentially expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs).
We have explored the contribution of these three receptors to vascular reactivity in the rat aorta and to related signaling mechanisms in VSMCs and ECs isolated from rat aorta using some new S1P receptor ligands. We show that in intact isolated rat aortic rings, all agonists at the S1P1 and/or S1P3 receptor induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in pre-contracted preparations. In rat aortic ECs, which showed a high mRNA expression of the Gi-coupled S1P1 receptor, all ligands, including the S1P1 specific agonist SEW2871, decreased the forskolin-induced cAMP accumulation. In addition, VPC23019 competitively antagonized the FTY720-P- induced inhibition of the cAMP accumulation. The tested ligands did not induce major changes in intracellular calcium in ECs.
In VSMCs, which express mRNA for all three S1P receptors, predominantly Gq-coupled S1P receptor signaling was observed via the S1P2 receptor, resulting in increases in intracellular calcium.
In conclusion, we have shown that the S1P receptor agonists tested in this study can act on both ECs and VSMCs from the rat aorta. S1P1 receptor stimulation in ECs leads to Giactivation (measured as inhibition of cAMP accumulation). Endothelial Gi activation can cause relaxation via activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway subsequently leading to the production of NO. Stimulation of mainly the S1P2 receptor in VSMCs results in calcium elevation, a response typically linked to contraction. At least for agonists devoid of S1P2activity, the net effect observed on aortic tone is vasorelaxation.
Role of Sphingosine Kinase-1 in Calcium Signalling and Growth of Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts.
PB2
B. Hegen1, M. ter Braak1, V. Hardel1, T. Hla2, K.H. Jakobs1, D. Meyer zu Heringdorf1
1 Institut für Pharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany;
2 Center for Vascular Biology, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, Connecticut, USA
Sphingosine kinases (SphKs) catalyse the phosphorylation of sphingosine tosphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), which acts as a ubiquitous mediator regulating cell growth and survival, migration, cytoskeleton organization and Ca2+ homoeostasis. Many plasma membrane receptors stimulate SphK activity, thereby producing S1P that can either be secreted and activate specific G protein-coupled receptors or act on so far unknown intracellular target sites. We have analysed the role of SphK1 in Ca2+ signalling and cell growth using mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) deficient in SphK1. [Ca2+]i increases induced by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) were identical in SphK1 expressing (SPHK1+/+) and SphK1 deficient (SPHK1-/-) MEFs with respect to velocity of [Ca2+]i increase, peak [Ca2+]i values, time course of decay and concentration dependence. Extracellular S1P increased [Ca2+]i in SPHK1-/- cells maximally by only 441±50 nM (n=10) compared to 747±49 nM (n=9) in SPHK1+/+ cells, while the EC50 was not different. Similarly, [Ca2+]i increases by ATP and thrombin in SPHK1-/- cells amounted to only about 25 % and 50 % of those in control cells, respectively. Bradykinin induced [Ca2+]i increases only in SPHK1+/+ cells, while angiotensin increased [Ca2+]i only inSPHK1-/- cells. These differences were in part paralleled by differences ininositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) production, suggesting that the receptor expression profile was different in the two cell populations. However, LPA, which induced maximum [Ca2+]i increases of a similar magnitude as bradykinin, did not significantly stimulate IP3 production in either cell type, while bradykinin elevated IP3 levels by about 9-fold in SPHK1+/+ cells. Therefore, LPA-induced [Ca2+]i increases were independent of IP3 and SphK1. [Ca2+]i increases by LPA in both SPHK1+/+ and SPHK1-/- cells were strongly inhibited by the sphingosine kinase inhibitor, 2-(p-hydroxyanilino)-4-(p-chlorophenyl)thµM, 60 min),azolesuggesting(30 that (an)other SphK(s) might be
involved. A major difference in [Ca2+]i signalling was observed with sphingosine, which mobilized Ca2+ in SPHK1+/+ cells but did not cause measurable [Ca2+]i increases inSPHK1-/- cells. These data support the hypothesis that sphingosine has to be phosphorylated for inducing Ca2+ mobilization and implicate SphK1 in this process. Finally, growth of SPHK1-/- cells was strongly delayed compared to SPHK1+/+ cells. This difference was not abrogated by treatment with extracellular S1P (10-1000 nM), supporting prior data showing that SphK1-dependent cell growth is mediated by intracellular, not extracellular S1P.
Involvement of PI3K/Akt in the ER to Golgi traffic of ceramide in glioma cells: a link between lipid signaling pathways involved in the control of cell survival.
PB3
P. Giussani, L. Brioschi, T. Colleoni, R. Bassi, G. Tettamanti, L. Riboni and P. Viani
Dept. Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Milan, Italy
The role of ceramide (Cer) as lipid mediator governing the fate of glioma cells is supported by different studies which demonstrate that the modulation of Cer levels in these cells plays a fundamental role in the control of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. The metabolic pathways involved in the control of Cer levels in glial cell proliferation and death include both specific enzymes of Cer metabolism, such as serine palmitoyl- transferase and sphingomyelin-synthase, and the transport of Cer from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus, for the biosynthesis of complex sphingolipids, thus suggesting that the modulation of Cer levels in the ER/Golgi compartment can be crucial for glial cell survival. Recent results obtained in our laboratories indicate that in C6 glioma cells the ER-to-Golgi Cer transport involves both the Cer binding protein CERT and avesicle-mediated mechanism which can separately contribute to the control of sphingolipid metabolism and Cer levels in these cells. In the present study we investigated the mechanisms involved in the regulation of Cer transport in glioma cells. The presence on CERT of a N-terminal pleckstrin homology (PH) domain with selectivity towardphosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P), suggests that phosphatidylinositol-4-kinases(PI4K) are involved in the control of CERT-mediated Cer transport. Very recently, PI4KIIIbeta was identified as the enzyme specifically involved in the control of Cer flow from the ER to the Golgi apparatus. In this study we found that phenylarsine oxide (PAO), an inhibitor of all PI4K enzymes, and wortmannin (WT), a widely used PI3K inhibitor that also specifically inhibits type III PI4K, strongly inhibited the ER-to-Golgi transport ofBODIPY-Cer and significantly limit the metabolic utilization of Cer for the biosynthesis of sphingomyelin (SM) and, in a lesser extent, of glucosylceramide (GlcCer). However, down regulation of PI4KIIIbeta did not cause any modification on Cer transport and metabolism in C6 glioma cells, thus indicating that multiple PI4Ks are involved in the control of PI4P required for CERT functioning. Interestingly the use of 100 nM WT, that selectively inhibit PI3K, significantly reduced the transport and metabolic use of Cer. In addition, in cells down regulated for CERT, 100 nM WT was still able to inhibit Cer transport and the biosynthesis of SM and GlcCer. The results obtained with LY294002 a potent and specific inhibitor of PI3K confirmed the role of PI3K in regulating Cer traffic. Moreover, preliminary results indicate that Akt, the downstream target of PI3K in the PI3K/Akt survival pathway, is involved in the effect of PI3K on Cer traffic and sphingolipid metabolism. Taken together our results indicate that PI3K/Akt pathway could regulate the ER-to-Golgi transport of Cer independently from CERT, and contribute to the control of Cer levels in glioma cells. This could represent a crucial link between Cer signaling and PI3K/Akt pathway functional to maintain Cer levels low and/or to stimulate the biosynthesis of membrane complex sphingolipids as a requirement for cell proliferation and growth.
THC-induced ceramide accumulation induces autophagy via TRB3 inhibition of the mTORC1 complex.
PB4
María Salazar1, Arkaitz Carrracedo1, Íñigo J. Salanueva1, Sonia Hernández1, Cristina Blázquez1, Mar Lorente1, Ainara Egia1, Patricia Vázquez2, Sofía Torres1, Stephane García3, Juan Iovanna3, Manuel Guzmán1, Patricia Boya2 and Guillermo Velasco1
1.Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, School of Biology, Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain
2.Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
3.U624 INSERM, Campus de Luminy, 13288 Marseille, France.
THC, the main active component of the plant Cannabis sativa, exerts a wide variety of biological effects by mimicking endogenous substances (the endocannabinoids) that bind to and activate specific cannabinoid cell receptors: CB1 and CB2. One of the most exciting areas of research in the cannabinoid field is the study of the application of cannabinoids as potential antitumoral agents. Recent findings have shown that cannabinoid treatment of tumor cells leads to accumulation of de novo-synthesized ceramide, up-regulation of the transcriptional co-activator p8 and of several endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-relateddownstream targets, including the pseudo- kinase Tribbles homologue 3 (TRB3). Activation of this pathway plays a major role in mediating the pro-apoptotic and antitumoral activity of cannabinoids. In the accompanying abstract we show that activation of this ER-stress related pathway leads to autophagy and cell death. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms through which ceramide-induced p8 and TRB3up-regulation leads to activation of autophagy, showing that THC promotes inhibition of the mTORC1 complex via TRB3 inhibition of Akt. We also show that activation of this signaling route takes place in vivo. These findings further support that activation of this THC and ceramide- regulated autophagic cell death pathway constitutes a potential therapeutic strategy for inhibiting tumor growth.
Altered calcium signalling in mouse embryonic fibroblasts deficient insphingosine-1-phosphate lyase.
PB5
M. ter Braak1, V. Hardel1, K.H. Jakobs1, P.P. Van Veldhoven2, D. Meyer zu Heringdorf1
1.Institut für Pharmakologie, Universitätsklinikum Essen, 45122 Essen, Germany 2.K.U.Leuven, Department Molecular Cell Biology, LIPIT, Leuven, B-3000, Belgium
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) regulates cell growth and survival, migration, cytoskeleton organization and Ca2+ homoeostasis in many cell types via activation of specific Gprotein-coupled receptors, termed S1P1-5. Intracellular S1P has furthermore been shown to mobilize stored Ca2+ independently of G-protein-coupled receptors. To further elucidate the mechanism of S1P-induced Ca2+ mobilization, we have analysed Ca2+ signalling in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) deficient in S1P lyase (Sgpl1-/-),displaying elevated S1P levels [1]. Overall [Ca2+]i was measured in suspended cells loaded with fura-2. In Sgpl1-/- MEFs, basal [Ca2+]i was strongly elevated (~300 nM versus ~120 nM in control MEFs). Basal [Ca2+]i levels were also elevated in Ca2+-freemedium (252±38 nM compared to 123±16 nM, n=6 each) indicating that the effect was not caused by Ca2+ influx. [Ca2+]i increases induced by agonists were enhanced inlyase-deficient MEFs. [Ca2+]i increases by LPA, bradykinin, andµMS1Peach)(1 amounted to 156±17 % (n=5), 400±52 % (n=3), and 198±28
% (n=3) of those in control cells, respectively. Furthermore, [Ca2+]i increases induced by the SERCA inhibitor, thapsigargin, were augmented (302±25 nM versus 203±18 nM, n=5), and the velocity of [Ca2+]i increases induced by thapsigargin was elevated (13.1±1.7 versus 7.4±0.9 nM/s, n=5), suggesting enhanced Ca2+ storage in Sgpl1-/-cells. Interestingly, treatment with µMa sphingosine2 kinase inhibitor (30 -(p-hydroxyanilino)-4-(p-chlorophenyl)thiazole overnight) largely decreased elevated basal [Ca2+]i levels in lyase-deficient MEFs, suggesting that the observed alterations in Ca2+ signalling are caused by or linked to S1P accumulation. Analysis of fluo-4- loaded MEFs by confocal microscopy revealed enhanced fluorescence of subcellular compartments inSgpl1-/- MEFs, while the fluorescence was evenly distributed throughout the cytosol of control MEFs. Two major staining patterns were observed, a reticular staining that colocalized with ER markers, and a punctuate staining that colocalized with a lysosomal marker. Treatment with thapsigargin decreased the fluorescence within subcellular compartments, indicating that these were thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ stores. It is concluded that MEFs lacking a functional S1P lyase display an enhanced Ca2+ storage in endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes that leads to augmented [Ca2+]i increases by agonists.[1] Van Veldhoven P.P. Sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase deficient mice. Chem. Phys. Lip. (2005) 136, 164-165.
Regulation of acid sphingomyelinase by Gi proteins. Role in macrophage apoptosis.
PB6
Shih Wei Wanga, Patricia Gangoitib, Urs P. Steinbrechera, and Antonio Gómez-Muñozb.
aDepartment of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver (Canada), and
bDepartment of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48080 Bilbao (Spain).
Apoptosis is an important mechanism involved in regulating the number of macrophages present at sites of inflammation. Several lines of evidence indicate that blocking macrophage apoptosis can promote the progression of atherosclerotic plaques. In previous studies we showed that apoptosis of bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDM) induced by M-CSF withdrawal involves stimulation of acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase)and ceramide accumulation. Treatment of macrophages with oxidized LDL, sphingosine1-phosphate (S1P) or ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) prevented ceramide accumulation partially and blocked macrophage death. This action involved inhibition of A-SMaseactivity.
In the present study we used pertussis toxin (PTX) to test whether G protein coupled receptors are involved in the regulation of A-SMase activity. PTX is a bacterial toxin that inhibits Gi activation by ADP-ribosylating the α subunit of Gi, thereby preventing the subunit from interacting with receptors. Unexpectedly, we found that PTX blocked macrophage apoptosis by itself. This effect was dose-dependent and involved inhibition ofA-SMase and the subsequent generation of ceramide. In addition the Gi activator peptide mastoparan, but not its inactive analogue mastoparan 17, stimulated A-SMase and the increase of ceramide levels in macrophage which induced apoptosis. Interestingly,pre-treatment with PTX partially overrode mastoparan- induced apoptosis.
Taken together these results suggest that Gi protein coupled receptors may be involved in the control of cell survival through regulation of A-SMase activity.
This study was supported by grants from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of British Columbia and Yukon (Canada), and BFU2006-13689/BFI from Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (Madrid, Spain).
Involvement of JNK but not p38 in the mitogenic effect of ceramide 1- phosphate.
PB7
Patricia Gangoiti , María Granado , and Antonio Gómez-Muñoz .
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.
Our previous work on fibroblasts and macrophages showed that ceramide 1- phosphate (C1P) is mitogenic and antipoptotic. Recently we demonstrated that a major mechanism whereby C1P blocks apoptosis involves inhibition of acid sphingomyelinase and the subsequent generation of ceramides. However, the mechanisms or signaling pathways that are implicated in the mitogenic effect of C1P have not been thoroughly studied.
In a recent study we demonstrated that C1P stimulates DNA synthesis and cell division in bone marrow-derived macrophages. This effect was dependent upon activation of PI3-K/PKB (Akt) and ERK 1-2 pathways, but did not require the activity of phospholipase D, or adenylyl cyclase. We now observed that C1P stimulated a rapid phosphorylation of c-Jun terminal kinase (JNK) in the macrophages and that inhibition of this pathway by SP600125 blocked macrophage proliferation. In addition, treatment with SB202190, which is a selective inhibitor of p38, did not affect C1P-induced DNA synthesis in these cells. A classical transcriptional factor involved in the regulation of cell proliferation is NF-κB. In a previous report, we demonstrated its implication in macrophage survival. In this work, we show that C1P stimulates the DNA binding activity of NF-κB in macrophages, and that selective inhibitors of this transcriptional factor, such as CAPE or SC-514 blocked the stimulatory effect of C1P on cell proliferation. In addition, we found that the inhibitors of PI3-K, MEK and JNK, (LY290042, PD098059 and SP600125 respectively), completely blocked the DNA binding activity of NF-κB. Lastly, another key finding of the present work is that monocyte-colony stimulating factor (MCSF), which promotes macrophage survival and proliferation, caused an increase in the intracellular levels of C1P.
It can be concluded that the mechanism whereby C1P stimulates cell proliferation in bone marrow-derived macrophages involves the activation of JNK but not p38.
This study was supported by grants BFU2006-13689/BFI from “Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia” (Madrid, Spain) and 9/UPV 00042.310-15852/2004 from “Universidad del País Vasco” (UPV/EHU) (Bilbao, Basque Country).
Implication of the PI3-Kinase/PKB pathway in Ceramide 1-Phosphate-stimulated arachidonic acid release.
PB8
María Granado, Patricia Gangoiti, and Antonio Gómez-Muñoz
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48080 Bilbao, Spain.
Ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid capable of regulating important pathophysiological functions including cell proliferation, apoptosis, phagocytosis, and inflammation. Chalfant and co-workers first showed that C1P, which was delivered to cells in a solution of ethanol:dodecane, stimulated the calcium dependent cytosolic form of phospholipase A2 (cPLA2α) in lung cancer A549 cells. Using rat alveolar NR8383 macrophages and C1P dispersed in water, we demonstrate in this work that the stimulation of arachidonic acid release by C1P is independent of the solvent system used. Also, this effect is specific as other related phospholipids such as ceramide, or phosphatidic acid (PA) failed to stimulate secretion of this fatty acid. UsingN-{(2S,4R)-4-(Biphenyl-2-ylmethyl-isobutyl-amino)-1-[2-(2,4-difluorobenzoyl)-benzoyl]-pyrrolidin-2-ylmethyl}-3-[4-(2,4-dioxothiazolidin-5-ylidenemethyl)-phenyl]acrylamide, HCl , a selective inhibitor of cPLA2-α, we show that this enzyme is directly implicated in the stimulation of arachidonic acid release by C1P in alveolar macrophages, which is in agreement with work mentioned above.
Further investigation into the mechanism whereby C1P increases the release of arachidonic acid revealed that selective inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) blockedC1P-stimulated arachidonic acid release in the macrophages, suggesting an involvement of this enzyme in the pro-inflammatory effect of C1P. The latter also induced phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt), which is downstream of PI3-K. However, although C1P caused phosphorylation of the mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) ERK1/2 (extracellularly regulated kinases 1 and 2), specific inhibitors of this pathway did not affect the stimulation of arachidonic acid by C1P.
It can be concluded that stimulation of arachidonic acid release by C1P in alveolar macrophages can be achieved by direct stimulation of cPLA2 or through stimulation of thePI3-K/PKB (Akt) pathway, but not ERK1/2 or p38.
This study was supported by grants numbers 040732 from “Fundació la Marató de TV3”, Barcelona, Spain, 9/UPV 00042.310-15852/2004, from “Universidad del Pais Vasco (UPV/EHU)” Bilbao, Spain, and S-PE06UN 13 from “Departamento de Industria, Comercio y Turismo del Gobierno Vasco, Gasteiz-Vitoria, Spain.
Regulation of acid sphingomyelinase trafficking and activity: nitric oxide role and new players.
PB9
1Laura Bizzozero, 2Cristiana Perrotta, 3Patrizia Rosa and 1,4Emilio Clementi.
1E. Medea Scientific Institute, 23842 Bosisio Parini, Italy;
2Stem Cell Research Institute, H. San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy;
3CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Medical Pharmacology, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy;
4Department of Preclinical Sciences, LITA Vialba, L. Sacco Hospital, University of Milan, 20157 Milan, Italy.
The gaseous messenger nitric oxide plays an important role in a variety of biological functions such as cell differentiation, proliferation and death. Physiological concentrations of NO inhibit apoptosis triggered by a variety of apoptogens, including those activating death receptors of the TNF- (TNFRI)/ CD95 superfamily. Recent evidences indicate that NO is able to regulate ceramide levels and in U937 monocyte-derived cells it has been shown that NO inhibits the apoptotic responses induced by CD95 and TNF-RI by reducing the ability of these receptors to generate ceramide. One of the enzymes responsible for ceramide generation is the lysosomal phosphodiesterase Acid Sphingomyelinase. In recent papers we demonstrated that NO is able to abolish activation of A-SMase triggered by the apoptogenic receptors and lipopopolysaccharide (LPS) and that the anti-apoptotic function of NO is mediated through activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase and cGMP-dependentprotein kinase.
We therefore decided to investigate the mechanisms of ASMase inhibition by NO in U373 glioma cell line. Recent experiments have demonstrated that activation of this enzyme involves its trafficking from intracellular compartments to the plasma membrane by processes of exo-endocytosis. We observed that CD95 triggers A-SMase activation in atime-dependent and transient way and induces A-SMase translocation to the plasma membrane with the same trend of the activation. The same sets of experiments carried out in the presence of a NO donor demonstrated that NO inhibits A-SMase activity through the blockade of enzyme translocation. Immunofluorescence studies carried out under resting condition, i.e. prior to CD95 stimulation, in order to understand the A-SMasetranslocation further, showed that A-SMase co-localised with the lysosomal marker cathepsin D and with the SNARE protein syntaxin 4 suggesting this protein as responsible of A-SMase trafficking and as a target of the inhibitory action of NO. To this end we performed immunofluorescence experiments in the presence/absence of DETA-NO/8Br-cGMP in which we found that the two proteins no longer colocalized.
In addition we observed a very strong reduction of the levels of syntaxin 4 as measured by western blotting experiments carried out in the same conditions. Experiments intended to investigate the mechanism by which NO regulates the level of syntaxin 4 are now in progress; preliminary evidences indicate that NO promotes degradation of this protein. Evidence accumulated over the last few years indicates that the cross talk of A- SMase with NO plays prominent roles during key patho- physiological processes such as inflammation, proliferation, death and differentiation. Therefore, the identification of the mechanisms of this tightly regulated event and of its molecular intermediates might be relevant for understanding these important, as yet not fully defined, processes.
Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 and 2 deficiency or acidic sphingomyelinase knockout ameliorates ethanol-induced liver damage.
PB10
Ana Fernández, Anna Colell, Fran Caballero, Carmen García-Ruiz, and José Carlos,Fernández-Checa.
Liver Unit, Hospital Clínic i Provincial. CIBEREHD- IDIBAPS, IIBB-CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.
Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a proinflammatory cytokine that induces different cellular responses including inflammation, proliferation and cell death. TNF binds to two different plasma membrane receptors, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and receptor 2 (TNFR2). Evidence from studies using anti-TNF therapy and TNFR1 knockout mice indicated an important role for TNF in the pathogenesis of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Recent studies in experimental models of alcoholic (ASH) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) questioned the role of TNFR1 in disease progression and hepatic steatosis. Moreover, acidic sphingomyelinase (ASMase) has been shown to play a key role in the hepatocellular death induced by TNF. However, since in the absence of TNFR1 TNF can signal through TNFR2, and because the role of the ablation of both TNFR1 and TNFR2 or ASMase in ALD have not been previously examined, the aim of this study was to examine the contribution of TNFR1/TNFR2 and ASMase in ALD. Methods: 8 weeks-old male C57BL/6 mice deficient in both TNFR1 and TNFR2 (DKO) and ASMase-/- mice were used. Animals were fed the Lieber-DeCarli diet for up to 4-6 weeks. Animals received a single dose of LPS (5mg/kg) 24 hours before sacrifice. Liver damage was assessed by histochemical hematoxilin/eosin staining and serum transaminase levels. Hepatic steatosis and lipid infiltration were examined by oil red staining and biochemical analyses. Hepatic inflammation was monitored by myeloperoxidase (MPO) staining.
Results: the hepatic inflammation and necrosis observed in wild type ethanol-fed mice were attenuated significantly in DKO knockout mice. In vivo LPS injection in ethanol wild animals increased AST serum levels 8 times over pair-fed control mice (1440±210 U/dL vs. 135±14 U/dL) respectively. This increase was significantly lower in mice lacking both TNF receptors (ethanol DKO +LPS vs. ethanol wild type + LPS: 235±45 U/dL vs.1320±157U/dL). The increase in hepatic triglycerides, cholesterol and free fatty acids induced by ethanol feeding was also reduced (72±9, 68±11, 59±8%, respectively) in the DKO mice fed ethanol. Moreover, inflammatory cell foci reflected by MPO staining showed a marked reduction in DKO-fed ethanol mice vs wild-type ethanol fed mice following in vivo LPS challenge. Interestingly, ASMase knockout mice exhibited hepatic steatosis, although alcohol feeding did not further increase the levels of TG, FFA and cholesterol. However, unlike DKO, ASMase-/- mice are sensitive to concanavalin-induced liver injury, indicating a functional role for TNFR2 in and a link between TNFR1 and ASMase.
Conclusion: These results support the hypothesis that TNF plays an important role in inflammation and necrosis in alcohol-induced liver injury and that the targeting of TNF or its downstream mediator ASMase may be therapeutically useful in this disease.
Ganglioside GD3 synthase overexpression sensitizes human hepatoma cells to hypoxia by suppressing the nuclear factor-kB-dependent survival pathway.
PB11
Albert Morales1, Josep M. Lluis1, Scott Welford2, Amato Giaccia2 and José C. Fernandez- Checa1
1Liver Unit, Instituto Malalties Digestives, Hospital Clinic I Provincial, IDIBAPS, CSIC, UB, Barcelona, Spain.
2Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
Hypoxia is a common characteristic of locally advanced tumors and emerging evidence indicates that it has a profound effect in malignant progression and responsiveness to therapy. The cellular adaptation to hypoxia is mediated by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Hypoxia-induced ROS play a key role in HIF-1a stabilization andNF-kB activation, which are responsible for promoting survival of cancer cells, angiogenesis, vascularization, glycolytic ATP and tumor invasion. Ganglioside GD3 has been identified as a lipid death effector due to its dual
function of interacting with and recruiting mitochondria to apoptotic pathways and counteracting survival signals by suppressing NF-kB activation. We have recently shown that NF-kB plays a critical role in the survival of hepatoma cells during hypoxia. Thus, the aim of our work was to examine the ROS generation, NF-kB and HIF-1a activation, and survival of hepatoma cells that overexpress GD3 during hypoxia. Methods. GD3 synthasefull-lenght cDNA (1.2 kb) was cloned into pcDNATM 3.1D/v5-His-TOPO®. Hep3B were transfected with pcDNATM-GD3 (Hep3B-GD3) or pcDNATM (no insert, Hep3Bwt) and selected during 3-4 weeks based on expression of GD3 synthase gene, GD3 synthase activity and ganglioside GD3 levels. Hypoxia (2%) was induced in Hep3B cells for 24-72hours. Peroxides and superoxide anion were monitored with fluorescent probes 2´-7´-dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and hydroethidine (HE), respectively. NF-kB andHIF-1a transactivation were measured by luciferase reporters. Results. Immunostaining analyses indicated that GD3-expressing Hep3B clones accumulated GD3 both at the cell surface and in internal membranes, including mitochondria. These cells did not exhibit changes in morphology, growth and apoptosis compared to Hep3Bwt during normoxia. However, the exposure of Hep3B-GD3 cells to 2%O2 elicited a time-dependent decrease in cell survival reaching 55% at 72 hours while in Hep3Bwt was 90%. This was accompanied by greater ROS generation (1.5-2 fold) in Hep3B-GD3 versus Hep3Bwt. Hypoxic NF-kBactivation observed in Hep3Bwt (2-3 fold) was abrogated in Hep3B-GD3 cells (1.2-1.5fold) whereas HIF-1a levels (6 fold versus normoxia) remained similar in both clones. We next, focused on the regulation of Mn-SOD, a known kB-controlled antioxidant enzyme. Interestingly, hypoxia induced Mn-SOD protein and mRNA levels (2-3 fold, respectively) in Hep3Bwt that were reduced upon NF-kB downregulation in Hep3B- GD3 (1.2 fold). Moreover, MnTBAP, a SOD mimetic, reduced ROS generation and protected Hep3B-GD3cells against 2%O2 at 72 hours (viability of 75%). Conclusions. Endogenous expression of ganglioside GD3 sensitizes Hep3B cells to hypoxia through suppression of inducible kB- dependent antioxidant Mn-SOD resulting in cytotoxic ROS overgeneration. These findings suggest that ganglioside GD3 may be useful in cancer gene therapy as a sensitizing agent in hypoxic-resistant cancer cells.
Sphingosine Kinase 1 as an effective target to inhibit proliferation of myeloid leukemia cells: insights into the mechanism of action of “SK Inhibitor”.
PB12
Clara Ricci, MS(1,2), Francesco Onida, MD(2,3,4), Federica Servida, MS (2), Kati Todoerti, MS(3), Antonino Neri, MD(3,4), Giorgio Lambertenghi Deliliers, MD(2,3,4) and Riccardo Ghidoni, PhD(1,4)
1.Lab. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, San Paolo University Hosp., University of Milan, Milan, Italy, 20142;
2.Fondazione Matarelli, Milan, Italy, 20122;
3.Hematology Dept., Fondazione IRCCS Osp. Maggiore Policlinico, Mangiagalli e Regina Elena, Milan, Italy, 20122
4.University of Milan, Milan, Italy, 20122.
In the last decades, several studies have highlighted the role of SPL metabolism in the process of carcinogenesis. Particularly, the impairment of intracellular levels of enzymes controlling the generation of key mediators, such as SphK1 that produces S1P, contributes to cell growth, survival and transformation and to the acquisition of drug resistance in models of solid tumors as well as of leukemias. However, few data are available on specific SphK1 inhibitors for in vitro and in vivo studies. The hypothesis of this experimental work is that targeting SphK1 in myeloid leukaemia cells, particularly in CML, constitutes the basis for an effective anti-cancer therapy. Therefore, the aim of this study is to gain insights into the mechanism of action of a non competitive inhibitor of the ATP binding site of SphK1, “SK Inhibitor” (SKI), whose anti-tumor activity has been demonstrated only in in vitro and in vivo models of solid tumors. First, we show that in the panel of 5 different cell lines chosen to represent different subtypes of myeloid leukemias, SphK1 is expressed and active, and then we demonstrate that effective targeting of SphK1 by SKI causes an anti-proliferative, cytotoxic effect in all cell lines tested, hence supporting the hypothesis on which this work is based. Next, we focused on K562 as a model ofp210Bcr/Abl+-CML cells, to elucidate the mechanism of action of SKI. We show that the compound induces an early, significant inhibition of SphK1 activity without affecting kinase expression, confirming its selective, inhibitory mechanism of action. It also induces apoptosis, as evidenced by PARP cleavage and cell cycle analysis, and affects cell cycle progression, leading to accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 phase. At the molecular level, SKI does not inhibit ERK1/2, most likely acting upstream of SphK1, and induces changes of the expression of genes involved in many different cellular processes. Finally, we provide evidence for the usefulness of designing combination therapies based on the inhibition of both Bcr/Abl and SphK1 and present preliminary results on the effect of SKI on the clonogenic potential of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Our study supports the hypothesis that SphK1 is an effective target for killing leukemia cells, and may thus provide insights into the mechanism of action of the new SphK1 inhibitor SKI as an anti-leukemic agent, to be used alone or in combination with IM. Indeed, due to the fact that the phenomenon of resistance to IM remains a major issue in the treatment of patients with CML, the identification of alternative targets and new drugs is of clinical relevance.
Calmodulin is a potential intracellular receptor for the lipid mediator sphingosylphosphorylcholine.
PB13
Erika Kovacs and Karoly Liliom
Affiliation and address: Institute of Enzymology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, P.O.Box 7, Budapest, H-1518 Hungary
e-mail: liliom@enzim.hu
Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) are physiologically relevant mediators of signaling, regulating basic cellular processes like growth, apoptosis, motility, and Ca2+ homeostasis. They can act as first as well as second messengers. While their activation of cell surface G protein-coupled receptors is intensively studied, not much is known about their intracellular mechanisms of action, their target proteins are yet to be identified. Here we examined whether these sphingolipids interact with calmodulin (CaM), the ubiquitous intracellular Ca2+ sensor. Binding assays utilizing intrinsic tyrosine fluorescence of the protein, dansyl-labeled CaM, and surface plasmon resonance showed that SPC selectively binds to both apo and Ca2+-saturated CaM, characterized by a submicromolar dissociation constant. Experiments carried out with the model CaM-binding domain melittin revealed that SPC dissociates the CaM-peptide complex, suggesting an inhibitory role. The functional effect of the interaction was examined on two target proteins, phosphodiesterase and calcineurin. We found that SPC inhibited the Ca2+-CaM- dependent activation of both enzymes. Thus, we propose that CaM is an intracellular receptor for SPC, and raise the possibility for a novel endogenous regulation of CaM.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate modulates Transient Receptor Potential Channel 1 (TRCP1) in skeletal muscle cells. Relevance for Connexin43-up- Regulation and myogenesis.
PB14
Sassoli C. 2 Martinesi M. 1, Squecco R. 3, Bini F.1, Zecchi-Orlandini S. 2, Francini F. 3, Formigli L. 2, and Meacci.E1.
Departments of 1Biochemical Sciences, 2Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, 3Physiological Sciences, University of Florence and -Interuniversity Institute of Myology (IIM), Italy.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a lipid mediator originated by sphingomyelin degradation, is able to regulate a wide variety of important cellular functions (1). Although, S1P can act as pro-differentiating agent in C2C12 myoblasts, its downstream effectors are poorly known. Recently, we have demonstrated that the induction of myogenesis by S1P required the activation of several signaling pathways, including the up-regulation of Cx43 expression and its interaction to cytoskeleton (2).Mechanosensitive channels (stretch-activatedchannel, SACs) are present in many cell types, and partecipate to the mechano- transduction, converting membrane stretch into electrical cationic current and biochemical signalling (3). Increasing evidence support the important role of SACs in cell homeostasis, cell differentiation and in the pathogenesis of several muscle diseases, such as muscular dystrophy, muscle hypertrophy and cardiac arrhythmias. Despite these observations, the involvement of canonical transient receptor potential 1 (TRPC1), identified as a critical componenet of SACs (3), in S1P-induced signalling remains to be elucidated. To this purpose, in the present study, we examined the expression and localization of TRCP1 in C2C12 myoblasts and its role in S1P-induced Cx43 expression, gap junction functionality and myogenesis.
Interestingly, we found that TRCP1 appears to be responsible for the majority of stretch- activated channel (SAC) activity induced by S1P, as demonstrated by the reduced SAC activity in cells in which TRCP1 protein is silenced by siRNA. TRCP1 preferentially co- localizes with Cx43 in lipid rafts and directly interact with cytoskeleton actin. The treatment with dihydrocytochalasin B, a selective actin disrupter agent, with gadolinium chloride, a specific pharmacological inhibitor of SACs, and the transfection of C2C12 myoblasts with siRNA-TRCP1 significantly reduces the up-regulation of Cx43 as well as myogenic marker expression promoted by S1P.
Overall, these findings provide novel information regarding the mechanisms by which S1P affects muscle cell biology, including in the list of the downstream effectors of the bioactive lipid, TRCP1. Importantly, these results suggest that, in myoblasts stimulated with S1P, cytoskeleton remodeling and the following activation of cation currents through TRPC1/SACs are essential steps in the up-regulation of Cx43 expression, event that is physiologically required for myogenesis in vivo (4). In addition, the discovery of the functional interaction between sphingolipid signalling and TRP channels will inevitably reveals a new possible target for therapy in diseases, in which alterations of cation concentration appears to be crucially involved in the activation of proteolytic enzymes and cell degeneration, such as muscle distrophy.
Grants from university of Florence, Ente CRPP and Fondazione Banche di Pistoia e Vignole
Sphingomyelin metabolism of thyroid cells changes in the space.
PB15
Albi E1, Bartoccini E1, Marini F1, Cascianelli G1, Bernardini I1 , Viola-Magni M1, Perrella G2.
1Dept. Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia;
2Department of Experimental and Clinical Pathology and Medicine, University of Udine.
The radiation absorbed by astronauts during interplanetary flights is mainly due to cosmic rays that can cause thyroid disorders through the activation of intracellular signals. Since the ionizing radiation exposure induces the release of ceramide and diacylglycerol as second messengers for proapoptotic and antiapoptotic signals respectively (1), the aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of the cosmic enviroment on lipid fraction of the FRTL-5 cells. This cell line permanently expresses in vitro most of the in vivotissue-specific thyroid characteristics, such as thyroglobulin synthesis and secretion, iodide active transport, peroxidase production and thyrotropin sensitivity. FRTL-5 cells are induced to proliferate only when they are cultured in the presence of TSH (TSH+) whereas in the THS-free medium the cells remain in a quiescent state for long time (TSH-, 2). The study has been performed on TSH+ and TSH- FRTL5 cell during the 10-days Italian Soyuz Mission(ISM) “Eneide” (April 15 to April 25) on international Space Station. The activity of neutral– sphingomyelinas (N-SMase) and sphingomyelin-synthase (SM-synthase) were evaluated in nuclei-free lysates (NFL) and purified nuclei. Moreover the same experiments have been made in the samples maintained in colture at Udine and Baikonur. The results show that in the space the N-SMase activity increases and SM- synthase activity decreases and it occurs more in the purified nuclei that in the NFL. The variations obtained in the TSH- FRTL5 cells are similar whereas those obtained in the TSH+ FRTL5 cells are lower of those previously reported for the same cells treated with UV rays (3). These data can be correlated with the reduced proliferative activity of TSH+ FRTL5 cells.