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Casasampere M, Ung J, Iñáñez A, Dufau C, Tsuboi K, Casas J, Tan SF, Feith DJ, Andrieu-Abadie N, Segui B, Loughran TP, Abad JL, Fabrias G. A fluorogenic substrate for the detection of lipid amidases in intact cells. J Lipid Res 2024; 65:100520. [PMID: 38369184 PMCID: PMC10956054 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2024.100520] [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] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Lipid amidases of therapeutic relevance include acid ceramidase (AC), N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase, and fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Although fluorogenic substrates have been developed for the three enzymes and high-throughput methods for screening have been reported, a platform for the specific detection of these enzyme activities in intact cells is lacking. In this article, we report on the coumarinic 1-deoxydihydroceramide RBM1-151, a 1-deoxy derivative and vinilog of RBM14-C12, as a novel substrate of amidases. This compound is hydrolyzed by AC (appKm = 7.0 μM; appVmax = 99.3 nM/min), N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase (appKm = 0.73 μM; appVmax = 0.24 nM/min), and FAAH (appKm = 3.6 μM; appVmax = 7.6 nM/min) but not by other ceramidases. We provide proof of concept that the use of RBM1-151 in combination with reported irreversible inhibitors of AC and FAAH allows the determination in parallel of the three amidase activities in single experiments in intact cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Casasampere
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Johnson Ung
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Alejandro Iñáñez
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carine Dufau
- INSERM UMR 1037, Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Toulouse, France; Equipe Labellisée Fondation ARC pour la recherche sur le cancer, Toulouse, France
| | - Kazuhito Tsuboi
- Department of Pharmacology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan
| | - Josefina Casas
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain; CIBEREHD, Madrid, Spain
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA; University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - David J Feith
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA; University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Nathalie Andrieu-Abadie
- INSERM UMR 1037, Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Toulouse, France; Equipe Labellisée Fondation ARC pour la recherche sur le cancer, Toulouse, France
| | - Bruno Segui
- INSERM UMR 1037, Cancer Research Center of Toulouse (CRCT), Toulouse, France; Equipe Labellisée Fondation ARC pour la recherche sur le cancer, Toulouse, France; Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA; University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - José Luis Abad
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Gemma Fabrias
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Research Unit on BioActive Molecules, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain; CIBEREHD, Madrid, Spain; Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)'s Cancer Hub, Madrid, Spain.
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Hengst JA, Nduwumwami AJ, Sharma A, Yun JK. Fanning the Flames of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress: Can Sphingolipid Metabolism Be Targeted to Enhance ER Stress-Associated Immunogenic Cell Death in Cancer? Mol Pharmacol 2024; 105:155-165. [PMID: 38164594 PMCID: PMC10877730 DOI: 10.1124/molpharm.123.000786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The three arms of the unfolded protein response (UPR) surveil the luminal environment of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transmit information through the lipid bilayer to the cytoplasm to alert the cell of stress conditions within the ER lumen. That same lipid bilayer is the site of de novo synthesis of phospholipids and sphingolipids. Thus, it is no surprise that lipids are modulated by and are modulators of ER stress. Given that sphingolipids have both prosurvival and proapoptotic effects, they also exert opposing effects on life/death decisions in the face of prolonged ER stress detected by the UPR. In this review, we will focus on several recent studies that demonstrate how sphingolipids affect each arm of the UPR. We will also discuss the role of sphingolipids in the process of immunogenic cell death downstream of the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK)/eukaryotic initiating factor 2α (eIF2α) arm of the UPR. Furthermore, we will discuss strategies to target the sphingolipid metabolic pathway that could potentially act synergistically with agents that induce ER stress as novel anticancer treatments. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: This review provides the readers with a brief discussion of the sphingolipid metabolic pathway and the unfolded protein response. The primary focus of the review is the mechanism(s) by which sphingolipids modulate the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response pathways and the critical role of sphingolipids in the process of immunogenic cell death associated with the ER stress response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Hengst
- Departments of Pediatrics (J.A.H.) and Pharmacology (A.S., J.K.Y.), Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; and Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, National Center for Advancing Translational Science, Rockville, Maryland (A.J.N.)
| | - Asvelt J Nduwumwami
- Departments of Pediatrics (J.A.H.) and Pharmacology (A.S., J.K.Y.), Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; and Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, National Center for Advancing Translational Science, Rockville, Maryland (A.J.N.)
| | - Arati Sharma
- Departments of Pediatrics (J.A.H.) and Pharmacology (A.S., J.K.Y.), Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; and Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, National Center for Advancing Translational Science, Rockville, Maryland (A.J.N.)
| | - Jong K Yun
- Departments of Pediatrics (J.A.H.) and Pharmacology (A.S., J.K.Y.), Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania; and Department of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, National Center for Advancing Translational Science, Rockville, Maryland (A.J.N.)
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Vijayan Y, James S, Viswanathan A, Aparna JS, Bindu A, Namitha NN, Anantharaman D, Babu Lankadasari M, Harikumar KB. Targeting acid ceramidase enhances antitumor immune response in colorectal cancer. J Adv Res 2023:S2090-1232(23)00403-4. [PMID: 38142035 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/25/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acid ceramidase (hereafter referred as ASAH1) is an enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism that converts pro-survival ceramide into sphingosine. ASAH1 has been shown to be overexpressed in certain cancers. However, the role of ASAH1 in colorectal cancer still remain elusive. OBJECTIVE The present study is aimed to understand how ASAH1 regulates colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and resistance to checkpoint inhibitor therapy. METHODS Both pharmacological and genetic silencing of ASAH1 was used in the study. In vitro experiments were done on human and mouse CRC cell lines. The in vivo studies were conducted in NOD-SCID and BALB/c mice models. The combination of ASAH1 inhibitor and checkpoint inhibitor was tested using a syngeneic tumor model of CRC. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were done to understand the effect of ASAH1 silencing. RESULTS ASAH1 is overexpressed in human CRC cases, and silencing the expression resulted in the induction of immunological cell death (ICD) and mitochondrial stress. The ASAH1 inhibitor (LCL-521), either as monotherapy or in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody, resulted in reduction of tumors and, through induction of type I and II interferon response, activation of M1 macrophages and T cells, leading to enhanced infiltration of cytotoxic T cells. Our findings supported that the combination of LCL-521 and ICIs, which enhances the antitumor responses, and ASAH1 can be a druggable target in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yadu Vijayan
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Shirley James
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India
| | - Arun Viswanathan
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Jayasekharan S Aparna
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India
| | - Anu Bindu
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India
| | - Narayanan N Namitha
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India
| | - Devasena Anantharaman
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India
| | - Manendra Babu Lankadasari
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India
| | - Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India.
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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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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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Zalpoor H, Bakhtiyari M, Akbari A, Aziziyan F, Shapourian H, Liaghat M, Zare-Badie Z, Yahyazadeh S, Tarhriz V, Ganjalikhani-Hakemi M. Potential role of autophagy induced by FLT3-ITD and acid ceramidase in acute myeloid leukemia chemo-resistance: new insights. Cell Commun Signal 2022; 20:172. [PMCID: PMC9620650 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-022-00956-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a type of leukemia with a poor prognosis and survival characterized by abnormal cell proliferation and differentiation. Despite advances in treatment, AML still has a low complete remission rate, particularly in elderly patients, and recurrences are frequently seen even after complete remissions. The major challenge in treating AML is the resistance of leukemia cells to chemotherapy drugs. Thus, to overcome this issue, it can be crucial to conduct new investigations to explore the mechanisms of chemo-resistance in AML and target them. In this review, the potential role of autophagy induced by FLT3-ITD and acid ceramidase in chemo-resistance in AML patients are analyzed. With regard to the high prevalence of FLT3-ITD mutation (about 25% of AML cases) and high level of acid ceramidase in these patients, we hypothesized that both of these factors could lead to chemo-resistance by inducing autophagy. Therefore, pharmacological targeting of autophagy, FLT3-ITD, and acid ceramidase production could be a promising therapeutic approach for such AML patients to overcome chemo-resistance.
Video abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamidreza Zalpoor
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ,grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Bakhtiyari
- grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran ,grid.412606.70000 0004 0405 433XDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Allied Medicine, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Abdullatif Akbari
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Shiraz Neuroscience Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran ,grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Aziziyan
- grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran ,grid.412266.50000 0001 1781 3962Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hooriyeh Shapourian
- grid.411036.10000 0001 1498 685XDepartment of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mahsa Liaghat
- grid.510410.10000 0004 8010 4431Network of Immunity in Infection, Malignancy and Autoimmunity (NIIMA), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran ,grid.472315.60000 0004 0494 0825Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Kazerun Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kazerun, Iran
| | - Zahra Zare-Badie
- grid.412571.40000 0000 8819 4698Diagnostic Laboratory Sciences and Technology Research Center, School of Paramedical Sciences, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sheida Yahyazadeh
- grid.411036.10000 0001 1498 685XDepartment of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Vahideh Tarhriz
- grid.412888.f0000 0001 2174 8913Molecular Medicine Research Center, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mazdak Ganjalikhani-Hakemi
- grid.411036.10000 0001 1498 685XDepartment of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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7
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Ung J, Tan SF, Fox TE, Shaw JJP, Vass LR, Costa-Pinheiro P, Garrett-Bakelman FE, Keng MK, Sharma A, Claxton DF, Levine RL, Tallman MS, Cabot MC, Kester M, Feith DJ, Loughran TP. Harnessing the power of sphingolipids: Prospects for acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Rev 2022; 55:100950. [PMID: 35487785 PMCID: PMC9475810 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2022.100950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive, heterogenous malignancy characterized by clonal expansion of bone marrow-derived myeloid progenitor cells. While our current understanding of the molecular and genomic landscape of AML has evolved dramatically and opened avenues for molecularly targeted therapeutics to improve upon standard intensive induction chemotherapy, curative treatments are elusive, particularly in older patients. Responses to current AML treatments are transient and incomplete, necessitating the development of novel treatment strategies to improve outcomes. To this end, harnessing the power of bioactive sphingolipids to treat cancer shows great promise. Sphingolipids are involved in many hallmarks of cancer of paramount importance in AML. Leukemic blast survival is influenced by cellular levels of ceramide, a bona fide pro-death molecule, and its conversion to signaling molecules such as sphingosine-1-phosphate and glycosphingolipids. Preclinical studies demonstrate the efficacy of therapeutics that target dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism as well as their combinatorial synergy with clinically-relevant therapeutics. Thus, increased understanding of sphingolipid dysregulation may be exploited to improve AML patient care and outcomes. This review summarizes the current knowledge of dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism in AML, evaluates how pro-survival sphingolipids promote AML pathogenesis, and discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting these dysregulated sphingolipid pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johnson Ung
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Todd E Fox
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Jeremy J P Shaw
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Luke R Vass
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Department of Experimental Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Pedro Costa-Pinheiro
- Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Francine E Garrett-Bakelman
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Michael K Keng
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Arati Sharma
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA, United States of America
| | - David F Claxton
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA, United States of America
| | - Ross L Levine
- Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States of America; Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Martin S Tallman
- Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC, United States of America; East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - Mark Kester
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - David J Feith
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Cancer Biology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States of America.
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8
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Pherez-Farah A, López-Sánchez RDC, Villela-Martínez LM, Ortiz-López R, Beltrán BE, Hernández-Hernández JA. Sphingolipids and Lymphomas: A Double-Edged Sword. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:2051. [PMID: 35565181 PMCID: PMC9104519 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14092051] [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: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymphomas are a highly heterogeneous group of hematological neoplasms. Given their ethiopathogenic complexity, their classification and management can become difficult tasks; therefore, new approaches are continuously being sought. Metabolic reprogramming at the lipid level is a hot topic in cancer research, and sphingolipidomics has gained particular focus in this area due to the bioactive nature of molecules such as sphingoid bases, sphingosine-1-phosphate, ceramides, sphingomyelin, cerebrosides, globosides, and gangliosides. Sphingolipid metabolism has become especially exciting because they are involved in virtually every cellular process through an extremely intricate metabolic web; in fact, no two sphingolipids share the same fate. Unsurprisingly, a disruption at this level is a recurrent mechanism in lymphomagenesis, dissemination, and chemoresistance, which means potential biomarkers and therapeutical targets might be hiding within these pathways. Many comprehensive reviews describing their role in cancer exist, but because most research has been conducted in solid malignancies, evidence in lymphomagenesis is somewhat limited. In this review, we summarize key aspects of sphingolipid biochemistry and discuss their known impact in cancer biology, with a particular focus on lymphomas and possible therapeutical strategies against them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfredo Pherez-Farah
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey 64710, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | | | - Luis Mario Villela-Martínez
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Culiacán Rosales 80030, Sinaloa, Mexico
- Hospital Fernando Ocaranza, ISSSTE, Hermosillo 83190, Sonora, Mexico
- Centro Médico Dr. Ignacio Chávez, ISSSTESON, Hermosillo 83000, Sonora, Mexico
| | - Rocío Ortiz-López
- Tecnologico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Monterrey 64710, Nuevo Leon, Mexico
| | - Brady E Beltrán
- Hospital Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, Lima 15072, Peru
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Ricardo Palma, Lima 1801, Peru
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9
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Bataller M, Sánchez-García A, Garcia-Mayea Y, Mir C, Rodriguez I, LLeonart ME. The Role of Sphingolipids Metabolism in Cancer Drug Resistance. Front Oncol 2022; 11:807636. [PMID: 35004331 PMCID: PMC8733468 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.807636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance continues to be one of the major challenges to cure cancer. As research in this field evolves, it has been proposed that numerous bioactive molecules might be involved in the resistance of cancer cells to certain chemotherapeutics. One well-known group of lipids that play a major role in drug resistance are the sphingolipids. Sphingolipids are essential components of the lipid raft domains of the plasma membrane and this structural function is important for apoptosis and/or cell proliferation. Dysregulation of sphingolipids, including ceramide, sphingomyelin or sphingosine 1-phosphate, has been linked to drug resistance in different types of cancer, including breast, melanoma or colon cancer. Sphingolipid metabolism is complex, involving several lipid catabolism with the participation of key enzymes such as glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) and sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1). With an overview of the latest available data on this topic and its implications in cancer therapy, this review focuses on the main enzymes implicated in sphingolipids metabolism and their intermediate metabolites involved in cancer drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Bataller
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d´Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Almudena Sánchez-García
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d´Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yoelsis Garcia-Mayea
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d´Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Mir
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d´Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Isabel Rodriguez
- Assistant Director of Nursing, Nursing Management Service Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Matilde Esther LLeonart
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d´Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Network Centre in Oncology, CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
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10
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Acid ceramidase controls apoptosis and increases autophagy in human melanoma cells treated with doxorubicin. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11221. [PMID: 34045496 PMCID: PMC8159975 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90219-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Acid ceramidase (AC) is a lysosomal hydrolase encoded by the ASAH1 gene, which cleaves ceramides into sphingosine and fatty acid. AC is expressed at high levels in most human melanoma cell lines and may confer resistance against chemotherapeutic agents. One such agent, doxorubicin, was shown to increase ceramide levels in melanoma cells. Ceramides contribute to the regulation of autophagy and apoptosis. Here we investigated the impact of AC ablation via CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing on the response of A375 melanoma cells to doxorubicin. We found that doxorubicin activates the autophagic response in wild-type A375 cells, which effectively resist apoptotic cell death. In striking contrast, doxorubicin fails to stimulate autophagy in A375 AC-null cells, which rapidly undergo apoptosis when exposed to the drug. The present work highlights changes that affect melanoma cells during incubation with doxorubicin, in A375 melanoma cells lacking AC. We found that the remarkable reduction in recovery rate after doxorubicin treatment is strictly associated with the impairment of autophagy, that forces the AC-inhibited cells into apoptotic path.
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11
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Fisher-Wellman KH, Hagen JT, Neufer PD, Kassai M, Cabot MC. On the nature of ceramide-mitochondria interactions - Dissection using comprehensive mitochondrial phenotyping. Cell Signal 2020; 78:109838. [PMID: 33212155 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2020.109838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are a unique class of lipids owing to their non-glycerol-containing backbone, ceramide, that is constructed from a long-chain aliphatic amino alcohol, sphinganine, to which a fatty acid is attached via an amide bond. Ceramide plays a star role in the initiation of apoptosis by virtue of its interactions with mitochondria, a control point for a downstream array of signaling cascades culminating in apoptosis. Many pathways converge on mitochondria to elicit mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP), a step that corrupts bioenergetic service. Although much is known regarding ceramides interaction with mitochondria and the ensuing cell signal transduction cascades, how ceramide impacts the elements of mitochondrial bioenergetic function is poorly understood. The objective of this review is to introduce the reader to sphingolipid metabolism, present a snapshot of mitochondrial respiration, elaborate on ceramides convergence on mitochondria and the upstream players that collaborate to elicit MOMP, and introduce a mitochondrial phenotyping platform that can be of utility in dissecting the fine-points of ceramide impact on cellular bioenergetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey H Fisher-Wellman
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America; East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America.
| | - James T Hagen
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America; East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - P Darrell Neufer
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - Miki Kassai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America; East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America; East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, United States of America.
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12
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Iessi E, Marconi M, Manganelli V, Sorice M, Malorni W, Garofalo T, Matarrese P. On the role of sphingolipids in cell survival and death. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2020; 351:149-195. [PMID: 32247579 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ircmb.2020.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipids, universal components of biological membranes of all eukaryotic organisms, from yeasts to mammals, in addition of playing a structural role, also play an important part of signal transduction pathways. They participate or, also, ignite several fundamental subcellular signaling processes but, more in general, they directly contribute to key biological activities such as cell motility, growth, senescence, differentiation as well as cell fate, i.e., survival or death. The sphingolipid metabolic pathway displays an intricate network of reactions that result in the formation of multiple sphingolipids, including ceramide, and sphingosine-1-phosphate. Different sphingolipids, that have key roles in determining cell fate, can induce opposite effects: as a general rule, sphingosine-1-phosphate promotes cell survival and differentiation, whereas ceramide is known to induce apoptosis. Furthermore, together with cholesterol, sphingolipids also represent the basic lipid component of lipid rafts, cholesterol- and sphingolipid-enriched membrane microdomains directly involved in cell death and survival processes. In this review, we briefly describe the characteristics of sphingolipids and lipid membrane microdomains. In particular, we will consider the involvement of various sphingolipids per se and of lipid rafts in apoptotic pathway, both intrinsic and extrinsic, in nonapoptotic cell death, in autophagy, and in cell differentiation. In addition, their roles in the most common physiological and pathological contexts either as pathogenetic elements or as biomarkers of diseases will be considered. We would also hint how the manipulation of sphingolipid metabolism could represent a potential therapeutic target to be investigated and functionally validated especially for those diseases for which therapeutic options are limited or ineffective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Iessi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Marconi
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Maurizio Sorice
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Walter Malorni
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy; Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
| | - Tina Garofalo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Matarrese
- Center for Gender-Specific Medicine, Oncology Unit, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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13
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Pearson JM, Tan SF, Sharma A, Annageldiyev C, Fox TE, Abad JL, Fabrias G, Desai D, Amin S, Wang HG, Cabot MC, Claxton DF, Kester M, Feith DJ, Loughran TP. Ceramide Analogue SACLAC Modulates Sphingolipid Levels and MCL-1 Splicing to Induce Apoptosis in Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 18:352-363. [PMID: 31744877 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-19-0619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 08/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a disease characterized by uncontrolled proliferation of immature myeloid cells in the blood and bone marrow. The 5-year survival rate is approximately 25%, and recent therapeutic developments have yielded little survival benefit. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify novel therapeutic targets. We previously demonstrated that acid ceramidase (ASAH1, referred to as AC) is upregulated in AML and high AC activity correlates with poor patient survival. Here, we characterized a novel AC inhibitor, SACLAC, that significantly reduced the viability of AML cells with an EC50 of approximately 3 μmol/L across 30 human AML cell lines. Treatment of AML cell lines with SACLAC effectively blocked AC activity and induced a decrease in sphingosine 1-phosphate and a 2.5-fold increase in total ceramide levels. Mechanistically, we showed that SACLAC treatment led to reduced levels of splicing factor SF3B1 and alternative MCL-1 mRNA splicing in multiple human AML cell lines. This increased proapoptotic MCL-1S levels and contributed to SACLAC-induced apoptosis in AML cells. The apoptotic effects of SACLAC were attenuated by SF3B1 or MCL-1 overexpression and by selective knockdown of MCL-1S. Furthermore, AC knockdown and exogenous C16-ceramide supplementation induced similar changes in SF3B1 level and MCL-1S/L ratio. Finally, we demonstrated that SACLAC treatment leads to a 37% to 75% reduction in leukemic burden in two human AML xenograft mouse models. IMPLICATIONS: These data further emphasize AC as a therapeutic target in AML and define SACLAC as a potent inhibitor to be further optimized for future clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Pearson
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Arati Sharma
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | | | - Todd E Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Jose Luis Abad
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Networking Biomedical Research Centre on Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBER-EHD), Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, Spanish National Research Council (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Fabrias
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Networking Biomedical Research Centre on Liver and Digestive Diseases (CIBER-EHD), Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, Spanish National Research Council (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Dhimant Desai
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Shantu Amin
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Hong-Gang Wang
- Penn State Cancer Institute, Hershey, Pennsylvania.,Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina
| | | | - Mark Kester
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania.,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - David J Feith
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia. .,University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, Virginia
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14
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Bai A, Bielawska A, Rahmaniyan M, Kraveka JM, Bielawski J, Hannun YA. Dose dependent actions of LCL521 on acid ceramidase and key sphingolipid metabolites. Bioorg Med Chem 2018; 26:6067-6075. [PMID: 30448190 PMCID: PMC6323005 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2018.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Revised: 10/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The function of acid ceramidase (ACDase), whose congenital deficiency leads to Farber disease, has been recognized to be vital to tumor cell biology, and inhibition of its activity may be beneficial in cancer therapy. Therefore, manipulation of the activity of this enzyme may have significant effect, especially on cancer cells. LCL521, Di-DMG-B13, is a lysosomotropic inhibitor of ACDase. Here we define complexities in the actions of LCL521 on ACDase. Systematic studies in MCF7 cells showed dose and time divergent action of LCL521 on ACDase protein expression and sphingolipid levels. Low dose of LCL521 (1 µM) effectively inhibited ACDase in cells, but the effects were transient. A higher dose of LCL521 (10 µM) caused a profound decrease of sphingosine and increase of ceramide, but additionally affected the processing and regeneration of the ACDase protein, with biphasic and reversible effects on the expression of ACDase, which paralleled the long term changes of cellular sphingosine and ceramide. Finally, the higher concentrations of LCL521 also inhibited Dihydroceramide desaturase (DES-1). In summary, LCL521 exhibits significant effects on ACDase in a dose and time dependent manner, but dose range and treatment time need to be paid attention to specify its future exploration on ACDase targeted cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiping Bai
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 294255, United States; Lipidomics Shared Resources, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425, United States
| | - Alicja Bielawska
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 294255, United States; Lipidomics Shared Resources, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425, United States
| | - Mehrdad Rahmaniyan
- Department of Pediatrics-Hematology/Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 294255, United States
| | - Jacqueline M Kraveka
- Department of Pediatrics-Hematology/Oncology, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 294255, United States
| | - Jacek Bielawski
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 294255, United States; Lipidomics Shared Resources, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Ave., Charleston, SC 29425, United States
| | - Yusuf A Hannun
- Departments of Medicine, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, and Pharmacology and the Stony Brook Cancer Center at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
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15
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Coant N, Hannun YA. Neutral ceramidase: Advances in mechanisms, cell regulation, and roles in cancer. Adv Biol Regul 2018; 71:141-146. [PMID: 30389354 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbior.2018.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 10/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Extensive research conducted in the last three decades has identified the roles for the main bioactive sphingolipids, namely ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) as key regulators of cellular homeostasis, growth and death. One of the major groups of enzymes in the ceramide pathway, ceramidases, converts ceramide into sphingosine and fatty acids, with sphingosine being further metabolized to S1P. Thus, these enzymes play important roles in the network controlling the functions associated with these bioactive sphingolipids. Among the family of ceramidases, neutral ceramidase (nCDase), which is named according to its optimal pH for catalytic activity, has received increased attention in the last decade. The goal of this review is to provide a brief background on bioactive sphingolipids and the ceramidases. We then describe more recent advances on nCDase, specifically the resolution of its crystal structure and understanding its roles in cell biology and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Coant
- Health Science Center, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, T15, 023, 11794, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
| | - Yusuf A Hannun
- Health Science Center, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, L4, 182, 11794, Stony Brook, NY, USA.
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16
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Annalora AJ, O'Neil S, Bushman JD, Summerton JE, Marcus CB, Iversen PL. A k-mer based transcriptomics approach for antisense drug discovery targeting the Ewing's family of tumors. Oncotarget 2018; 9:30568-30586. [PMID: 30093970 PMCID: PMC6078127 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.25736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing’s sarcoma treatment failures are associated with high mortality indicating a need for new therapeutic approaches. We used a k-mer counting approach to identify cancer-specific mRNA transcripts in 3 Ewing’s Family Tumor (EFT) cell lines not found in the normal human transcriptome. Phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers targeting six EFT-specific transcripts were evaluated for cytotoxicity in TC-32 and CHLA-10 EFT lines and in HEK293 renal epithelial control cells. Average morpholino efficacy (EC50) was 0.66 ± 0.13 in TC-32, 0.25 ± 0.14 in CHLA-10 and 3.07 ± 5.02 µM in HEK293 control cells (ANOVA p < 0.01). Synergy was observed for a cocktail of 12 morpholinos at low dose (0.3 µM) in TC-32 cells, but not in CHLA-10 cells. Paired synergy was also observed in both EFT cell lines when the PHGDH pre-mRNA transcript was targeted in combination with XAGE1B or CYP4F22 transcripts. Antagonism was observed when CCND1 was targeted with XAGE1B or CYP4F22, or when IGFBP-2 was targeted with CCND1 or RBM11. This transcriptome profiling approach is highly effective for cancer drug discovery, as it identified new EWS-specific target genes (e.g. CYP4F22, RBM11 and IGBP-2), and predicted effective antisense agents (EC50 < 1 µM) that demonstrate both synergy and antagonism in combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Annalora
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Shawn O'Neil
- Center for Genome Research and Biocomputing, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | | | | | - Craig B Marcus
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Patrick L Iversen
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.,LS Pharma, LLC, Grand Junction, CO 81507, USA
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17
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Shaw J, Costa-Pinheiro P, Patterson L, Drews K, Spiegel S, Kester M. Novel Sphingolipid-Based Cancer Therapeutics in the Personalized Medicine Era. Adv Cancer Res 2018; 140:327-366. [PMID: 30060815 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2018.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are bioactive lipids that participate in a wide variety of biological mechanisms, including cell death and proliferation. The myriad of pro-death and pro-survival cellular pathways involving sphingolipids provide a plethora of opportunities for dysregulation in cancers. In recent years, modulation of these sphingolipid metabolic pathways has been in the forefront of drug discovery for cancer therapeutics. About two decades ago, researchers first showed that standard of care treatments, e.g., chemotherapeutics and radiation, modulate sphingolipid metabolism to increase endogenous ceramides, which kill cancer cells. Strikingly, resistance to these treatments has also been linked to altered sphingolipid metabolism, favoring lipid species that ultimately lead to cell survival. To this end, many inhibitors of sphingolipid metabolism have been developed to further define not only our understanding of these pathways but also to potentially serve as therapeutic interventions. Therefore, understanding how to better use these new drugs that target sphingolipid metabolism, either alone or in combination with current cancer treatments, holds great potential for cancer control. While sphingolipids in cancer have been reviewed previously (Hannun & Obeid, 2018; Lee & Kolesnick, 2017; Morad & Cabot, 2013; Newton, Lima, Maceyka, & Spiegel, 2015; Ogretmen, 2018; Ryland, Fox, Liu, Loughran, & Kester, 2011) in this chapter, we present a comprehensive review on how standard of care therapeutics affects sphingolipid metabolism, the current landscape of sphingolipid inhibitors, and the clinical utility of sphingolipid-based cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Shaw
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Pedro Costa-Pinheiro
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Logan Patterson
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Kelly Drews
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
| | - Sarah Spiegel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, United States
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States; University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, United States
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18
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Nguyen HS, Shabani S, Awad AJ, Kaushal M, Doan N. Molecular Markers of Therapy-Resistant Glioblastoma and Potential Strategy to Combat Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19061765. [PMID: 29899215 PMCID: PMC6032212 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 06/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary malignant tumor of the central nervous system. With its overall dismal prognosis (the median survival is 14 months), GBMs demonstrate a resounding resilience against all current treatment modalities. The absence of a major progress in the treatment of GBM maybe a result of our poor understanding of both GBM tumor biology and the mechanisms underlying the acquirement of treatment resistance in recurrent GBMs. A comprehensive understanding of these markers is mandatory for the development of treatments against therapy-resistant GBMs. This review also provides an overview of a novel marker called acid ceramidase and its implication in the development of radioresistant GBMs. Multiple signaling pathways were found altered in radioresistant GBMs. Given these global alterations of multiple signaling pathways found in radioresistant GBMs, an effective treatment for radioresistant GBMs may require a cocktail containing multiple agents targeting multiple cancer-inducing pathways in order to have a chance to make a substantial impact on improving the overall GBM survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ha S Nguyen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
- Faculty of Neurosurgery, California Institute of Neuroscience, Thousand Oaks, CA 91360, USA.
| | - Saman Shabani
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Ahmed J Awad
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, An-Najah National University, Nablus 11941, Palestine.
| | - Mayank Kaushal
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
| | - Ninh Doan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama, Mobile, AL 36688, USA.
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Abstract
Sphingosine kinases (SK1 and SK2) are key, druggable targets within the sphingolipid metabolism pathway that promote tumor growth and pathologic inflammation. A variety of isozyme-selective and dual inhibitors of SK1 and SK2 have been described in the literature, and at least one compound has reached clinical testing in cancer patients. In this chapter, we will review the rationale for targeting SKs and summarize the preclinical and emerging clinical data for ABC294640 as the first-in-class selective inhibitor of SK2.
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20
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Abstract
Chemotherapy resistance, inherent or acquired, represents a serious barrier to the successful treatment of cancer. Although drug efflux, conducted by plasma membrane-resident proteins, detoxification enzymes, cell death inhibition, and DNA damage repair are ensemble players in this unwanted biology, a full understanding of the many in concert molecular mechanisms driving drug resistance is lacking. Recent discoveries in sphingolipid (SL) metabolism have provided significant insight into the role of these lipids in cancer growth; however, considerably less is known with respect to SLs and the drug-resistant phenotype. One exception here is enhanced ceramide glycosylation, a hallmark of multidrug resistance that is believed responsible, in part, for diminishing ceramides tumor-suppressor potential. This chapter will review various aspects of SL biology that relate to chemotherapy resistance and extend this topic to acknowledge the role of chemotherapy selection pressure in promoting dysregulated SL metabolism, a characteristic in cancer and an exploitable target for therapy.
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21
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Gebai A, Gorelik A, Li Z, Illes K, Nagar B. Structural basis for the activation of acid ceramidase. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1621. [PMID: 29692406 PMCID: PMC5915598 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03844-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Acid ceramidase (aCDase, ASAH1) hydrolyzes lysosomal membrane ceramide into sphingosine, the backbone of all sphingolipids, to regulate many cellular processes. Abnormal function of aCDase leads to Farber disease, spinal muscular atrophy with progressive myoclonic epilepsy, and is associated with Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and cancer. Here, we present crystal structures of mammalian aCDases in both proenzyme and autocleaved forms. In the proenzyme, the catalytic center is buried and protected from solvent. Autocleavage triggers a conformational change exposing a hydrophobic channel leading to the active site. Substrate modeling suggests distinct catalytic mechanisms for substrate hydrolysis versus autocleavage. A hydrophobic surface surrounding the substrate binding channel appears to be a site of membrane attachment where the enzyme accepts substrates facilitated by the accessory protein, saposin-D. Structural mapping of disease mutations reveals that most would destabilize the protein fold. These results will inform the rational design of aCDase inhibitors and recombinant aCDase for disease therapeutics. Acid ceramidase (aCDase) hydrolyzes lysosomal membrane ceramide into sphingosine and its dysfunction leads to a variety of disease phenotypes. Here, the authors present structures of aCDase in its proenzyme and autocleaved forms, which provides insight into its mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Gebai
- Department of Biochemistry and Groupe de Recherche Axé sur la Structure des Protéines, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Alexei Gorelik
- Department of Biochemistry and Groupe de Recherche Axé sur la Structure des Protéines, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Zixian Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Groupe de Recherche Axé sur la Structure des Protéines, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Katalin Illes
- Department of Biochemistry and Groupe de Recherche Axé sur la Structure des Protéines, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Bhushan Nagar
- Department of Biochemistry and Groupe de Recherche Axé sur la Structure des Protéines, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3G 0B1, Canada.
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22
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Molecular Targeting of Acid Ceramidase in Glioblastoma: A Review of Its Role, Potential Treatment, and Challenges. Pharmaceutics 2018; 10:pharmaceutics10020045. [PMID: 29642535 PMCID: PMC6027516 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics10020045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common, malignant primary tumor of the central nervous system. The average prognosis for life expectancy after diagnosis, with the triad of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, is less than 1.5 years. Chemotherapy treatment is mostly limited to temozolomide. In this paper, the authors review an emerging, novel drug called acid ceramidase, which targets glioblastoma. Its role in cancer treatment in general, and more specifically, in the treatment of glioblastoma, are discussed. In addition, the authors provide insights on acid ceramidase as a potential druggable target for glioblastoma.
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