Inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-independent calcium signalling by platelet-derived growth factor in the human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell

Suppression of colitis-driven colon cancer in mice by a novel small molecule inhibitor of sphingosine kinase

Sphingolipid metabolism is driven by inflammatory cytokines. These cascade of events include the activation of sphingosine kinase (SK), and subsequent production of the mitogenic and proinflammatory lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). Overall, S1P is one of the crucial components in inflammation, making SK an excellent target for the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs. We have recently shown that SK inhibitors suppress colitis and hypothesize here that the novel SK inhibitor, ABC294640, prevents the development of colon cancer. In an azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) mouse model, there was a dose-dependent decrease in tumor incidence with SK inhibitor treatment. The tumor incidence (number of animals with tumors per group) in the vehicle, ABC294640 (20 mg/kg) and ABC294640 (50 mg/kg) groups were 80, 40 and 30%, respectively. Tumor multiplicity (number of tumors per animal) also decreased from 2.1 ± 0.23 tumors per animal in the AOM + DSS + vehicle group to 1.2 ± 0 tumors per animal in the AOM + DSS + ABC294640 (20 mg/kg) and to 0.8 ± 0.4 tumors per animal in the AOM + DSS + ABC294640 (50 mg/kg) group. Importantly, with ABC294640, there were no observed toxic side effects. To explore mechanisms, we isolated cells from the colon (CD45-, representing primarily colon epithelial cells) and (CD45+, representing primarily colon inflammatory cells) then measured known targets of SK that control cell survival. Results are consistent with the hypothesis that the inhibition of SK activity by our novel SK inhibitor modulates key pathways involved in cell survival and may be a viable treatment strategy for the chemoprevention colitis-driven colon cancer.

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.

Single-cell imaging of intracellular Ca2+ and phospholipase C activity reveals that RGS 2, 3, and 4 differentially regulate signaling via the Galphaq/11-linked muscarinic M3 receptor

Using single cell, real-time imaging, this study compared the impact of members of the B/R4 subfamily of the regulators of G-protein signaling (RGS) (RGS2, -3, and -4) on receptor-mediated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate [Ins(1,4,5)P3], diacylglycerol, and Ca2+ signaling. In human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells expressing recombinant Galpha(q/11)-coupled muscarinic M3 receptors, transient coexpression of RGS proteins with fluorescently-tagged biosensors for either Ins(1,4,5)P3 or diacylglycerol demonstrated that RGS2 and 3 inhibited receptor-mediated events. Although gross indices of signaling were unaffected by RGS4, it slowed the rate of increase in Ins(1,4,5)P3 levels. At equivalent levels of expression, myc-tagged RGS proteins showed inhibitory activity on the order RGS3 > or = RGS2 > RGS4. In HEK293 cells, stable expression of myc-tagged RGS2, -3, or -4 at equivalent levels also inhibited phosphoinositide and Ca2+ signaling by endogenously expressed muscarinic M3 receptors in the order RGS3 > or = RGS2 > RGS4. In these cells, RGS2 or -3 reduced receptor-mediated inositol phosphate generation in cell populations and reduced both the magnitude and kinetics (rise-time) of single cell Ca2+ signals. Furthermore, at low levels of receptor activation, oscillatory Ca2+ signals were dampened or abolished, whereas at higher levels, RGS2 and -3 promoted the conversion of more stable Ca2+ elevations into oscillatory signals. Despite little or no effect on responses to maximal receptor activation, RGS4 produced effects on the magnitude, kinetics, and oscillatory behavior of Ca2+ signaling at submaximal levels that were consistent with those of RGS2 and -3.