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Ding S, Li G, Fu T, Zhang T, Lu X, Li N, Geng Q. Ceramides and mitochondrial homeostasis. Cell Signal 2024; 117:111099. [PMID: 38360249 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2024.111099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Lipotoxicity arises from the accumulation of lipid intermediates in non-adipose tissue, precipitating cellular dysfunction and death. Ceramide, a toxic byproduct of excessive free fatty acids, has been widely recognized as a primary contributor to lipotoxicity, mediating various cellular processes such as apoptosis, differentiation, senescence, migration, and adhesion. As the hub of lipid metabolism, the excessive accumulation of ceramides inevitably imposes stress on the mitochondria, leading to the disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis, which is typified by adequate ATP production, regulated oxidative stress, an optimal quantity of mitochondria, and controlled mitochondrial quality. Consequently, this review aims to collate current knowledge and facts regarding the involvement of ceramides in mitochondrial energy metabolism and quality control, thereby providing insights for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Song Ding
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Guorui Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Tinglv Fu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Tianyu Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Xiao Lu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China
| | - Ning Li
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
| | - Qing Geng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China.
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2
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Diaz-Vegas A, Madsen S, Cooke KC, Carroll L, Khor JXY, Turner N, Lim XY, Astore MA, Morris JC, Don AS, Garfield A, Zarini S, Zemski Berry KA, Ryan AP, Bergman BC, Brozinick JT, James DE, Burchfield JG. Mitochondrial electron transport chain, ceramide, and coenzyme Q are linked in a pathway that drives insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. eLife 2023; 12:RP87340. [PMID: 38149844 PMCID: PMC10752590 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Insulin resistance (IR) is a complex metabolic disorder that underlies several human diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Despite extensive research, the precise mechanisms underlying IR development remain poorly understood. Previously we showed that deficiency of coenzyme Q (CoQ) is necessary and sufficient for IR in adipocytes and skeletal muscle (Fazakerley et al., 2018). Here, we provide new insights into the mechanistic connections between cellular alterations associated with IR, including increased ceramides, CoQ deficiency, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. We demonstrate that elevated levels of ceramide in the mitochondria of skeletal muscle cells result in CoQ depletion and loss of mitochondrial respiratory chain components, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and IR. Further, decreasing mitochondrial ceramide levels in vitro and in animal models (mice, C57BL/6J) (under chow and high-fat diet) increased CoQ levels and was protective against IR. CoQ supplementation also rescued ceramide-associated IR. Examination of the mitochondrial proteome from human muscle biopsies revealed a strong correlation between the respirasome system and mitochondrial ceramide as key determinants of insulin sensitivity. Our findings highlight the mitochondrial ceramide-CoQ-respiratory chain nexus as a potential foundation of an IR pathway that may also play a critical role in other conditions associated with ceramide accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction, such as heart failure, cancer, and aging. These insights may have important clinical implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of IR and related metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Diaz-Vegas
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Søren Madsen
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Kristen C Cooke
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Luke Carroll
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Jasmine XY Khor
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of SydneySydneyAustralia
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Nigel Turner
- Cellular Bioenergetics Laboratory, Victor Chang Cardiac Research InstituteSydneyAustralia
| | - Xin Y Lim
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Miro A Astore
- Center for Computational Biology and Center for Computational Mathematics, Flatiron InstituteNew YorkUnited States
| | | | - Anthony S Don
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - Amanda Garfield
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Simona Zarini
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Karin A Zemski Berry
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Andrew P Ryan
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Division of Eli Lilly and CompanyIndianapolisUnited States
| | - Bryan C Bergman
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical CampusAuroraUnited States
| | - Joseph T Brozinick
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Division of Eli Lilly and CompanyIndianapolisUnited States
| | - David E James
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of SydneySydneyAustralia
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of SydneySydneyAustralia
| | - James G Burchfield
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of SydneySydneyAustralia
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3
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Ung J, Tan SF, Fox TE, Shaw JJP, Taori M, Horton BJ, Golla U, Sharma A, Szulc ZM, Wang HG, Chalfant CE, Cabot MC, Claxton DF, Loughran TP, Feith DJ. Acid Ceramidase Inhibitor LCL-805 Antagonizes Akt Signaling and Promotes Iron-Dependent Cell Death in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:5866. [PMID: 38136410 PMCID: PMC10742122 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15245866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy requiring urgent treatment advancements. Ceramide is a cell-death-promoting signaling lipid that plays a central role in therapy-induced cell death. We previously determined that acid ceramidase (AC), a ceramide-depleting enzyme, is overexpressed in AML and promotes leukemic survival and drug resistance. The ceramidase inhibitor B-13 and next-generation lysosomal-localizing derivatives termed dimethylglycine (DMG)-B-13 prodrugs have been developed but remain untested in AML. Here, we report the in vitro anti-leukemic efficacy and mechanism of DMG-B-13 prodrug LCL-805 across AML cell lines and primary patient samples. LCL-805 inhibited AC enzymatic activity, increased total ceramides, and reduced sphingosine levels. A median EC50 value of 11.7 μM was achieved for LCL-805 in cell viability assays across 32 human AML cell lines. As a single agent tested across a panel of 71 primary AML patient samples, a median EC50 value of 15.8 μM was achieved. Exogenous ceramide supplementation with C6-ceramide nanoliposomes, which is entering phase I/II clinical trial for relapsed/refractory AML, significantly enhanced LCL-805 killing. Mechanistically, LCL-805 antagonized Akt signaling and led to iron-dependent cell death distinct from canonical ferroptosis. These findings elucidated key factors involved in LCL-805 cytotoxicity and demonstrated the potency of combining AC inhibition with exogenous ceramide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnson Ung
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Todd E. Fox
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Jeremy J. P. Shaw
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
| | - Maansi Taori
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
| | - Bethany J. Horton
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Translational Research and Applied Statistics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA;
| | - Upendarrao Golla
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; (U.G.); (D.F.C.)
| | - Arati Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA;
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA;
| | - Zdzislaw M. Szulc
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine, Charleston, SC 29425, USA;
| | - Hong-Gang Wang
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA;
| | - Charles E. Chalfant
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Research Service, Richmond Veterans Administration Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23249, USA
| | - Myles C. Cabot
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA;
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - David F. Claxton
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA; (U.G.); (D.F.C.)
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA;
| | - Thomas P. Loughran
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - David J. Feith
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA; (S.-F.T.); (T.E.F.); (J.J.P.S.); (M.T.); (C.E.C.)
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
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4
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Ung J, Tan SF, Fox TE, Shaw JJ, Taori M, Horton BJ, Golla U, Sharma A, Szulc ZM, Wang HG, Chalfant CE, Cabot MC, Claxton DF, Loughran TP, Feith DJ. Acid Ceramidase Inhibitor LCL-805 Antagonizes Akt Signaling and Promotes Iron-Dependent Cell Death in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.21.563437. [PMID: 37961314 PMCID: PMC10634704 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.21.563437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy requiring urgent treatment advancements. Ceramide is a cell death-promoting signaling lipid that plays a central role in therapy-induced cell death. Acid ceramidase (AC), a ceramide-depleting enzyme, is overexpressed in AML and promotes leukemic survival and drug resistance. The ceramidase inhibitor B-13 and next-generation lysosomal-localizing derivatives termed dimethylglycine (DMG)-B-13 prodrugs have been developed but remain untested in AML. Here, we report the in vitro anti-leukemic efficacy and mechanism of DMG-B-13 prodrug, LCL-805, across AML cell lines and primary patient samples. LCL-805 inhibited AC enzymatic activity, increased total ceramides, and reduced sphingosine levels. A median EC50 value of 11.7 μM was achieved for LCL-805 in cell viability assays across 32 human AML cell lines. As a single agent tested across a panel of 71 primary AML patient samples, a median EC50 value of 15.8 μM was achieved. Exogenous ceramide supplementation with C6-ceramide nanoliposomes, which is entering phase I/II clinical trial for relapsed/refractory AML, significantly enhanced LCL-805 killing. Mechanistically, LCL-805 antagonized Akt signaling and led to iron-dependent cell death distinct from canonical ferroptosis. These findings elucidated key factors involved in LCL-805 cytotoxicity and demonstrated the potency of combining AC inhibition with exogenous ceramide.
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5
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Diaz-Vegas A, Madsen S, Cooke KC, Carroll L, Khor JXY, Turner N, Lim XY, Astore MA, Morris J, Don A, Garfield A, Zarini S, Zemski Berry KA, Ryan A, Bergman BC, Brozinick JT, James DE, Burchfield JG. Mitochondrial electron transport chain, ceramide and Coenzyme Q are linked in a pathway that drives insulin resistance in skeletal muscle. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.10.532020. [PMID: 36945619 PMCID: PMC10028964 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.10.532020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
Insulin resistance (IR) is a complex metabolic disorder that underlies several human diseases, including type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Despite extensive research, the precise mechanisms underlying IR development remain poorly understood. Here, we provide new insights into the mechanistic connections between cellular alterations associated with IR, including increased ceramides, deficiency of coenzyme Q (CoQ), mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress. We demonstrate that elevated levels of ceramide in the mitochondria of skeletal muscle cells results in CoQ depletion and loss of mitochondrial respiratory chain components, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and IR. Further, decreasing mitochondrial ceramide levels in vitro and in animal models (under chow and high fat diet) increased CoQ levels and was protective against IR. CoQ supplementation also rescued ceramide-associated IR. Examination of the mitochondrial proteome from human muscle biopsies revealed a strong correlation between the respirasome system and mitochondrial ceramide as key determinants of insulin sensitivity. Our findings highlight the mitochondrial Ceramide-CoQ-respiratory chain nexus as a potential foundation of an IR pathway that may also play a critical role in other conditions associated with ceramide accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction, such as heart failure, cancer, and aging. These insights may have important clinical implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of IR and related metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Diaz-Vegas
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Soren Madsen
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Kristen C. Cooke
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Luke Carroll
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Jasmine X. Y. Khor
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Nigel Turner
- Cellular Bioenergetics Laboratory, Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Xin Ying Lim
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Miro A. Astore
- Center for Computational Biology and Center for Computational Mathematics, Flatiron Institute, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Jonathan Morris
- School of Chemistry, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, 2052, NSW, Australia
| | - Anthony Don
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - Amanda Garfield
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Simona Zarini
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Karin A. Zemski Berry
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Andrew Ryan
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Division of Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Bryan C. Bergman
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Diabetes, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Joseph T. Brozinick
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Division of Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - David E. James
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Charles Perkins Centre and School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia
| | - James G. Burchfield
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Alizadeh J, da Silva Rosa SC, Weng X, Jacobs J, Lorzadeh S, Ravandi A, Vitorino R, Pecic S, Zivkovic A, Stark H, Shojaei S, Ghavami S. Ceramides and ceramide synthases in cancer: Focus on apoptosis and autophagy. Eur J Cell Biol 2023; 102:151337. [PMID: 37392580 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2023.151337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Different studies corroborate a role for ceramide synthases and their downstream products, ceramides, in modulation of apoptosis and autophagy in the context of cancer. These mechanisms of regulation, however, appear to be context dependent in terms of ceramides' fatty acid chain length, subcellular localization, and the presence or absence of their downstream targets. Our current understanding of the role of ceramide synthases and ceramides in regulation of apoptosis and autophagy could be harnessed to pioneer the development of new treatments to activate or inhibit a single type of ceramide synthase, thereby regulating the apoptosis induction or cross talk of apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells. Moreover, the apoptotic function of ceramide suggests that ceramide analogues can pave the way for the development of novel cancer treatments. Therefore, in the current review paper we discuss the impact of ceramide synthases and ceramides in regulation of apoptosis and autophagy in context of different types of cancers. We also briefly introduce the latest information on ceramide synthase inhibitors, their application in diseases including cancer therapy, and discuss approaches for drug discovery in the field of ceramide synthase inhibitors. We finally discussed strategies for developing strategies to use lipids and ceramides analysis in biological fluids for developing early biomarkers for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javad Alizadeh
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Simone C da Silva Rosa
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Xiaohui Weng
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College, Fullerton, CA 92834, United States
| | - Joadi Jacobs
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Shahrokh Lorzadeh
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Amir Ravandi
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, 66 Chancellors Cir, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Rui Vitorino
- UnIC, Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal; Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Stevan Pecic
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, California State University, Fullerton, 800 N. State College, Fullerton, CA 92834, United States
| | - Aleksandra Zivkovic
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetstrasse 1, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Holger Stark
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitaetstrasse 1, 40225 Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Shahla Shojaei
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - Saeid Ghavami
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada; Faculty of Medicine in Zabrze, University of Technology in Katowice, 41-800 Zabrze, Poland; Research Institute of Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Care Manitoba, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada.
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7
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Fisher-Wellman KH, Kassai M, Hagen JT, Neufer PD, Kester M, Loughran TP, Chalfant CE, Feith DJ, Tan SF, Fox TE, Ung J, Fabrias G, Abad JL, Sharma A, Golla U, Claxton DF, Shaw JJP, Bhowmick D, Cabot MC. Simultaneous Inhibition of Ceramide Hydrolysis and Glycosylation Synergizes to Corrupt Mitochondrial Respiration and Signal Caspase Driven Cell Death in Drug-Resistant Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:1883. [PMID: 36980769 PMCID: PMC10046858 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), the most prevalent acute and aggressive leukemia diagnosed in adults, often recurs as a difficult-to-treat, chemotherapy-resistant disease. Because chemotherapy resistance is a major obstacle to successful treatment, novel therapeutic intervention is needed. Upregulated ceramide clearance via accelerated hydrolysis and glycosylation has been shown to be an element in chemotherapy-resistant AML, a problem considering the crucial role ceramide plays in eliciting apoptosis. Herein we employed agents that block ceramide clearance to determine if such a "reset" would be of therapeutic benefit. SACLAC was utilized to limit ceramide hydrolysis, and D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (D-threo-PDMP) was used to block the glycosylation route. The SACLAC D-threo-PDMP inhibitor combination was synergistically cytotoxic in drug-resistant, P-glycoprotein-expressing (P-gp) AML but not in wt, P-gp-poor cells. Interestingly, P-gp antagonists that can limit ceramide glycosylation via depression of glucosylceramide transit also synergized with SACLAC, suggesting a paradoxical role for P-gp in the implementation of cell death. Mechanistically, cell death was accompanied by a complete drop in ceramide glycosylation, concomitant, striking increases in all molecular species of ceramide, diminished sphingosine 1-phosphate levels, resounding declines in mitochondrial respiratory kinetics, altered Akt, pGSK-3β, and Mcl-1 expression, and caspase activation. Although ceramide was generated in wt cells upon inhibitor exposure, mitochondrial respiration was not corrupted, suggestive of mitochondrial vulnerability in the drug-resistant phenotype, a potential therapeutic avenue. The inhibitor regimen showed efficacy in an in vivo model and in primary AML cells from patients. These results support the implementation of SL enzyme targeting to limit ceramide clearance as a therapeutic strategy in chemotherapy-resistant AML, inclusive of a novel indication for the use of P-gp antagonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey H. Fisher-Wellman
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
- UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Miki Kassai
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - James T. Hagen
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - P. Darrell Neufer
- Department of Integrative Physiology and Metabolism, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Thomas P. Loughran
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Charles E. Chalfant
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Research Service, Richmond Veterans Administration Medical Center, Richmond, VA 23298, USA
| | - David J. Feith
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
| | - Todd E. Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Johnson Ung
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Gemma Fabrias
- Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose’ Luis Abad
- Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules (RUBAM), Department of Biological Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC), Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Arati Sharma
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Upendarrao Golla
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - David F. Claxton
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Jeremy J. P. Shaw
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Debajit Bhowmick
- Flow Cytometry Division, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Myles C. Cabot
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
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8
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Papiri G, D’Andreamatteo G, Cacchiò G, Alia S, Silvestrini M, Paci C, Luzzi S, Vignini A. Multiple Sclerosis: Inflammatory and Neuroglial Aspects. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2023; 45:1443-1470. [PMID: 36826039 PMCID: PMC9954863 DOI: 10.3390/cimb45020094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis (MS) represents the most common acquired demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system (CNS). Its pathogenesis, in parallel with the well-established role of mechanisms pertaining to autoimmunity, involves several key functions of immune, glial and nerve cells. The disease's natural history is complex, heterogeneous and may evolve over a relapsing-remitting (RRMS) or progressive (PPMS/SPMS) course. Acute inflammation, driven by infiltration of peripheral cells in the CNS, is thought to be the most relevant process during the earliest phases and in RRMS, while disruption in glial and neural cells of pathways pertaining to energy metabolism, survival cascades, synaptic and ionic homeostasis are thought to be mostly relevant in long-standing disease, such as in progressive forms. In this complex scenario, many mechanisms originally thought to be distinctive of neurodegenerative disorders are being increasingly recognized as crucial from the beginning of the disease. The present review aims at highlighting mechanisms in common between MS, autoimmune diseases and biology of neurodegenerative disorders. In fact, there is an unmet need to explore new targets that might be involved as master regulators of autoimmunity, inflammation and survival of nerve cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulio Papiri
- Neurology Unit, Ospedale Provinciale “Madonna del Soccorso”, 63074 San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy
| | - Giordano D’Andreamatteo
- Neurology Unit, Ospedale Provinciale “Madonna del Soccorso”, 63074 San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy
| | - Gabriella Cacchiò
- Neurology Unit, Ospedale Provinciale “Madonna del Soccorso”, 63074 San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy
| | - Sonila Alia
- Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics, Department of Clinical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60100 Ancona, Italy
| | - Mauro Silvestrini
- Neurology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60100 Ancona, Italy
| | - Cristina Paci
- Neurology Unit, Ospedale Provinciale “Madonna del Soccorso”, 63074 San Benedetto del Tronto, Italy
| | - Simona Luzzi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60100 Ancona, Italy
| | - Arianna Vignini
- Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics, Department of Clinical Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, 60100 Ancona, Italy
- Correspondence:
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9
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Nenu I, Stefanescu H, Procopet B, Sparchez Z, Minciuna I, Mocan T, Leucuta D, Morar C, Grigorescu M, Filip GA, Socaciu C. Navigating through the Lipid Metabolism Maze: Diagnosis and Prognosis Metabolites of Hepatocellular Carcinoma versus Compensated Cirrhosis. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11051292. [PMID: 35268381 PMCID: PMC8910918 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11051292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: The pursuit of finding biomarkers for the diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has never been so paramount in the days of personalized medicine. The main objective of our study is to identify new biomarkers for diagnosing HCC, and to identify which patients are at risk of developing tumor recurrence, decompensation, or even possesses the risk of cancer-related death. (2) Methods: We have conducted an untargeted metabolomics study from the serum of 69 European patients—32 compensated cirrhotic patients without HCC (controls), and 37 cirrhotic patients with HCC with compensated underlying liver disease (cases), that underwent curative treatment (surgery or ablation), performing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF- (ESI+)-MS) with an emphasis on lipid metabolites. (3) Results: 1,25-dihydroxy cholesterol (m/z = 419.281), myristyl palmitate (m/z = 453.165), 25-hydroxy vitamin D2 (m/z = 413.265), 12-ketodeoxycholic acid (m/z = 391.283), lysoPC (21:4) (m/z = 558.291), and lysoPE (22:2) (m/z = 534.286) represent notable biomarkers that differentiate compensated cirrhosis from early HCC, and ceramide species are depleted in the serum of HCC patients. Regarding prognosis, no metabolite identified in our study could determine tumor relapse. To distinguish between the HCC patients that survived curative treatment and those at risk that developed tumor burden, we have identified two notable phosphocholines (PC (30:2); PC (30:1)) with AUROCs of 0.820 and 0.807, respectively, that seem to increase when patients are at risk. In a univariate analysis, arachidonic acid was the only metabolite to predict decompensation (OR = 0.1, 95% CI: 0−0.16, p < 0.005), while in the multivariate analysis, dismally, no variable was associated with decompensation. Furthermore, in the multivariate analysis, we have found out for the first time that the increased expression of 1,25-dihydroxy cholesterol, myristyl palmitate, 12-keto deoxycholic acid, lysoPC (21:4), and lysoPE (22:2) are independent markers of survival. (4) Conclusions: Our study reveals that lipids play a crucial role in discriminating compensated cirrhosis and early hepatocellular carcinoma, and might represent markers of survival and prognosis in personalized and minimally invasive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iuliana Nenu
- 3rd Medical Department, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (B.P.); (Z.S.); (I.M.); (T.M.); (M.G.)
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Correspondence: (I.N.); (H.S.)
| | - Horia Stefanescu
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Correspondence: (I.N.); (H.S.)
| | - Bogdan Procopet
- 3rd Medical Department, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (B.P.); (Z.S.); (I.M.); (T.M.); (M.G.)
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Zeno Sparchez
- 3rd Medical Department, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (B.P.); (Z.S.); (I.M.); (T.M.); (M.G.)
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Iulia Minciuna
- 3rd Medical Department, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (B.P.); (Z.S.); (I.M.); (T.M.); (M.G.)
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Tudor Mocan
- 3rd Medical Department, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (B.P.); (Z.S.); (I.M.); (T.M.); (M.G.)
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Daniel Leucuta
- Department of Medical Statistics, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Corina Morar
- Center for Applied Biotechnology BIODIATECH, SC Proplanta, 400478 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (C.M.); (C.S.)
| | - Mircea Grigorescu
- 3rd Medical Department, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (B.P.); (Z.S.); (I.M.); (T.M.); (M.G.)
- Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, 400162 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gabriela Adriana Filip
- Department of Physiology, “Iuliu Hatieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Carmen Socaciu
- Center for Applied Biotechnology BIODIATECH, SC Proplanta, 400478 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (C.M.); (C.S.)
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Fisher-Wellman KH, Hagen JT, Kassai M, Kao LP, Nelson MAM, McLaughlin KL, Coalson HS, Fox TE, Tan SF, Feith DJ, Kester M, Loughran TP, Claxton DF, Cabot MC. Alterations in sphingolipid composition and mitochondrial bioenergetics represent synergistic therapeutic vulnerabilities linked to multidrug resistance in leukemia. FASEB J 2021; 36:e22094. [PMID: 34888943 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202101194rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Modifications in sphingolipid (SL) metabolism and mitochondrial bioenergetics are key factors implicated in cancer cell response to chemotherapy, including chemotherapy resistance. In the present work, we utilized acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell lines, selected to be refractory to various chemotherapeutics, to explore the interplay between SL metabolism and mitochondrial biology supportive of multidrug resistance (MDR). In agreement with previous findings in cytarabine or daunorubicin resistant AML cells, relative to chemosensitive wildtype controls, HL-60 cells refractory to vincristine (HL60/VCR) presented with alterations in SL enzyme expression and lipidome composition. Such changes were typified by upregulated expression of various ceramide detoxifying enzymes, as well as corresponding shifts in ceramide, glucosylceramide, and sphingomyelin (SM) molecular species. With respect to mitochondria, despite consistent increases in both basal respiration and maximal respiratory capacity, direct interrogation of the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system revealed intrinsic deficiencies in HL60/VCR, as well as across multiple MDR model systems. Based on the apparent requirement for augmented SL and mitochondrial flux to support the MDR phenotype, we explored a combinatorial therapeutic paradigm designed to target each pathway. Remarkably, despite minimal cytotoxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), co-targeting SL metabolism, and respiratory complex I (CI) induced synergistic cytotoxicity consistently across multiple MDR leukemia models. Together, these data underscore the intimate connection between cellular sphingolipids and mitochondrial metabolism and suggest that pharmacological intervention across both pathways may represent a novel treatment strategy against MDR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey H Fisher-Wellman
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - James T Hagen
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Miki Kassai
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Li-Pin Kao
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Margaret A M Nelson
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kelsey L McLaughlin
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hannah S Coalson
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Todd E Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - David J Feith
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA.,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - David F Claxton
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA.,Penn state Cancer Institute, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA
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