Overexpression of phospholipase D prevents actinomycin D-induced apoptosis through potentiation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase signalling pathways in Chinese-hamster ovary cells

HSV-2-encoded miRNA-H4 Regulates Cell Cycle Progression and Act-D-induced Apoptosis in HeLa Cells by Targeting CDKL2 and CDKN2A

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) encoded by latency-associated transcript are associated with both latent and acute stages of herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2) infection. In this study, miRNA-H4-5p and miRNA-H4-3p were ectopically expressed in HeLa cells to explore potential cellular targets of viral miRNAs and demonstrate their potential biological functions. The results showed that miRNA-H4-5p could reverse apoptosis induced by actinomycin D (Act-D) and promote cell cycle progression, but miRNA-H4-3p had no such obvious functions. Bioinformatics analysis, luciferase report assay, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blotting demonstrated that miRNA-H4-5p could bind to the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) and cyclin-dependent kinase-like 2 (CDKL2) to negatively regulate their expression. We verified that these two targeted genes were associated with cell apoptosis and cell cycle. Furthermore, in HeLa cells infected with HSV-2, we detected significantly reduced expression of CDKN2A and CDKL2 and demonstrated the negative regulation effect of miRNA-H4-5p on these two target genes. Our findings show that viral miRNAs play a vital role in regulating the expression of the host's cellular genes that participate in cell apoptosis and progression to reshape the cellular environment in response to HSV-2 infection, providing further information on the roles of encoded herpesvirus miRNAs in pathogen-host interaction.

High Expression of PhospholipaseD2 Induced by Hypoxia Promotes Proliferation of Colon Cancer Cells through Activating NF- κ Bp65 Signaling Pathway

Hypoxia is a typical feature of colon cancer occurrence and progression. We have reported that high expression and activity of PhospholipaseD2 (PLD2) induced by hypoxia in colon cancer cells. In order to further investigate the role of PLD2 in colon cancer under hypoxic conditions. MTT assay was used to detect the proliferation of human colon cancer cells (SW480 and SW620) under hypoxic conditions by decrease the PLD2 gene expression or inhibit the activity of PLD2. Expression level of p-P65/T-P65 and Cyclin D1 were detected in those cells treated as above through using western blot and RT-PCR analysis. Effect of NF-Bp65 inhibitor (BAY-117082) on the proliferation and expression level of Cyclin D1 and PLD2 of colon cancer cells under hypoxic conditions were further analysised. As a result, decreased the expression of PLD2 or inhibited the activity of PLD2 leaded to the proliferation of hypoxia colon cancer cells reduced, and along with the expression level of p-P65/T-P65 and Cyclin D1 reduced. However, inhibition the expression level of p-P65/T-P65 lead to the proliferation and expression of Cyclin D1 in those hypoxia colon cancer cells also reduced. In vivo growth decreased in response to PLD2 and NF-Bp65 inhibition. Our study indicates that high expression of PLD2 induced by hypoxia promotes the proliferation of colon cancer cells, and it may elevate the expression level of Cyclin D1 through activating NF-Bp65 signaling pathway. Inhibition of the PLD2 expression may provide a new clue for treatment for colon cancer.

Inhibition of phospholipaseD2 increases hypoxia-induced human colon cancer cell apoptosis through inactivating of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

Hypoxia is a common feature of solid tumor, and is a direct stress that triggers apoptosis in many human cell types. As one of solid cancer, hypoxia exists in the whole course of colon cancer occurrence and progression. Our previous studies shown that hypoxia induce high expression of phospholipase D2 (PLD2) and survivin in colon cancer cells. However, the correlation between PLD2 and survivin in hypoxic colon cancer cells remains unknown. In this study, we observed significantly elevated PLD2 and survivin expression levels in colon cancer tissues and cells. This is a positive correlation between of them, and co-expression of PLD2 and survivin has a positive correlation with the clinicpatholic features including tumor size, TNM stage, and lymph node metastasis. We also found that hypoxia induced the activity of PLD increased significant mainly caused by PLD2 in colon cancer cells. However, inhibition the activity of PLD2 induced by hypoxia promotes the apoptosis of human colon cancer cells, as well as decreased the expression of apoptosis markers including survivin and bcl2. Moreover, the pharmacological inhibition of PI3K/AKT supported the hypothesis that promotes the apoptosis of hypoxic colon cancer cells by PLD2 activity inhibition may through inactivation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, interference the PLD2 gene expression leaded to the apoptosis of hypoxic colon cancer cells increased and also decreased the expression level of survivin and bcl2 may through inactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These results indicated that PLD2 play antiapoptotic role in colon cancer under hypoxic conditions, inhibition of the activity, or interference of PLD2 gene expression will benefit for the treatment of colon cancer patients.

Phospholipase C and D regulation of Src, calcium release and membrane fusion during Xenopus laevis development

This review emphasizes how lipids regulate membrane fusion and the proteins involved in three developmental stages: oocyte maturation to the fertilizable egg, fertilization and during first cleavage. Decades of work show that phosphatidic acid (PA) releases intracellular calcium, and recent work shows that the lipid can activate Src tyrosine kinase or phospholipase C during Xenopus fertilization. Numerous reports are summarized to show three levels of increase in lipid second messengers inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate and sn 1,2-diacylglycerol (DAG) during the three different developmental stages. In addition, possible roles for PA, ceramide, lysophosphatidylcholine, plasmalogens, phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate, membrane microdomains (rafts) and phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate in regulation of membrane fusion (acrosome reaction, sperm-egg fusion, cortical granule exocytosis), inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptors, and calcium release are discussed. The role of six lipases involved in generating putative lipid second messengers during fertilization is also discussed: phospholipase D, autotaxin, lipin1, sphingomyelinase, phospholipase C, and phospholipase A2. More specifically, proteins involved in developmental events and their regulation through lipid binding to SH3, SH4, PH, PX, or C2 protein domains is emphasized. New models are presented for PA activation of Src (through SH3, SH4 and a unique domain), that this may be why the SH2 domain of PLCγ is not required for Xenopus fertilization, PA activation of phospholipase C, a role for PA during the calcium wave after fertilization, and that calcium/calmodulin may be responsible for the loss of Src from rafts after fertilization. Also discussed is that the large DAG increase during fertilization derives from phospholipase D production of PA and lipin dephosphorylation to DAG.

PED/PEA-15 inhibits hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in Ins-1E pancreatic beta-cells via PLD-1

The small scaffold protein PED/PEA-15 is involved in several different physiologic and pathologic processes, such as cell proliferation and survival, diabetes and cancer. PED/PEA-15 exerts an anti-apoptotic function due to its ability to interfere with both extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways in different cell types. Recent evidence shows that mice overexpressing PED/PEA-15 present larger pancreatic islets and increased beta-cells mass. In the present work we investigated PED/PEA-15 role in hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in Ins-1E beta-cells. In pancreatic islets isolated from Tg_PED/PEA-15 mice hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA fragmentation was lower compared to WT islets. TUNEL analysis showed that PED/PEA-15 overexpression increases the viability of Ins-1E beta-cells and enhances their resistance to apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide exposure. The activity of caspase-3 and the cleavage of PARP-1 were markedly reduced in Ins-1E cells overexpressing PED/PEA-15 (Ins-1E_PED/PEA-15). In parallel, we observed a decrease of the mRNA levels of pro-apoptotic genes Bcl-xS and Bad. In contrast, the expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-xL was enhanced. Accordingly, DNA fragmentation was higher in control cells compared to Ins-1E_PED/PEA-15 cells. Interestingly, the preincubation with propranolol, an inhibitor of the pathway of PLD-1, a known interactor of PED/PEA-15, responsible for its deleterious effects on glucose tolerance, abolishes the antiapoptotic effects of PED/PEA-15 overexpression in Ins-1E beta-cells. The same results have been obtained by inhibiting PED/PEA-15 interaction with PLD-1 in Ins-1E_PED/PEA-15. These results show that PED/PEA-15 overexpression is sufficient to block hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in Ins-1E cells through a PLD-1 mediated mechanism.

The ral exchange factor rgl2 promotes cardiomyocyte survival and inhibits cardiac fibrosis

Cardiomyocytes compensate to acute cardiac stress by increasing in size and contractile function. However, prolonged stress leads to a decompensated response characterized by cardiomyocyte death, tissue fibrosis and loss of cardiac function. Identifying approaches to inhibit this transition to a decompensated response may reveal important targets for treating heart failure. The Ral guanine nucleotide disassociation (RalGDS) proteins are Ras-interacting proteins that are upregulated by hypertrophic stimuli. The Ral guanine nucleotide dissociation stimulator-like 2 (Rgl2) is a member of the RalGDS family that modulates expression of hypertrophic genes in cardiomyocytes. However, the pathophysiologic consequence of increased Rgl2 expression in cardiomyoctyes remains unclear. To evaluate the effect of increasing Rgl2 activity in the heart, transgenic mice with cardiac-targeted over-expression of Rgl2 were generated. Although Ral activation was increased, there were no apparent morphologic or histological differences between the hearts of Rgl2 transgenic and nontransgenic mice indicating that increased Rgl2 expression had no effect on basal cardiac phenotype. To determine if Rgl2 modulates the cardiac response to stress, mice were infused with the ß-adrenergic receptor agonist, isoproterenol. Isoproterenol infusion increased heart mass in both Rgl2 transgenic and nontransgenic mice. However, unlike nontransgenic mice, Rgl2 transgenic mice showed no morphologic evidence of cardiomyocyte damage or increased cardiac fibrosis following isoproterenol infusion. Increased Rgl2 expression in cultured cardiomyocytes stimulated Ral activation and inhibited staurosporine-induced apoptosis via increased activation of PI3-kinase. Activation of the PI3-kinase signaling pathway was confirmed in hearts isolated from Rgl2 transgenic mice. Increased expression and function of Rgl2 in cardiomyocytes promotes activation of the PI3-kinase signaling cascade and protects from carciomyocyte death and pathologic cardiac fibrosis. Taken further, these results suggest that Rgl2 upregulation in hypertrophic hearts may be a protetive mechanism, and that Rgl2 may be a novel therapeutic target in treating heart disease.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate protects primary human keratinocytes from apoptosis via nitric oxide formation through the receptor subtype S1P₃

Although the lipid mediator sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) has been identified to induce cell growth arrest of human keratinocytes, the sphingolipid effectively protects these epidermal cells from apoptosis. The molecular mechanism of the anti-apoptotic 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 a NO•-dependent signalling pathway. Indeed, S1P induced an activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in human keratinocytes leading to an enhanced formation of NO•. Most interestingly, the cell protective effect of S1P was almost completely abolished in the presence of the eNOS inhibitor L-NAME as well as in eNOS-deficient keratinocytes indicating that the sphingolipid metabolite S1P protects human keratinocytes from apoptosis via eNOS activation and subsequent production of protective amounts of NO•. It is well established that most of the known actions of S1P are mediated by a family of five specific G protein-coupled receptors. Therefore, the involvement of S1P-receptor subtypes in S1P-mediated eNOS activation has been examined. Indeed, this study clearly shows that the S1P(3) is the exclusive receptor subtype in human keratinocytes which mediates eNOS activation and NO• formation in response to S1P. In congruence, when the S1P(3) receptor subtype is abrogated, S1P almost completely lost its ability to protect human keratinocytes from apoptosis.

The exquisite regulation of PLD2 by a wealth of interacting proteins: S6K, Grb2, Sos, WASp and Rac2 (and a surprise discovery: PLD2 is a GEF)

Phospholipase D (PLD) catalyzes the conversion of the membrane phospholipid phosphatidylcholine to choline and phosphatidic acid (PA). PLD's mission in the cell is two-fold: phospholipid turnover with maintenance of the structural integrity of cellular/intracellular membranes and cell signaling through PA and its metabolites. Precisely, through its product of the reaction, PA, PLD has been implicated in a variety of physiological cellular functions, such as intracellular protein trafficking, cytoskeletal dynamics, chemotaxis of leukocytes and cell proliferation. The catalytic (HKD) and regulatory (PH and PX) domains were studied in detail in the PLD1 isoform, but PLD2 was traditionally studied in lesser detail and much less was known about its regulation. Our laboratory has been focusing on the study of PLD2 regulation in mammalian cells. Over the past few years, we have reported, in regards to the catalytic action of PLD, that PA is a chemoattractant agent that binds to and signals inside the cell through the ribosomal S6 kinases (S6K). Regarding the regulatory domains of PLD2, we have reported the discovery of the PLD2 interaction with Grb2 via Y169 in the PX domain, and further association to Sos, which results in an increase of de novo DNA synthesis and an interaction (also with Grb2) via the adjacent residue Y179, leading to the regulation of cell ruffling, chemotaxis and phagocytosis of leukocytes. We also present the complex regulation by tyrosine phosphorylation by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R), Janus Kinase 3 (JAK3) and Src and the role of phosphatases. Recently, there is evidence supporting a new level of regulation of PLD2 at the PH domain, by the discovery of CRIB domains and a Rac2-PLD2 interaction that leads to a dual (positive and negative) effect on its enzymatic activity. Lastly, we review the surprising finding of PLD2 acting as a GEF. A phospholipase such as PLD that exists already in the cell membrane that acts directly on Rac allows a quick response of the cell without intermediary signaling molecules. This provides only the latest level of PLD2 regulation in a field that promises newer and exciting advances in the next few years.

Differential roles for the p101 and p84 regulatory subunits of PI3Kγ in tumor growth and metastasis

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase γ (PI3Kγ) consists of a catalytic subunit p110γ, which forms mutually exclusive dimers with one of the regulatory subunits called p101 and p84/p87(PIKAP). Recently, PI3Kγ emerged as being a potential oncogene because overexpression of the catalytic subunit p110γ or the regulatory subunit p101 leads to oncogenic cellular transformation and malignancy. However, the contribution of the individual subunits to tumor growth and metastasis and the mechanisms involved are not understood. We therefore individually knocked down the PI3Kγ subunits (p84, p101 and p110γ) in MDA-MB-231 cells, which reduced in vitro migration of the cell lines. Knockdown of p110γ or p101 inhibited apoptosis, Akt phosphorylation and lung colonization in SCID mice. Similarly, the knockdown of p110γ and p101 in murine epithelial carcinoma 4T1.2 cells inhibited primary tumor growth and spontaneous metastasis, as well as lung colonization. In contrast, knockdown of p84 in MDA-MB-231 cells enhanced Akt phosphorylation and lung colonization. These findings are the first to implicate differential functions of the two PI3Kγ regulatory subunits in the process of oncogenesis, and indicate that loss of p101 is sufficient to reduce in vivo tumor growth and metastasis to the same extent as that of p110γ.

Simultaneous inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathways augment the sensitivity to actinomycin D in Ewing sarcoma

PURPOSE

Ewing sarcoma cells, of which over 85% retain chimeric fusion gene EWS/Fli-1, are by and large more resistant to chemotherapeutics compared to nonneoplastic cells. The purpose of this study is to determine the role of EWS/Fli-1 fusion and its downstream targets regarding the cells' resistance against actinomycin D (ActD), which is one of the most commonly used antitumor agents in combination chemotherapy of Ewing sarcomas.

METHODS

Cytotoxicity was measured by WST-8 assay. Caspase-dependent and -independent cell death was examined by fluorescence microscope. Protein expression was analyzed by western blotting. Caspase activity was determined by Caspase-Glo assay.

RESULTS

ActD-induced caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death to Ewing sarcoma TC-135 cells in a dose- and time- dependent manner. Knockdown of EWS/Fli-1 fusion by siRNA resulted in enhancement of ActD-induced apoptosis. ActD treatment activated both mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathways although in a distinctive manner. Combined administration of U0126 (MEK inhibitor) and LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor) significantly enhanced ActD-induced apoptosis in vitro and suppressed xenograft tumor growth in vivo.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated for the first time that combination of U0126 and LY294002 can augment the cytotoxicity of ActD against Ewing sarcoma cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results indicate that further study on combination of conventional chemotherapies with MEK and PI3K inhibitors may be considered for innovative treatments of Ewing sarcoma patients.

Identification of caspase 3 motifs and critical aspartate residues in human phospholipase D1b and phospholipase D2a

Stimulation of mammalian cells frequently initiates phospholipase D-catalyzed hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine in the plasma membrane to yield phosphatidic acid (PA) a novel lipid messenger. PA plays a regulatory role in important cellular processes such as secretion, cellular shape change, and movement. A number of studies have highlighted that PLD-based signaling also plays a pro-mitogenic and pro-survival role in cells and therefore anti-apoptotic. We show that human PLD1b and PLD2a contain functional caspase 3 cleavage sites and identify the critical aspartate residues within PLD1b that affect its activation by phorbol esters and attenuate phosphatidylcholine hydrolysis during apoptosis.

Implication of ceramide, ceramide 1-phosphate and sphingosine 1-phosphate in tumorigenesis

In the last two decades there has been considerable progress in our understanding of the role of sphingolipids in controlling signal transduction processes, particularly in the mechanisms leading to regulation of cell growth and death. Ceramide is a well-characterized sphingolipid metabolite and second messenger that can be produced by cancer cells in response to a variety of stimuli, including therapeutic drugs, leading to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Although this is a promising aspect when thinking of treating cancer, it should be borne in mind that ceramide production may not always be a growth inhibitory or pro-apoptotic signal. In fact, ceramide can be readily converted to sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) by the concerted actions of ceramidases and sphingosine kinases, or to ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) by the action of ceramide kinase. In general, S1P and C1P have opposing effects to ceramide, acting as pro-survival or mitogenic signals in most cell types. This review will address our current understanding of the many roles of ceramide, S1P and C1P in the regulation of cell growth and survival with special emphasis to the emerging role of these molecules and their metabolizing enzymes in controlling tumor progression and metastasis.

Mutation of Y179 on phospholipase D2 (PLD2) upregulates DNA synthesis in a PI3K-and Akt-dependent manner

Phospholipase D2 (PLD2), one of the two mammalian members of the PLD family, has been implicated in cell proliferation, transformation, tumor progression and survival. However, as precise mechanistic details are still unknown, we investigated here if the PLD2 isoform would signal through the PI3K/AKT pathway. Transient expression of PLD2 in COS7 cells with either the WT or with a Y179F mutant, resulted in an increased basal phosphorylation of AKT in residues T308 and S473, in a PI3K-dependent manner. Transfection of PLD2-Y179F (but not the wild type) caused an increased (>2-fold) DNA synthesis even in the absence of extracellular stimuli. Other signaling mechanisms downstream such PLD/PI3K dependence (that might lead to DNA synthesis regulation) were further studied. PLD2-Y179F caused an increase in phosphorylation of p42/p44 ERK and in the expression of G0/G1 phase transition markers (p21 CIP, PCNA), and these effects, too, were dependent on PI3K. Interestingly, Akt, once activated induced the phosphorylation of PLD2 on residue T175, an effect that was inhibited by LY296004. Lastly, if PLD2-Y179F is further mutated in residue K758 (PLD2 Y179F-K758R), which renders inactive a catalytic site, DNA synthesis is then abrogated, indicating that the activity of the enzyme (i.e. synthesis of PA) is necessary for the observed effects. In conclusion, the unavailability of residue Y179 on PLD2 to become phosphorylated leads to an augmentation of DNA synthesis concomitantly with MEK and AKT phosphorylation, in a process that is dependent on PI3K and independent of any extracellular stimuli. This might be critical for the maintenance of the PLD2-regulated proliferative status.

Targeting lipid metabolism by the lipoprotein lipase inhibitor orlistat results in apoptosis of B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

Constitutively activated pathways contribute to apoptosis resistance in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Little is known about the metabolism of lipids and function of lipases in CLL cells. Performing gene expression profiling including B-cell receptor (BCR) stimulation of CLL cells in comparison to healthy donor CD5+ B cells, we found significant overexpression of lipases and phospholipases in CLL cells. In addition, we observed that the recently defined prognostic factor lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is induced by stimulation of BCR in CLL cells but not in CD5+ normal B cells. CLL cellular lysates exhibited significantly higher lipase activity compared to healthy donor controls. Incubation of primary CLL cells (n=26) with the lipase inhibitor orlistat resulted in induction of apoptosis, with a half-maximal dose (IC(50)) of 2.35 microM. In healthy B cells a significantly higher mean IC(50) of 148.5 microM of orlistat was observed, while no apoptosis was induced in healthy peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs; P<0.001). Orlistat-mediated cytotoxicity was decreased by BCR stimulation. Finally, the cytotoxic effects of orlistat on primary CLL cells were enhanced by the simultaneous incubation with fludarabine (P=0.003). In summary, alterations of lipid metabolism are involved in CLL pathogenesis and might represent a novel therapeutic target in CLL.

Phospholipase D provides a survival signal in human cancer cells with activated H-Ras or K-Ras

Phospholipase D (PLD) is elevated in rodent fibroblasts expressing activated H-Ras mutants. We therefore examined the PLD activity in human cancer cells with activating Ras mutations. T24 bladder carcinoma cells express an activated H-Ras gene and Calu-1 lung carcinoma cells express an activated K-Ras gene. We report here that both of these cancer cell lines express highly elevated levels of PLD activity and that the PLD activity is dependent upon Ras. We also show that the PLD activity is dependent upon the Ras effector molecules RalA and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K). PLD activity has been shown to provide a survival signal in breast cancer cell lines that suppressed stress-induced apoptosis. Suppression of PLD activity in the T24 and Calu-1 cells resulted in apoptotic cell death in the absence of serum, indicating that the elevated PLD activity provided a survival signal in these cancer cell lines. Suppression of Ras, RalA, or PI3K also led to apoptosis in the absence of serum. These data indicate that a critical component of Ras signaling in human cancer cells is the activation of PLD and that targeting PLD survival signals in cancer cells could be an effective strategy to induce apoptosis in human cancers with activating Ras mutations.

The potential for phospholipase D as a new therapeutic target

Mammalian phospholipase D (PLD), a signal transduction-activated enzyme, hydrolyzes phosphatidylcholine to generate the lipid second messenger phosphatidic acid (PA) and choline. Genetic and pharmacological methods have implicated PLD and its product PA in a wide variety of cellular processes including vesicle trafficking, receptor signaling, cell proliferation and survival. Dysregulation of these cell biologic processes occurs in a diverse range of illnesses including cancer. This review summarizes PLD regulation and function and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target in disease settings.

P2X7 receptor-mediated phosphatidic acid production delays ATP-induced pore opening and cytolysis of RAW 264.7 macrophages

In macrophages, extracellular ATP (ATPe) stimulation of P2X7 receptors (P2X7R) results in cation channel opening, non-specific pore formation, secretion of cytokines, killing of intracellular bacteria and cytolysis. Signaling pathways controlling these diverse responses are currently under investigation. Among these pathways, phospholipase D (PLD) has been implicated in P2X7R-activated macrophages killing of intracellular pathogenic bacteria. Here we present evidence that early P2X7R-mediated PLD activation reduces pore opening and delays cytolysis of RAW 267.4 macrophages induced by ATPe. Use of inhibitors of PA metabolic enzymes suggests that PA, and not one of its metabolites, is the bioactive lipid. This is strengthened by the observation that addition of exogenous PA also reduces pore formation and cytolysis of RAW 264.7 macrophages. However, the beneficial effects of PA are only transient, due to its conversion into diacylglycerol through PA phosphatase-1 activity during prolonged P2X7R stimulation. Revealing that the PLD/PA pathway mediates survival of macrophages provides a potent strategy to inhibit P2X7R-mediated cytolysis by controlling PA metabolism. This will be important in the case of P2X7R-induced killing of intracellular bacteria which is lately associated with macrophage death, limiting the potency of ATPe to eliminate pathogenic bacteria.

Phospholipase D protects ECV304 cells against TNFα-induced apoptosis

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), a pleiotropic cytokine, activates both apoptotic and pro-survival signals depending on the cell model. Using ECV304 cells, which can be made TNFalpha-sensitive by cycloheximide (CHX) co-treatment, we evaluated the potential roles of ceramide and phospholipase D (PLD) in TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. TNFalpha/CHX induced a robust increase in ceramide levels after 16 h of treatment when cell death was maximal. PLD activity was increased at early time point (1h) whereas both PLD activity and PLD1 protein were strongly decreased after 24h. TNFalpha/CHX-induced cell death was significantly lowered by exogenous bacterial PLD and phoshatidic acid, and in cells overexpressing PLD1. Conversely, cells depleted in PLD proteins by small interference RNA (siRNA) treatment exhibited higher susceptibility to apoptosis. These results show that PLD exerts a protective role against TNFalpha-induced cell death.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae PLD directly interacts with Akt kinase upon infection of primary, human, cervical epithelial cells

Neisseria gonorrhoeae secrets a phospholipase D (NgPLD), which augments complement receptor 3 (CR3)-mediated invasion of cervical epithelial cells. To elucidate the signalling pathways triggered with gonococcus CR3-engagement and the putative function of NgPLD in these events, we analysed the contribution of the phosphoinositide-Akt pathway to cervical infection. Our data indicated that Akt plays a critical role in cervical infection. Inhibition of myosin light chain kinase, PtdIns(4,5)P2, and Akt functions resulted in decreased gonococcus invasion of primary, human, cervical epithelial cells as well as Akt kinase activity. Akt activity was similarly impaired when cervical cells were challenged with NgPLD-mutant gonococci. Conversely, the PI3-kinase inhibitor, LY294002, enhanced gonococcal invasion of, and Akt activity within, primary cervical cells. We demonstrated that NgPLD directly binds to the Akt PH domain and can compete with a natural Akt ligand, PtdIns(3,4,5)P3, for Akt binding. Collectively, our data suggested that NgPLD augments gonococcus invasion of cervical epithelia by interacting with Akt kinase in a PI3-kinase-independent manner, which results in subversion of normal cervical cell signalling.

Antitumor activity of sphingosine kinase inhibitors

Sphingosine kinase (SK) is an oncogenic sphingolipid-metabolizing enzyme that catalyzes the formation of the mitogenic second messenger sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) at the expense of proapoptotic ceramide. Thus, SK is an attractive target for cancer therapy because blockage of S1P formation leads to inhibition of proliferation, as well as the induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. We have recently identified novel SK inhibitors with nanomolar to low micromolar potencies toward recombinant human SK. This study describes the continuing analysis of these inhibitors through in vitro and in vivo experiments. All three structurally diverse SK inhibitors tested showed antitumor activity in mice without exhibiting toxicity. Blood and tumor inhibitor concentrations exceeded in vitro potency levels. Cell signaling analyses in vitro revealed mixed inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase and Akt phosphorylation by the SK inhibitors. Importantly, 4-[4-(4-chloro-phenyl)-thiazol-2-ylamino]-phenol (SKI-II) is orally bioavailable, detected in the blood for at least 8 h, and showed a significant inhibition of tumor growth in mice. These compounds are the first examples of nonlipid selective inhibitors of SK with in vivo antitumor activity and provide leads for further development of inhibitors of this important molecular target.

Phospholipase D Prevents Etoposide-Induced Apoptosis by Inhibiting the Expression of Early Growth Response-1 and Phosphatase and Tensin Homologue Deleted on Chromosome 10

Phospholipase D (PLD) has emerged as a critical regulator of cell proliferation and survival signaling. We show for the first time that elevated expression of PLD isozymes attenuates expression of the tumor suppressors early growth response-1 (Egr-1) and the phosphatase and tensin homologue deleted on chromosome 10 (PTEN) tumor suppressor and apoptosis during etoposide treatment. When formation of phosphatidic acid was inhibited by overexpression of catalytically inactive PLD during etoposide treatment, expression of Egr-1 and PTEN and the apoptotic effect of etoposide were not inhibited. This suggests that PLD inhibits expression of these tumor suppressors and inhibits apoptosis. Deletion of a specific Egr-1-binding site present in the PTEN promoter blocked etoposide-induced PTEN activity and elevated expression of PLD decreased the sensitivity to apoptosis induced by ectopic expression of Egr-1. Etoposide-induced activation of Akt was potentiated by overexpression of PLD and PLD-stimulated suppression of Egr-1 was blocked by inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt survival pathway at the both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. These results show that survival signals generated by PLD attenuate expression of Egr-1 by activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway and induction of PTEN by Egr-1, which confers resistance to apoptosis.

Inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor-induced cell growth signaling by a short interfering RNA for EWS-Fli1 via down-regulation of phospholipase D2 in Ewing sarcoma cells

EWS-Fli1, a fusion gene resulting from a chromosomal translocation t(11;22, q24;q12) and found in Ewing sarcoma and primitive neuroectodermal tumors, encodes a transcriptional activator and promotes cellular transformation. However, the precise biological functions of its products remain unknown. To investigate the role of EWS-Fli1 in cell growth signaling, we transfected Ewing sarcoma TC-135 cells with short interfering RNAs for EWS-Fli1. EWS-Fli1 knockdown reduced cell growth and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced activation of the growth signaling enzymes. Interestingly, phospholipase D2 (but not the PDGF-BB receptor) showed marked down-regulation in the EWS-Fli1-knocked down TC-135 cells compared with the control cells. In Ewing sarcoma TC-135 cells, the PDGF-BB-induced phosphorylation of growth signaling involving extracellular signal-regulated kinase, Akt, p70S6K, and the expression of cyclin D3 were markedly inhibited by transfection with short interfering RNA phospholipase (PL)-D2. The PDGF-BB-induced activation of growth signaling was also suppressed by 1-butanol, which prevents the production of phosphatidic acid by phospholipase D (but not by t-butyl alcohol), thereby implicating PLD2 in PDGF-BB-mediated signaling in TC-135 cells. These results suggest that EWS-Fli1 may play a role in the regulation of tumor proliferation-signaling enzymes via PLD2 expression in Ewing sarcoma cells.

Implication of phospholipase D2 in oxidant-induced phosphoinositide 3-kinase signaling via Pyk2 activation in PC12 cells

The role of phospholipase D (PLD) activation in hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2))-induced signal transduction and cellular responses is not completely understood. Here we present evidence that Ca(2+)-dependent tyrosine kinase, Pyk2, requires PLD activation to mediate survival pathways in rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells under oxidative stress. The H(2)O(2)-induced phosphorylation of two Pyk2 sites (Tyr(580), and Tyr(881)) was suppressed by 1-butanol, an inhibitor of transphosphatidylation by PLD, and also by transfection of catalytically negative mouse PLD2K758R (PLD2KR). Furthermore, we found that PLD2 was associated with Pyk2 and Src, and that activation of PLD2 was required for H(2)O(2)-enhanced association of Src with Pyk2 leading to full activation of Pyk2. H(2)O(2)-induced phosphorylation of Akt and p70S6K was dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activity and was abolished by 1-butanol but not t-butanol. Furthermore, the PI3K/Akt activation in response to H(2)O(2) was reduced by transfection of either PLD2KR or the dominant negative Pyk2DN. This study is the first demonstration that PLD2 activation is implicated in Src-dependent phosphorylation of Pyk2 (Tyr(580) and Tyr(881)) by promoting the complex formation between Pyk2 and activated Src in PC12 cells exposed to H(2)O(2), thereby resulting in activation of the survival signaling pathway PI3K/Akt/p70S6K.