Reply to kolesnick and hannun, and perry and hannun

Neutral Sphingomyelinase 2 (SMPD3) Deficiency in Mice Causes Chondrodysplasia with Unimpaired Skeletal Mineralization

SMPD3 deficiency in the neutral sphingomyelinase (Smpd3^-/-) mouse results in a novel form of juvenile dwarfism, suggesting smpd3 is a polygenetic determinant of body height. SMPD3 controls homeostasis of the sphingomyelin cycle in the Golgi compartment, essential for membrane remodeling, initiating multiform vesicle formation and transport in the Golgi secretory pathway. Using the unbiased Smpd3^-/- genetic model, this study shows that the perturbed Golgi secretory pathway of chondrocytes of the epiphyseal growth zone leads to dysproteostasis, skeletal growth inhibition, malformation, and chondrodysplasia, but showed unimpaired mineralization in primary and secondary enchondral ossification centers. This has been elaborated by biochemical analyses and immunohistochemistry of long bones of Smpd3^-/- mice. A more precise definition of the microarchitecture and three-dimensional structure of the bone was shown by peripheral quantitative computed tomography, high-resolution microcomputed tomography, and less precisely by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for osteodensitometry. Ablation of the Smpd3 locus as part of a 980-kb deletion on chromosome 8 in the fro/fro mutant, generated by chemical mutagenesis, is held responsible for skeletal hypomineralization, osteoporosis, and multiple fractures of long bones, which are hallmarks of human osteogenesis imperfecta. The phenotype of the genetically unbiased Smpd3^-/- mouse, described here, precludes the proposed role of Smpd3 as a candidate gene of human osteogenesis imperfecta, but suggests SMPD3 deficiency as the pathogenetic basis of a novel form of chondrodysplasia.

Fusogenicity of membranes: the impact of acid sphingomyelinase on innate immune responses

Acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) has been implemented in cellular signaling mainly because its reaction product, ceramide, has been assumed to be a mediator within signaling pathways. Our studies of three independent infection systems show that ASMase is required for phago-lysosomal fusion in macrophages infected with Listeria monocytogenes, for exocytosis of secretory lysosomes by lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus-specific cytotoxic T cells, and for generation of multinucleated giant cells in granuloma of mice infected with Mycobacterium avium. Because of its neutral lipid nature, ceramide is confined to the membranes of phagosomes and lysosomes or the extracellular leaflet of the plasma membrane. In light of the biochemical and biophysical properties of ceramide, we provide a model suggesting that ASMase regulates select vesicular fusion processes by modifying the steric conformation of cellular membranes.

A lipid-specific toxin reveals heterogeneity of sphingomyelin-containing membranes

Little is known about the heterogenous organization of lipids in biological membranes. Sphingomyelin (SM) is a major plasma membrane lipid that forms lipid domains together with cholesterol and glycolipids. Using SM-specific toxin, lysenin, we showed that in cultured epithelial cells the accessibility of the toxin to SM is different between apical and basolateral membranes. Apical membranes are highly enriched with glycolipids. The inhibitory role of glycolipids in the binding of lysenin to SM was confirmed by comparing the glycolipid-deficient mutant melanoma cell line with its parent cell. Model membrane experiments indicated that glycolipid altered the local density of SM so that the affinity of the lipid for lysenin was decreased. Our results indicate that lysenin recognizes the heterogenous organization of SM in biomembranes and that the organization of SM differs between different cell types and between different membrane domains within the same cell. Isothermal titration calorimetry suggests that lysenin binding to SM is presumably the result of a SM-lysenin complex formation of specific stoichiometry, thus supporting the idea of the existence of small condensed lipid complexes consisting of just a few lipid molecules in living cells.

Enlargement and contracture of C2-ceramide channels

Ceramides are known to play a major regulatory role in apoptosis by inducing cytochrome c release from mitochondria. We have previously reported that ceramide, but not dihydroceramide, forms large and stable channels in phospholipid membranes and outer membranes of isolated mitochondria. C(2)-ceramide channel formation is characterized by conductance increments ranging from <1 to >200 nS. These conductance increments often represent the enlargement and contracture of channels rather than the opening and closure of independent channels. Enlargement is supported by the observation that many small conductance increments can lead to a large decrement. Also the initial conductances favor cations, but this selectivity drops dramatically with increasing total conductance. La(+3) causes rapid ceramide channel disassembly in a manner indicative of large conducting structures. These channels have a propensity to contract by a defined size (often multiples of 4 nS) indicating the formation of cylindrical channels with preferred diameters rather than a continuum of sizes. The results are consistent with ceramides forming barrel-stave channels whose size can change by loss or insertion of multiple ceramide columns.

Anoxia and reoxygenation of human endothelial cells decrease ceramide glucosyltransferase expression and activates caspases

Endothelial oxidative stress induces cellular activation and sometimes death. Endothelial death can occur via necrosis or apoptosis. Understanding the mechanisms involved in cellular activation and death may lead to therapeutics designed to increase death or preserve cellular function. In the present study, brief periods of anoxia (3 h) followed by varying lengths of reoxygenation (0-5 h) lead to a time-dependent increase in human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) caspase activity. Furthermore, ROCK-1 cleavage, which is dependent on caspase-3 activity, was also increased in cells undergoing oxidative stress compared with normoxic cells. Microarray data demonstrated that glucosylceramide synthase (GCS; glucosylceramide transferase), but not acid sphingomyelinase, was modulated by anoxia and reoxygenation. We confirmed that GCS mRNA and protein expression were significantly decreased in a time-dependent fashion following oxidative stress by real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot, respectively. Treatment of normoxic cells with the GCS-specific inhibitor, D,L-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP), increased caspase activity to the same degree as cells undergoing oxidative stress. Fumonisin B1, the N-acyl-sphinganine dehydrogenase (e.g., ceramide synthase) inhibitor significantly attenuated caspase activity in HUVECs undergoing oxidative stress. These data suggest that alterations in GCS expression following brief periods of oxidative stress in human endothelial cells lead to increased caspase activity.

Ceramide in apoptosis: a revisited role

The sphingolipid ceramide has recently emerged as a new transducer or modulator of apoptotic cell death. This function, however, has recently been challenged. Here, in the light of recent observations, the role of ceramide in apoptosis signaling is discussed.

Increase in ceramide level alters the lysosomal targeting of cathepsin D prior to onset of apoptosis in HT-29 colon cancer cells

Ceramide has been suggested as an important mediator of apoptosis. In HT-29 colorectal cancer cells increased ceramide levels, induced by exogenous N-acetylsphingosine (NAS, also known as C2-ceramide) or by 1-phenyl-2-(decanoylamino)-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP), inhibited the transport and processing of cathepsin D (CD), a lysosomal protease implicated in apoptosis of tumour cells. C2-dihydroceramide (DH-C2), an inactive analogue of NAS, had no effect on CD transport and maturation. The treatment with either NAS or PDMP was revealed to be cytotoxic for HT-29 cells and led to cell death with classical features of apoptosis. Morphological signs of apoptosis and DNA fragmentation became apparent only between 24 and 48 h of incubation and poly(ADP ribose)-polymerase cleavage, a hallmark of caspase 3 activity, occurred no earlier than 8 h from incubation. Secretion of proCD was almost abolished and the formation of double-chain mature CD was reduced and delayed by NAS, whereas PDMP largely inhibited the lysosomal targeting and maturation of proCD. NAS- and PDMP-induced alteration of proCD transport and maturation were apparent already 2 h after incubation with the drugs, which is much earlier than when classical biochemical and morphological evidence of apoptosis could be detected. These data indicate that alteration of CD (and possibly of other glycoproteins) transport along the secretory pathway due to increased levels of cell-associated ceramide is an early event in cells undergoing apoptosis.

Synthesis and biochemical investigation of scyphostatin analogues as inhibitors of neutral sphingomyelinase

The sphingolipid ceramide is considered to be an important intracellular mediator. However, many aspects of its action and the role of several different ceramide generating sphingomyelinases are still unclear. Recently, we reported on the synthesis of the first selective irreversible inhibitor of the neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase), as well as the identification of Manumycin A and some of its analogues as irreversible inhibitors of N-SMase. For the development of pharmacologically interesting competitive inhibitors of N-SMase, structure-activity studies are essential. Herein we show the synthesis and enzymatic investigation of two scyphostatin analogues 3a and 3b, revealing the importance of the primary hydroxy group in compound 2 for N-SMase inhibition.

The organizing potential of sphingolipids in intracellular membrane transport

Eukaryotes are characterized by endomembranes that are connected by vesicular transport along secretory and endocytic pathways. The compositional differences between the various cellular membranes are maintained by sorting events, and it has long been believed that sorting is based solely on protein-protein interactions. However, the central sorting station along the secretory pathway is the Golgi apparatus, and this is the site of synthesis of the sphingolipids. Sphingolipids are essential for eukaryotic life, and this review ascribes the sorting power of the Golgi to its capability to act as a distillation apparatus for sphingolipids and cholesterol. As Golgi cisternae mature, ongoing sphingolipid synthesis attracts endoplasmic reticulum-derived cholesterol and drives a fluid-fluid lipid phase separation that segregates sphingolipids and sterols from unsaturated glycerolipids into lateral domains. While sphingolipid domains move forward, unsaturated glycerolipids are retrieved by recycling vesicles budding from the sphingolipid-poor environment. We hypothesize that by this mechanism, the composition of the sphingolipid domains, and the surrounding membrane changes along the cis-trans axis. At the same time the membrane thickens. These features are recognized by a number of membrane proteins that as a consequence of partitioning between domain and environment follow the domains but can enter recycling vesicles at any stage of the pathway. The interplay between protein- and lipid-mediated sorting is discussed.

Modulation of protein kinase C in antitumor treatment

PKC isoenzymes were found to be involved in proliferation, antitumor drug resistance and apoptosis. Therefore, it has been tried to exploit PKC as a target for antitumor treatment. PKC alpha activity was found to be elevated, for example, in breast cancers and malignant gliomas, whereas it seems to be underexpressed in many colon cancers. So it can be expected that inhibition of PKC activity will not show similar antitumor activity in all tumors. In some tumors it seems to be essential to inhibit PKC to reduce growth. However, for inhibition of tumor proliferation it may be an advantage to induce apoptosis. In this case an activation of PKC delta should be achieved. The situation is complicated by the facts that bryostatin leads to the activation of PKC and later to a downmodulation and that the PKC inhibitors available to date are not specific for one PKC isoenzyme. For these reasons, PKC modulation led to many contradicting results. Despite these problems, PKC modulators such as miltefosine, bryostatin, safingol, CGP41251 and UCN-01 are used in the clinic or are in clinical evaluation. The question is whether PKC is the major or the only target of these compounds, because they also interfere with other targets. PKC may also be involved in apoptosis. Oncogenes and growth factors can induce cell proliferation and cell survival, however, they can also induce apoptosis, depending on the cell type or conditions in which the cells or grown. PKC participates in these signalling pathways and cross-talks. Induction of apoptosis is also dependent on many additional factors, such as p53, bcl-2, mdm2, etc. Therefore, there are also many contradicting results on PKC modulation of apoptosis. Similar controversial data have been reported about MDR1-mediated multidrug resistance. At present it seems that PKC inhibition alone without direct interaction with PGP will not lead to successful reversal of PGP-mediated drug efflux. One possibility to improve chemotherapy would be to combine established antitumor drugs with modulators of PKC. However, here also very contrasting results were obtained. Many indicate that inhibition, others, that activation of PKC enhances the antiproliferative activity of anticancer drugs. The problem is that the exact functions of the different PKC isoenzymes are not clear at present. So further investigations into the role of PKC isoenzymes in the complex and interacting signalling pathways are essential. It is a major challenge in the future to reveal whether modulation of PKC can be used for the improvement of cancer therapy.

Ceramide dissociates 3'-phosphoinositide production from pleckstrin homology domain translocation

Numerous hormones, cytokines and transforming oncogenes activate phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K), a lipid kinase that initiates signal transduction cascades regulating cellular proliferation, survival, protein synthesis and glucose metabolism. PI-3K catalyses the production of the 3'-phosphoinositides PtdIns(3,4)P(2) and PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3), which recruit downstream effector enzymes to the membrane via their pleckstrin homology (PH) domains. Recent studies have indicated that another signalling lipid, the sphingolipid ceramide, inhibits several PI-3K-dependent events, including insulin-stimulated glucose uptake and growth-factor-stimulated cell survival. Here we show that ceramide analogues specifically prevent the recruitment of the PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)-binding proteins Akt/protein kinase B (PKB) or the general receptor for phosphoinositides-1 (GRP1). Specifically, the short-chain ceramide derivative C2-ceramide inhibited the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-stimulated translocation of full-length Akt/PKB, as well as truncated proteins encoding only the PH domains of Akt/PKB or GRP1. C2-ceramide did not alter the membrane localization of the PH domain for phospholipase Cdelta, which preferentially binds PtdIns(4,5)P(2), nor did it affect the PDGF-stimulated production of PtdIns(3,4)P(2) or PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3). Interestingly, a glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor, 1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholinopropan-1-ol (PDMP), shown previously to increase intracellular ceramide concentrations without affecting PI-3K [Rani, Abe, Chang, Rosenzweig, Saltiel, Radin and Shayman (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 2859-2867], recapitulated the inhibitory effects of C2-ceramide on PDGF-stimulated Akt/PKB phosphorylation. These studies indicate that ceramide prevents the translocation of certain PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3)-binding proteins, despite the presence of a full complement of PtdIns(3,4)P(2) or PtdIns(3,4,5)P(3). Furthermore, these findings suggest a mechanism by which stimuli that induce ceramide synthesis could negate the fundamental signalling pathways initiated by PI-3K.

Lysosomal sphingomyelinase is not solicited for apoptosis signaling

Stress-induced activation of an acidic sphingomyelinase leading to generation of ceramide, an important lipid mediator, has been associated with apoptosis; however, the implication of this hydrolase has been questioned. The present study aimed at re-evaluating the role of this lysosomal enzyme in apoptosis initiated by different apoptotic inducers. The sensitivity of a series of acid sphingomyelinase-deficient cell lines derived from Niemann-Pick disease patients to stress-induced apoptosis was investigated. We have now shown that stress stimuli, such as anthracyclines, ionizing radiation, and Fas ligation trigger similar apoptotic hallmarks in normal and acid sphingomyelinase-deficient cell lines. Retrovirus-mediated gene correction of enzyme deficiency in Niemann-Pick cells does not modify response to apoptosis. Ceramide production is comparable in normal and Niemann-Pick cells, and increased activity of neutral sphingomyelinase is observed. Thus, our findings cast serious doubts that lysosomal sphingomyelinase activation is responsible for stress-induced apoptosis of cultured cells.

Killing cancer cells by poly-drug elevation of ceramide levels: a hypothesis whose time has come?

Many papers have shown that sphingolipids control the balance in cells between growth and proliferation, and cell death by apoptosis. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (Sph1P) and glucosylceramide (GlcCer) induce proliferation processes, and ceramide (Cer), a metabolic intermediate between the two, induces apoptosis. In cancers, the balance seems to have come undone and it should be possible to kill the cells by enhancing the processes that lead to ceramide accumulation. The two control systems are intertwined, modulated by a variety of agents affecting the activities of the enzymes in Cer-GlcCer-Sph1P interdependence. It is proposed that successful cancer chemotherapy requires the use of many agents to elevate ceramide levels adequately. This review updates current knowledge of sphingolipid metabolism and some of the evidence showing that ceramide plays a causal role in apoptosis induction, as well as a chemotherapeutic agent.

Overexpression of acid ceramidase protects from tumor necrosis factor-induced cell death

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signals cell death and simultaneously induces generation of ceramide. To evaluate the contribution of ceramide to TNF-dependent cell death, we generated clones of the TNF-sensitive cell line L929 that constitutively overexpress human acid ceramidase (AC). Ceramidase, in concert with sphingosine kinase, metabolizes ceramide to sphingosine-1-phosphate (SPP), an inducer of proliferation. In response to TNF, parental L929 cells display a significant increase in intracellular ceramide correlated with an "atypical apoptosis" characterized by membrane blebbing, DNA fragmentation and degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase despite a lack of caspase activity. These features are strongly reduced or absent in AC-overexpressing cells. Pharmacological suppression of AC with N-oleoylethanolamine restored the accumulation of intracellular ceramide as well as the sensitivity of the transfectants to TNF, implying that an enhanced metabolization of intracellular ceramide by AC shifts the balance between intracellular ceramide and SPP levels towards cell survival. Correspondingly, inhibition of ceramide production by acid sphingomyelinase also increased survival of TNF-treated L929 cells.

Cloning and characterization of the mammalian brain-specific, Mg2+-dependent neutral sphingomyelinase

The enzymatic breakdown of sphingomyelin by sphingomyelinases is considered the major source of the second messenger ceramide. Studies on the contribution of the various described acidic and neutral sphingomyelinases to the signaling pool of ceramide have been hampered by the lack of molecular data on the neutral sphingomyelinases (nSMases). We recently identified a mammalian nSMase, an integral membrane protein with remote similarity to bacterial sphingomyelinases. However, its ubiquitous expression pattern is in contrast to previous findings that sphingomyelinase activity is found mainly in brain tissues. By using an improved database search method, combined with phylogenetic analysis, we identified a second mammalian nSMase (nSMase2) with predominant expression in the brain. The sphingomyelinase activity of nSMase2 has a neutral pH optimum, depends on Mg(2+) ions, and is activated by unsaturated fatty acids and phosphatidylserine. Immunofluorescence reveals a neuron-specific punctate perinuclear staining, which colocalizes with a Golgi marker in a number of cell lines. The likely identity of nSMase2 with cca1, a rat protein involved in contact inhibition of 3Y1 fibroblasts, suggests a role for this enzyme in cell cycle arrest. Both mammalian nSMases are members of a superfamily of Mg(2+)-dependent phosphohydrolases, which also contains nucleases, inositol phosphatases, and bacterial toxins.

Sphingomyelin metabolites in vascular cell signaling and atherogenesis

The atherosclerotic lesion most probably develops through a number of cellular events which implicate all vascular cell types and include synthesis of extracellular proteins, cell proliferation, differentiation and death. Sphingolipids and sphingolipid metabolizing enzymes may play important roles in atherogenesis, not only because of lipoprotein alterations but also by mediating a number of cellular events which are believed to be crucial in the development of the vascular lesions such as proliferation or cell death. Exogenous sphingolipids may mediate various biological effects such as apoptosis, mitogenesis or differentiation depending on the cell type. Moreover, several molecules present in the atherogenic lesion, such as oxidized LDL, growth factors or cytokines, which activate intracellular signaling pathways leading to vascular cell modifications, can stimulate sphingomyelin hydrolysis and generation of ceramide (and other metabolites as sphingosine-1-phosphate). Here we review the potential implication of the sphingomyelin/ceramide cycle in vascular cell signaling related to atherosclerosis, and more generally the role of sphingolipids in the events observed during the atherosclerotic process as cell differentiation, migration, adhesion, retraction, proliferation and death.

Ceramide in the eukaryotic stress response

Several extracellular agents and stress stimuli, such as tumour necrosis factor alpha, chemotherapeutic agents and heat, cause ceramide accumulation. They do this by regulating enzymes involved in its metabolism. Ceramide modulates a number of biochemical and cellular responses to stress, including apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest and cell senescence.

Molecular cloning, characterization, and expression of a novel human neutral sphingomyelinase

Neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) has emerged as an important cell membrane-associated enzyme that participates in several signal transduction and cell regulatory phenomena. Using expression cloning, we have identified a 3.7-kilobase pair cDNA transcript for N-SMase whose open reading frame predicts a 397-amino acid polypeptide. Transfection of COS-7 cells with cDNA for N-SMase resulted in a marked increase in N-SMase activity. Recombinant N-SMase (r-N-SMase) had the following physical-chemical properties. Mg(2+) activated and Cu(2+) and glutathione inhibited the activity of r-N-SMase. In contrast, dithiothreitol did not alter the activity of the enzyme. Of several phospholipids examined, sphingomyelin was the preferred substrate for r-N-SMase. The apparent molecular mass of r-N-SMase derived from COS-7 cells was approximately 90 kDa, similar to the native neutral sphingomyelinase prepared from human urine. However, upon expression in Escherichia coli, the apparent molecular mass of the recombinant enzyme was approximately 45 kDa. We speculate that this apparent difference in recombinant enzymes derived from COS-7 and E. coli cells may be due to extensive post-transcriptional changes. r-N-SMase has numerous post-transcriptional modification sites such as phosphorylation sites via protein kinase C, casein kinase II, tyrosine kinase, and cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases as well as sites for glycosylation and myristoylation. Amino acid sequence alignment studies revealed that r-N-SMase has some similarity to acid sphingomyelinase and significant homology to the death domains of tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor-1 and Fas/Apo-I. We believe that the molecular cloning and characterization of N-SMase cDNA will accelerate the process to define its role as a key regulator in apoptosis, lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, and other cell regulatory pathways.

Possible involvement of cytochrome c release and sequential activation of caspases in ceramide-induced apoptosis in SK-N-MC cells

Ceramide is characterized as a second messenger of apoptosis induced by various agents such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), Fas ligand, hydrogen peroxide, heat shock and ionizing radiation. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of ceramide-induced apoptosis using a human neuroblastoma cell line, SK-N-MC. N-Acetyl-sphingosine (C2-ceramide), a cell-permeable ceramide analogue, was able to induce apoptosis in SK-N-MC cells as estimated by DNA fragmentation and chromatin condensation. C2-ceramide-induced DNA fragmentation was blocked by caspase inhibitor (Z-Asp-CH(2)-DCB). An increase in caspase-3 (CPP32)-like protease activity was evident during C2-ceramide-induced apoptosis, suggesting that caspases are involved in this apoptosis. Moreover, enzymatic cleavage of VDVAD-AFC and LEHD-AFC (specific substrates for caspase-2 and -9, respectively) was increased by treatment with C2-ceramide. To elucidate which types of caspase are activated in C2-ceramide-treated cells, we performed Western blot analysis using antibodies against each isoform. Both proforms of caspase-2 and -3 were decreased in response to C2-ceramide in a time-dependent manner. Mitochondrial cytochrome c is also time-dependently released into the cytosol in response to treatment with C2-ceramide. Addition of cytochrome c into the S-100 fractions prepared from SK-N-MC cells could activate caspase-2 in cell-free systems. These results suggest the possibility that cytochrome c released to the cytosol can activate caspases (caspase-9, -3, and -2) during C2-ceramide-induced apoptosis of SK-N-MC cells.