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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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2
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Nguyen TM, Joyce P, Ross DM, Bremmell K, Jambhrunkar M, Wong SS, Prestidge CA. Combating Acute Myeloid Leukemia via Sphingosine Kinase 1 Inhibitor-Nanomedicine Combination Therapy with Cytarabine or Venetoclax. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:209. [PMID: 38399263 PMCID: PMC10893145 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
MP-A08 is a novel sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) inhibitor with activity against acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A rationally designed liposome-based encapsulation and delivery system has been shown to overcome the physicochemical challenges of MP-A08 and enable its effective delivery for improved efficacy and survival of mice engrafted with human AML in preclinical models. To establish therapies that overcome AML's heterogeneous nature, here we explored the combination of MP-A08-loaded liposomes with both the standard chemotherapy, cytarabine, and the targeted therapy, venetoclax, against human AML cell lines. Cytarabine (over the dose range of 0.1-0.5 µM) in combination with MP-A08 liposomes showed significant synergistic effects (as confirmed by the Chou-Talalay Combination Index) against the chemosensitised human AML cell lines MV4-11 and OCI-AML3. Venetoclax (over the dose range of 0.5-250 nM) in combination with MP-A08 liposomes showed significant synergistic effects against the chemosensitised human AML cell lines, particularly in venetoclax-resistant human AML cells. This strong synergistic effect is due to multiple mechanisms of action, i.e., inhibiting MCL-1 through SPHK1 inhibition, leading to ceramide accumulation, activation of protein kinase R, ATF4 upregulation, and NOXA activation, ultimately resulting in MCL-1 degradation. These combination therapies warrant further consideration and investigation in the search for a more comprehensive treatment strategy for AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thao M. Nguyen
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (T.M.N.); (P.J.); (K.B.); (M.J.); (S.S.W.)
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia;
| | - Paul Joyce
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (T.M.N.); (P.J.); (K.B.); (M.J.); (S.S.W.)
| | - David M. Ross
- Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia;
- Department of Haematology, Flinders University and Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
| | - Kristen Bremmell
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (T.M.N.); (P.J.); (K.B.); (M.J.); (S.S.W.)
| | - Manasi Jambhrunkar
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (T.M.N.); (P.J.); (K.B.); (M.J.); (S.S.W.)
| | - Sook S. Wong
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (T.M.N.); (P.J.); (K.B.); (M.J.); (S.S.W.)
| | - Clive A. Prestidge
- Centre for Pharmaceutical Innovation, UniSA: Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia; (T.M.N.); (P.J.); (K.B.); (M.J.); (S.S.W.)
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3
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González-Aretia D, Hernández-Coronado CG, Guzmán A, Medina-Moctezuma ZB, Gutiérrez CG, Rosales-Torres AM. Sphingosine-1-phosphate mediates FSH-induced cell viability but not steroidogenesis in bovine granulosa cells. Theriogenology 2024; 213:90-96. [PMID: 37820497 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) stimulates the proliferation, survival, and estradiol synthesis of granulosa cells by binding to their G protein-coupled receptors. Although FSH activates sphingosine kinase-1 (SPHK1) to induce sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) synthesis, which is required to mediate the proliferative and survival effect of this gonadotrophin, the mechanisms, and the role of S1P in estradiol synthesis have not been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the importance of FSH-induced S1P synthesis as a mediator of the effects of this gonadotrophin on granulosa cell viability and steroidogenesis and to determine if FSH-induced S1P synthesis depends on estradiol, cAMP, PKA, or PKC. To achieve these objectives, we tested the effects of FSH, a sphingosine kinase-1 inhibitor (SKI-178), estradiol and inhibitors of aromatase, cAMP, PKA, and PKC (Formestane, MDL-12330A, H-89 dihydrochloride hydrate and Calphostin C respectively), on granulosa cell viability, S1P and estradiol production, and the mRNA expression of CYP19A1 and STAR in four in vitro culture experiments. The addition of FSH (1 ng/mL) increased (P < 0.05) granulosa cells number and S1P concentration in the culture media. Conversely, the addition of SKI-178 (10 μM) reduced (P < 0.05) S1P concentration negating the effect of FSH on cell viability. Inhibition of PKC and PKA, but not cAMP, reduced (P < 0.05) S1P secretion of FSH treated granulosa cells. It is important to note that the reduction in S1P secretion was strong (49 %) with the use of the PKC inhibitor. The use of formestane (10 μg) did not modify (P > 0.05) S1P secretion in FSH-treated cells; however, the addition of 5 or 10 ng/mL of estradiol increased (P < 0.05) S1P secretion. Finally, FSH increased (P < 0.05) estradiol concentration in the culture media, but this effect was not blocked by the inhibition of S1P synthesis. Similarly, FSH, SKI-178 or their combination did not modify the mRNA expression of CYP19A1 and STAR. In conclusion, S1P synthesis is stimulated FSH in granulosa cells and mediated mainly by PKC. S1P in turn promotes the granulosa cell viability, however, this does not influence estradiol synthesis. Additionally, estradiol synthesis induced by FSH is not essential for S1P synthesis, however high estradiol concentration may stimulate S1P production by granulosa cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- David González-Aretia
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | - Adrián Guzmán
- Departamento Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana unidad Xochimilco, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | - Carlos G Gutiérrez
- Departamento de Reproducción, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Ana María Rosales-Torres
- Departamento Producción Agrícola y Animal, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana unidad Xochimilco, Ciudad de México, Mexico.
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Mohammed S, Bindu A, Viswanathan A, Harikumar KB. Sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling during infection and immunity. Prog Lipid Res 2023; 92:101251. [PMID: 37633365 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2023.101251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/28/2023]
Abstract
Sphingolipids are essential components of all eukaryotic membranes. The bioactive sphingolipid molecule, Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P), regulates various important biological functions. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of S1P signaling pathway in various immune cell functions under different pathophysiological conditions including bacterial and viral infections, autoimmune disorders, inflammation, and cancer. We covered the aspects of S1P pathways in NOD/TLR pathways, bacterial and viral infections, autoimmune disorders, and tumor immunology. This implies that targeting S1P signaling can be used as a strategy to block these pathologies. Our current understanding of targeting various components of S1P signaling for therapeutic purposes and the present status of S1P pathway inhibitors or modulators in disease conditions where the host immune system plays a pivotal role is the primary focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabira Mohammed
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State 695014, India
| | - Anu Bindu
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State 695014, India
| | - Arun Viswanathan
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State 695014, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal 576104, India
| | - Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar
- Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala State 695014, India.
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5
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Kim KM, Shin EJ, Yang JH, Ki SH. Integrative roles of sphingosine kinase in liver pathophysiology. Toxicol Res 2023; 39:549-564. [PMID: 37779595 PMCID: PMC10541397 DOI: 10.1007/s43188-023-00193-1] [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: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioactive sphingolipids and enzymes that metabolize sphingolipid-related substances have been considered as critical messengers in various signaling pathways. One such enzyme is the crucial lipid kinase, sphingosine kinase (SphK), which mediates the conversion of sphingosine to the potent signaling substance, sphingosine-1-phosphate. Several studies have demonstrated that SphK metabolism is strictly regulated to maintain the homeostatic balance of cells. Here, we summarize the role of SphK in the course of liver disease and illustrate its effects on both physiological and pathological conditions of the liver. SphK has been implicated in a variety of liver diseases, such as steatosis, liver fibrosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and hepatic failure. This study may advance the understanding of the cellular and molecular foundations of liver disease and establish therapeutic approaches via SphK modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyu Min Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Natural Science, Chosun University, Gwangju, 61452 Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Jin Shin
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Natural Science, Chosun University, Gwangju, 61452 Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Hye Yang
- College of Korean Medicine, Dongshin University, Naju, Jeollanam-Do 58245 Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Hwan Ki
- College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, 309 Pilmun-Daero, Dong-Gu, Gwangju, 61452 Republic of Korea
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6
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Jin L, Zhu J, Yao L, Shen G, Xue BX, Tao W. Targeting SphK1/2 by SKI-178 inhibits prostate cancer cell growth. Cell Death Dis 2023; 14:537. [PMID: 37604912 PMCID: PMC10442381 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-023-06023-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Sphingosine kinases (SphK), including SphK1 and SphK2, are important enzymes promoting progression of prostate cancer. SKI-178 is a novel and highly potent SphK1/2 dual inhibitor. We here tested the potential anti-prostate cancer cell activity of SKI-178. Bioinformatics analyses and results from local tissues demonstrated that that both SphK1 and SphK2 are upregulated in human prostate cancer tissues. Ectopic overexpression of SphK1 and SphK2, by lentiviral constructs, promoted primary prostate cancer cell proliferation and migration. In primary human prostate cancer cells and immortalized cell lines, SKI-178 potently inhibited cell viability, proliferation, cell cycle progression and cell migration, causing robust cell death and apoptosis. SKI-178 impaired mitochondrial functions, causing mitochondrial depolarization, reactive oxygen species production and ATP depletion.SKI-178 potently inhibited SphK activity and induced ceramide production, without affecting SphK1/2 expression in prostate cancer cells. Further, SKI-178 inhibited Akt-mTOR activation and induced JNK activation in prostate cancer cells. Contrarily, a constitutively-active Akt1 construct or the pharmacological JNK inhibitors attenuated SKI-178-induced cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells. In vivo, daily intraperitoneal injection of a single dose of SKI-178 potently inhibited PC-3 xenograft growth in nude mice. SphK inhibition, ceramide production, ATP depletion and lipid peroxidation as well as Akt-mTOR inactivation and JNK activation were detected in PC-3 xenograft tissues with SKI-178 administration. Together, targeting SphK1/2 by SKI-178 potently inhibited prostate cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Jin
- Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jin Zhu
- Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Linya Yao
- Department of Urology, Kunshan Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine Affiliated to Yangzhou University, Kunshan, China
| | - Gang Shen
- Department of Urology, DUSHU Lake Hospital Affiliated to Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Bo-Xin Xue
- Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Wei Tao
- Department of Urology, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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7
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Raza Y, Atallah J, Luberto C. Advancements on the Multifaceted Roles of Sphingolipids in Hematological Malignancies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12745. [PMID: 36361536 PMCID: PMC9654982 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism plays a complex role in hematological malignancies, beginning with the first historical link between sphingolipids and apoptosis discovered in HL-60 leukemic cells. Numerous manuscripts have reviewed the field including the early discoveries that jumpstarted the studies. Many studies discussed here support a role for sphingolipids, such as ceramide, in combinatorial therapeutic regimens to enhance anti-leukemic effects and reduce resistance to standard therapies. Additionally, inhibitors of specific nodes of the sphingolipid pathway, such as sphingosine kinase inhibitors, significantly reduce leukemic cell survival in various types of leukemias. Acid ceramidase inhibitors have also shown promising results in acute myeloid leukemia. As the field moves rapidly, here we aim to expand the body of literature discussed in previously published reviews by focusing on advances reported in the latter part of the last decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasharah Raza
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences, Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jane Atallah
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Chiara Luberto
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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8
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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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Targeting sphingosine kinase 1/2 by a novel dual inhibitor SKI-349 suppresses non-small cell lung cancer cell growth. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13:602. [PMID: 35831279 PMCID: PMC9279331 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-022-05049-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and sphingosine kinase (SphK2) are both important therapeutic targets of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SKI-349 is a novel, highly efficient and small molecular SphK1/2 dual inhibitor. Here in primary human NSCLC cells and immortalized cell lines, SKI-349 potently inhibited cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, migration and viability. The dual inhibitor induced mitochondrial depolarization and apoptosis activation in NSCLC cells, but it was non-cytotoxic to human lung epithelial cells. SKI-349 inhibited SphK activity and induced ceramide accumulation in primary NSCLC cells, without affecting SphK1/2 expression. SKI-349-induced NSCLC cell death was attenuated by sphingosine-1-phosphate and by the SphK activator K6PC-5, but was potentiated by the short-chain ceramide C6. Moreover, SKI-349 induced Akt-mTOR inactivation, JNK activation, and oxidative injury in primary NSCLC cells. In addition, SKI-349 decreased bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) expression and downregulated BRD4-dependent genes (Myc, cyclin D1 and Klf4) in primary NSCLC cells. At last, SKI-349 (10 mg/kg) administration inhibited NSCLC xenograft growth in nude mice. Akt-mTOR inhibition, JNK activation, oxidative injury and BRD4 downregulation were detected in SKI-349-treated NSCLC xenograft tissues. Taken together, targeting SphK1/2 by SKI-349 potently inhibits NSCLC cell growth in vitro and in vivo.
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10
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Ceramide-induced integrated stress response overcomes Bcl-2 inhibitor resistance in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood 2022; 139:3737-3751. [PMID: 35443029 PMCID: PMC9642852 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2021013277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Enhancing cellular ceramide levels in AML activates protein kinase R
to induce the integrated stress response. The ISR induces the BH3-only protein Noxa, causing degradation of
Mcl-1 and sensitization of AML to Bcl-2 inhibition.
Inducing cell death by the sphingolipid ceramide is a potential anticancer
strategy, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. In this study,
triggering an accumulation of ceramide in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells by
inhibition of sphingosine kinase induced an apoptotic integrated stress response
(ISR) through protein kinase R–mediated activation of the master
transcription factor ATF4. This effect led to transcription of the BH3-only
protein Noxa and degradation of the prosurvival Mcl-1 protein on which AML cells
are highly dependent for survival. Targeting this novel ISR pathway, in
combination with the Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax, synergistically killed primary
AML blasts, including those with venetoclax-resistant mutations, as well as
immunophenotypic leukemic stem cells, and reduced leukemic engraftment in
patient-derived AML xenografts. Collectively, these findings provide mechanistic
insight into the anticancer effects of ceramide and preclinical evidence for new
approaches to augment Bcl-2 inhibition in the therapy of AML and other cancers
with high Mcl-1 dependency.
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11
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Bu Y, Wu H, Deng R, Wang Y. Therapeutic Potential of SphK1 Inhibitors Based on Abnormal Expression of SphK1 in Inflammatory Immune Related-Diseases. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:733387. [PMID: 34737701 PMCID: PMC8560647 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.733387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingosine kinase 1(SphK1) a key enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of sphingosine (Sph) to sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), so as to maintain the dynamic balance of sphingolipid-rheostat in cells and participate in cell growth and death, proliferation and migration, vasoconstriction and remodeling, inflammation and metabolism. The normal expression of SphK1 maintains the balance of physiological and pathological states, which is reflected in the regulation of inflammatory factor secretion, immune response in traditional immune cells and non-traditional immune cells, and complex signal transduction. However, abnormal SphK1 expression and activity are found in various inflammatory and immune related-diseases, such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease and rheumatoid arthritis. In view of the therapeutic potential of regulating SphK1 and its signal, the current research is aimed at SphK1 inhibitors, such as SphK1 selective inhibitors and dual SphK1/2 inhibitor, and other compounds with inhibitory potency. This review explores the regulatory role of over-expressed SphK1 in inflammatory and immune related-diseases, and investigate the latest progress of SphK1 inhibitors and the improvement of disease or pathological state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Bu
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China.,College of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, China.,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Hong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China.,College of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, China.,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Ran Deng
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China.,College of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, China.,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Hefei, China.,College of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, China.,Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
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12
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Gupta P, Taiyab A, Hussain A, Alajmi MF, Islam A, Hassan MI. Targeting the Sphingosine Kinase/Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Signaling Axis in Drug Discovery for Cancer Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1898. [PMID: 33920887 PMCID: PMC8071327 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipid metabolites have emerged as critical players in the regulation of various physiological processes. Ceramide and sphingosine induce cell growth arrest and apoptosis, whereas sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) promotes cell proliferation and survival. Here, we present an overview of sphingolipid metabolism and the compartmentalization of various sphingolipid metabolites. In addition, the sphingolipid rheostat, a fine metabolic balance between ceramide and S1P, is discussed. Sphingosine kinase (SphK) catalyzes the synthesis of S1P from sphingosine and modulates several cellular processes and is found to be essentially involved in various pathophysiological conditions. The regulation and biological functions of SphK isoforms are discussed. The functions of S1P, along with its receptors, are further highlighted. The up-regulation of SphK is observed in various cancer types and is also linked to radio- and chemoresistance and poor prognosis in cancer patients. Implications of the SphK/S1P signaling axis in human pathologies and its inhibition are discussed in detail. Overall, this review highlights current findings on the SphK/S1P signaling axis from multiple angles, including their functional role, mechanism of activation, involvement in various human malignancies, and inhibitor molecules that may be used in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preeti Gupta
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025, India; (P.G.); (A.T.); (A.I.)
| | - Aaliya Taiyab
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025, India; (P.G.); (A.T.); (A.I.)
| | - Afzal Hussain
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.H.); (M.F.A.)
| | - Mohamed F. Alajmi
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia; (A.H.); (M.F.A.)
| | - Asimul Islam
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025, India; (P.G.); (A.T.); (A.I.)
| | - Md. Imtaiyaz Hassan
- Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia, Jamia Nagar, New Delhi 110025, India; (P.G.); (A.T.); (A.I.)
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13
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Voelkel-Johnson C. Sphingolipids in embryonic development, cell cycle regulation, and stemness - Implications for polyploidy in tumors. Semin Cancer Biol 2021; 81:206-219. [PMID: 33429049 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2020.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The aberrant biology of polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCC) includes dysregulation of the cell cycle, induction of stress responses, and dedifferentiation, all of which are likely accompanied by adaptations in biophysical properties and metabolic activity. Sphingolipids are the second largest class of membrane lipids and play important roles in many aspects of cell biology that are potentially relevant to polyploidy. We have recently shown that the function of the sphingolipid enzyme acid ceramidase (ASAH1) is critical for the ability of PGCC to generate progeny by depolyploidization but mechanisms by which sphingolipids contribute to polyploidy and generation of offspring with stem-like properties remain elusive. This review discusses the role of sphingolipids during embryonic development, cell cycle regulation, and stem cells in an effort to highlight parallels to polyploidy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Voelkel-Johnson
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
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14
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Hengst JA, Dick TE, Smith CD, Yun JK. Analysis of selective target engagement by small-molecule sphingosine kinase inhibitors using the Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA). Cancer Biol Ther 2020; 21:841-852. [PMID: 32835586 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2020.1798696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The recently renewed interest in scientific rigor and reproducibility is of critical importance for both scientists developing new targeted small-molecule inhibitors and those employing these molecule in cellular studies, alike. While off-target effects are commonly considered as limitations for any given small-molecule inhibitor, the ability of a given compound to distinguish between enzyme isoforms is often neglected when employing compounds in cellular studies. To call attention to this issue, we have compared the results of an assay for "direct target engagement", the Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA), to the published isoform selectivity of 12 commercially available sphingosine kinase 1 and 2 (SphK 1 and SphK2) inhibitors. Our results suggest that, at the concentrations commonly employed in cellular assay systems, none of the tested SKIs can be considered isoform selective. Thus, caution and complimentary assay strategies must be employed to fully discern isoform selectivity for the SphKs. Moreover, caution must be employed by the scientific community as a whole when designing experiments that aim to discern the effects of one enzyme isoform versus another to ensure that the concentration ranges used are able to distinguish isoform selectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Hengst
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine , Hershey, PA, USA.,The Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Laboratories, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine , Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Taryn E Dick
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine , Hershey, PA, USA.,The Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Laboratories, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine , Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Charles D Smith
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine , Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Jong K Yun
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine , Hershey, PA, USA.,The Jake Gittlen Cancer Research Laboratories, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine , Hershey, PA, USA
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15
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Hengst JA, Hegde S, Paulson RF, Yun JK. Development of SKI-349, a dual-targeted inhibitor of sphingosine kinase and microtubule polymerization. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2020; 30:127453. [PMID: 32736077 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2020.127453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Our sphingosine kinase inhibitor (SKI) optimization studies originated with the optimization of the SKI-I chemotype by replacement of the substituted benzyl rings with substituted phenyl rings giving rise to the discovery of SKI-178. We have recently reported that SKI-178 is a dual-targeted inhibitor of both sphingosine kinase isoforms (SphK1/2) and a microtubule disrupting agent (MDA). In mechanism-of-action studies, we have shown that these two separate actions synergize to induce cancer cell death in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cell and animal models. Owning to the effectiveness of SKI-178, we sought to further refine the chemotype while maintaining "on-target" SKI and MDA activities. Herein, we modified the "linker region" between the substituted phenyl rings of SKI-178 through a structure guided approach. These studies have yielded the discovery of an SKI-178 congener, SKI-349, with log-fold enhancements in both SphK inhibition and cytotoxic potency. Importantly, SKI-349 also demonstrates log-fold improvements in therapeutic efficacy in a retro-viral transduction model of MLL-AF9 AML as compared to previous studies with SKI-178. Together, our results strengthen the hypothesis that simultaneous targeting of the sphingosine kinases (SphK1/2) and the induction of mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint arrest, via microtubule disruption, might be an effective therapeutic strategy for hematological malignancies including AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Hengst
- Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Shailaja Hegde
- Hoxworth Blood Center, University of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Robert F Paulson
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Jong K Yun
- Department of Pharmacology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, 500 University Drive, Hershey, PA, USA.
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16
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LeBlanc FR, Pearson JM, Tan SF, Cheon H, Xing JC, Dunton W, Feith DJ, Loughran TP. Sphingosine kinase-2 is overexpressed in large granular lymphocyte leukaemia and promotes survival through Mcl-1. Br J Haematol 2020; 190:405-417. [PMID: 32124438 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.16530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipid metabolism is increasingly recognised as a therapeutic target in cancer due to its regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis. The sphingolipid rheostat is proposed to control cell fate through maintaining balance between pro-apoptotic and pro-survival sphingolipids. This balance is regulated by metabolising enzymes involved in sphingolipid production. One such enzyme, sphingosine kinase-2 (SPHK2), produces pro-survival sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) by phosphorylation of pro-apoptotic sphingosine. Elevated SPHK2 has been found in multiple cancer types and contributes to cell survival, chemotherapeutic resistance and apoptosis resistance. We have previously shown elevation of S1P in large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukaemia serum and cells isolated from patients. Here, we examined SPHK2 expression in LGL leukaemia and found SPHK2 mRNA and protein upregulation in a majority of LGL leukaemia patient samples. Knockdown of SPHK2 with siRNA in LGL leukaemia cell lines decreased proliferation. Additionally, the use of ABC294640 or K145, both SPHK2-specific inhibitors, decreased viability of LGL leukaemia cell lines. ABC294640 selectively induced apoptosis in LGL cell lines and freshly isolated LGL leukaemia patient cells compared to normal controls. Mechanistically, SPHK2 inhibition downregulated pro-survival myeloid cell leukaemia-1 (Mcl-1) protein through proteasomal degradation. Targeting of SPHK2 therefore provides a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of LGL leukaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis R LeBlanc
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jennifer M Pearson
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - HeeJin Cheon
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Jeffrey C Xing
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Wendy Dunton
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - David J Feith
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- University of Virginia Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology & Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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17
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Magli E, Corvino A, Fiorino F, Frecentese F, Perissutti E, Saccone I, Santagada V, Caliendo G, Severino B. Design of Sphingosine Kinases Inhibitors: Challenges and Recent Developments. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 25:956-968. [PMID: 30947653 DOI: 10.2174/1381612825666190404115424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sphingosine kinases (SphKs) catalyze the phosphorylation of sphingosine to form the bioactive sphingolipid metabolite sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). S1P is an important lipid mediator with a wide range of biological functions; it is also involved in a variety of diseases such as inflammatory diseases, Alzheimer's disease and cancer. METHODS This review reports the recent advancement in the research of SphKs inhibitors. Our purpose is also to provide a complete overview useful for underlining the features needed to select a specific pharmacological profile. DISCUSSION Two distinct mammalian SphK isoforms have been identified, SphK1 and SphK2. These isoforms are encoded by different genes and exhibit distinct subcellular localizations, biochemical properties and functions. SphK1 and SphK2 inhibition can be useful in different pathological conditions. CONCLUSION SphK1 and SphK2 have many common features but different and even opposite biological functions. For this reason, several research groups are interested in understanding the therapeutic usefulness of a selective or non-selective inhibitor of SphKs. Moreover, a compensatory mechanism for the two isoforms has been demonstrated, thus leading to the development of dual inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Magli
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Corvino
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Fiorino
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Frecentese
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Elisa Perissutti
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Irene Saccone
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Santagada
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Caliendo
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Beatrice Severino
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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18
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Vorbach S, Gründer A, Zhou F, Koellerer C, Jutzi JS, Simoni M, Riccetti L, Valk PJ, Sanders MA, Müller-Tidow C, Nofer JR, Pahl HL, Potì F. Enhanced expression of the sphingosine-1-phosphate-receptor-3 causes acute myelogenous leukemia in mice. Leukemia 2019; 34:721-734. [PMID: 31636343 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-019-0577-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) carries a 10-100 fold lower mutational burden than other neoplastic entities. Mechanistic explanations for why a low number of mutations suffice to induce leukemogenesis are therefore required. Here we demonstrate that transgenic overexpression of the wild type sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 3 (S1P3) in murine hematopoietic stem cells is sufficient to induce a transplantable myeloid leukemia. In contrast, S1P3 expression in more mature compartments does not cause malignant transformation. Treatment with the sphingosine phosphate receptor modulator Fingolimod, which prevents receptor signaling, normalized peripheral blood cell counts and reduced spleen sizes in S1P3 expressing mice. Gene expression analyses in AML patients revealed elevated S1P3 expression specifically in two molecular subclasses. Our data suggest a previously unrecognized contribution of wild type S1P3 signaling to leukemogenesis that warrants the exploration of S1P3 antagonists in preclinical AML models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Vorbach
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Albert Gründer
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Fengbiao Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Koellerer
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Jonas S Jutzi
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Manuela Simoni
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Giardini 1355, Modena, Italy
| | - Laura Riccetti
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Giardini 1355, Modena, Italy
| | - Peter J Valk
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mathijs A Sanders
- Department of Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Carsten Müller-Tidow
- Department of Medicine, Hematology, Oncology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jerzy-Roch Nofer
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Heike L Pahl
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Str. 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
| | - Francesco Potì
- Dept. of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Giardini 1355, Modena, Italy.,Department of Medicine and Surgery-Unit of Neurosciences, University of Parma, Via Volturno 39/F, 43125, Parma, Italy
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19
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Kao LP, Morad SAF, Davis TS, MacDougall MR, Kassai M, Abdelmageed N, Fox TE, Kester M, Loughran TP, Abad JL, Fabrias G, Tan SF, Feith DJ, Claxton DF, Spiegel S, Fisher-Wellman KH, Cabot MC. Chemotherapy selection pressure alters sphingolipid composition and mitochondrial bioenergetics in resistant HL-60 cells. J Lipid Res 2019; 60:1590-1602. [PMID: 31363040 PMCID: PMC6718434 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.ra119000251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 07/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The combination of daunorubicin (dnr) and cytarabine (Ara-C) is a cornerstone of treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia (AML); resistance to these drugs is a major cause of treatment failure. Ceramide, a sphingolipid (SL), plays a critical role in cancer cell apoptosis in response to chemotherapy. Here, we investigated the effects of chemotherapy selection pressure with Ara-C and dnr on SL composition and enzyme activity in the AML cell line HL-60. Resistant cells, those selected for growth in Ara-C- and dnr-containing medium (HL-60/Ara-C and HL-60/dnr, respectively), demonstrated upregulated expression and activity of glucosylceramide synthase, acid ceramidase (AC), and sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1); were more resistant to ceramide than parental cells; and displayed sensitivity to inhibitors of SL metabolism. Lipidomic analysis revealed a general ceramide deficit and a profound upswing in levels of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) in HL-60/dnr cells versus parental and HL-60/Ara-C cells. Both chemotherapy-selected cells also exhibited comprehensive upregulations in mitochondrial biogenesis consistent with heightened reliance on oxidative phosphorylation, a property that was partially reversed by exposure to AC and SPHK1 inhibitors and that supports a role for the phosphorylation system in resistance. In summary, dnr and Ara-C selection pressure induces acute reductions in ceramide levels and large increases in S1P and C1P, concomitant with cell resilience bolstered by enhanced mitochondrial remodeling. Thus, strategic control of ceramide metabolism and further research to define mitochondrial perturbations that accompany the drug-resistant phenotype offer new opportunities for developing therapies that regulate cancer growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Pin Kao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC
| | - Samy A F Morad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Traci S Davis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC
| | - Matthew R MacDougall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC
| | - Miki Kassai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC
| | - Noha Abdelmageed
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt
| | - Todd E Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Mark Kester
- University of Virginia Cancer Center Charlottesville, VA
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- University of Virginia Cancer Center Charlottesville, VA; Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Jose' L Abad
- Instituto de Quimica Avanzada de Cataluña, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Fabrias
- Instituto de Quimica Avanzada de Cataluña, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - David J Feith
- University of Virginia Cancer Center Charlottesville, VA; Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | | | - Sarah Spiegel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA
| | - Kelsey H Fisher-Wellman
- Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC.
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, and the East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Greenville, NC.
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20
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Pivotal role of mitophagy in response of acute myelogenous leukemia to a ceramide-tamoxifen-containing drug regimen. Exp Cell Res 2019; 381:256-264. [PMID: 31112736 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2019.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy marked by the accumulation of large numbers of immature myeloblasts in bone marrow. The overall prognosis in AML is poor; hence, there is a pressing need to improve treatment. Although the sphingolipid (SL) ceramide demonstrates known cancer suppressor properties, it's mechanism of action is multifaceted. Our studies in leukemia and other cancers have demonstrated that when combined with the antiestrogen, tamoxifen, the apoptosis-inducting effect of ceramide is greatly enhanced. The goal of the present study was to establish whether a ceramide-tamoxifen regimen also affects autophagic-driven cellular responses in leukemia. Using the human AML cell line KG-1, we demonstrate that, unlike exposure to the single agents, combination C6-ceramide-tamoxifen upregulated LC3-II expression, inhibited the mTOR signaling pathway, and synergistically induced KG-1 cell death in an Atg5-dependent manner. In addition, colocalization of autophagosome and mitochondria, indicative of mitophagosome formation and mitophagy, was observed. Versatility of the drug regimen was confirmed by experiments in MV4-11 cells, a FLT3-ITD AML mutant. These results indicate that the C6-ceramide-tamoxifen regimen plays a pivotal role inducing autophagy in AML, and thus constitutes a novel therapeutic design.
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21
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Zheng X, Li W, Ren L, Liu J, Pang X, Chen X, Kang D, Wang J, Du G. The sphingosine kinase-1/sphingosine-1-phosphate axis in cancer: Potential target for anticancer therapy. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 195:85-99. [PMID: 30347210 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipid metabolites, such as ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), play many important roles in cellular activities. Ceramide and sphingosine inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis while S1P has the opposite effect. Maintaining a metabolic balance of sphingolipids is essential for growth and development of cells. Sphingosine kinase (SPHK) is an important regulator for keeping this balance. It controls the level of S1P and plays important roles in proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells and tumor angiogenesis. There are two isoenzymes of sphingosine kinase, SPHK1 and SPHK2. SPHK1 is ubiquitously expressed in most cancers where it promotes survival and proliferation, while SPHK2 is restricted to only certain tissues and its functions are not well characterized. SPHK1 is currently considered as a novel target for the treatment of cancers. Targeting SPHK1 would provide new strategies for cancer treatment and improve the prognosis of cancer patients. Here we review and summarize the current research findings on the SPHK1-S1P axis in cancer from many aspects including structure, expression, regulation, mechanism, and potential inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjin Zheng
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Wan Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Liwen Ren
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jinyi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xiaocong Pang
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Xiuping Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - De Kang
- Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Jinhua Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Guanhua Du
- The State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, China; Key Laboratory of Drug Target Research and Drug Screen, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Science and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
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22
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Physcion 8-O-β-glucopyranoside exhibits anti-leukemic activity through targeting sphingolipid rheostat. Pharmacol Rep 2018; 70:853-862. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharep.2018.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 03/03/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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23
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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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24
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Bandara G, Muñoz-Cano R, Tobío A, Yin Y, Komarow HD, Desai A, Metcalfe DD, Olivera A. Targeting Sphingosine Kinase Isoforms Effectively Reduces Growth and Survival of Neoplastic Mast Cells With D816V-KIT. Front Immunol 2018; 9:631. [PMID: 29643855 PMCID: PMC5883065 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mastocytosis is a disorder resulting from an abnormal mast cell (MC) accumulation in tissues that is often associated with the D816V mutation in KIT, the tyrosine kinase receptor for stem cell factor. Therapies available to treat aggressive presentations of mastocytosis are limited, thus exploration of novel pharmacological targets that reduce MC burden is desirable. Since increased generation of the lipid mediator sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) by sphingosine kinase (SPHK) has been linked to oncogenesis, we studied the involvement of the two SPHK isoforms (SPHK1 and SPHK2) in the regulation of neoplastic human MC growth. While SPHK2 inhibition prevented entry into the cell cycle in normal and neoplastic human MCs with minimal effect on cell survival, SPHK1 inhibition caused cell cycle arrest in G2/M and apoptosis, particularly in D816V-KIT MCs. This was mediated via activation of the DNA damage response (DDR) cascade, including phosphorylation of the checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2), CHK2-mediated M-phase inducer phosphatase 3 depletion, and p53 activation. Combination treatment of SPHK inhibitors with KIT inhibitors showed greater growth inhibition of D816V-KIT MCs than either inhibitor alone. Furthermore, inhibition of SPHK isoforms reduced the number of malignant bone marrow MCs from patients with mastocytosis and the growth of D816V-KIT MCs in a xenograft mouse model. Our results reveal a role for SPHK isoforms in the regulation of growth and survival in normal and neoplastic MCs and suggest a regulatory function for SPHK1 in the DDR in MCs with KIT mutations. The findings also suggest that targeting the SPHK/S1P axis may provide an alternative to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, alone or in combination, for the treatment of aggressive mastocytosis and other hematological malignancies associated with the D816V-KIT mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geethani Bandara
- Mast Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Rosa Muñoz-Cano
- Allergy Section, Pneumology Department, Hospital Clinic, ARADyAL, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Araceli Tobío
- Mast Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Yuzhi Yin
- Mast Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Hirsh D Komarow
- Mast Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Avanti Desai
- Mast Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Dean D Metcalfe
- Mast Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ana Olivera
- Mast Cell Biology Section, Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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25
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Hengst JA, Dick TE, Sharma A, Doi K, Hegde S, Tan SF, Geffert LM, Fox TE, Sharma AK, Desai D, Amin S, Kester M, Loughran TP, Paulson RF, Claxton DF, Wang HG, Yun JK. SKI-178: A Multitargeted Inhibitor of Sphingosine Kinase and Microtubule Dynamics Demonstrating Therapeutic Efficacy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Models. CANCER TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2017; 3:109-121. [PMID: 28890935 DOI: 10.4103/ctm.ctm_7_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM To further characterize the selectivity, mechanism-of-action and therapeutic efficacy of the novel small molecule inhibitor, SKI-178. METHODS Using the state-of-the-art Cellular Thermal Shift Assay (CETSA) technique to detect "direct target engagement" of proteins intact cells, in vitro and in vivo assays, pharmacological assays and multiple mouse models of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). RESULTS Herein, we demonstrate that SKI-178 directly target engages both Sphingosine Kinase 1 and 2. We also present evidence that, in addition to its actions as a Sphingosine Kinase Inhibitor, SKI-178 functions as a microtubule network disrupting agent both in vitro and in intact cells. Interestingly, we separately demonstrate that simultaneous SphK inhibition and microtubule disruption synergistically induces apoptosis in AML cell lines. Furthermore, we demonstrate that SKI-178 is well tolerated in normal healthy mice. Most importantly, we demonstrate that SKI-178 has therapeutic efficacy in several mouse models of AML. CONCLUSION SKI-178 is a multi-targeted agent that functions both as an inhibitor of the SphKs as well as a disruptor of the microtubule network. SKI-178 induced apoptosis arises from a synergistic interaction of these two activities. SKI-178 is safe and effective in mouse models of AML, supporting its further development as a multi-targeted anti-cancer therapeutic agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy A Hengst
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,The Jake Gittlen Laboratories for Cancer Research, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Taryn E Dick
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,The Jake Gittlen Laboratories for Cancer Research, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Arati Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Kenichiro Doi
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Shailaja Hegde
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Laura M Geffert
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,The Jake Gittlen Laboratories for Cancer Research, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Todd E Fox
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Arun K Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Dhimant Desai
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Shantu Amin
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Mark Kester
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Robert F Paulson
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
| | - David F Claxton
- Department of Hematology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Hong-Gang Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Jong K Yun
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Hershey College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.,The Jake Gittlen Laboratories for Cancer Research, The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
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26
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Powell JA, Wallington-Beddoe CT, Pitson SM. Targeting sphingosine kinase 1 in acute myeloid leukemia: translation to clinic. Int J Hematol Oncol 2017; 6:31-34. [PMID: 30302220 DOI: 10.2217/ijh-2017-0011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jason A Powell
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia & SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia & SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Craig T Wallington-Beddoe
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia & SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia.,Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia & SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,School of Medicine, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Stuart M Pitson
- Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia & SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia.,Centre for Cancer Biology, University of South Australia & SA Pathology, Adelaide, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
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27
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Tan SF, Pearson JM, Feith DJ, Loughran TP. The emergence of acid ceramidase as a therapeutic target for acute myeloid leukemia. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2017; 21:583-590. [PMID: 28434262 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2017.1322065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is the most common adult leukemia. Only a fraction of AML patients will survive with existing chemotherapy regimens. Hence, there is an urgent and unmet need to identify novel targets and develop better therapeutics in AML. In the past decade, the field of sphingolipid metabolism has emerged into the forefront of cancer biology due to its importance in cancer cell proliferation and survival. In particular, acid ceramidase (AC) has emerged as a promising therapeutic target due to its role in neutralizing the pro-death effects of ceramide. Areas covered: This review highlights key information about AML biology as well as current knowledge on dysregulated sphingolipid metabolism in cancer and AML. We describe AC function and dysregulation in cancer, followed by a review of studies that report elevated AC in AML and compounds known to inhibit the enzyme. Expert opinion: AML has a great need for new drug targets and better therapeutic agents. The finding of elevated AC in AML supports the concept that this enzyme represents a novel and realistic therapeutic target for this common leukemia. More effort is needed towards developing better AC inhibitors for clinical use and combination treatment with existing AML therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su-Fern Tan
- a Department of Medicine , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , VA , USA
| | - Jennifer M Pearson
- a Department of Medicine , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , VA , USA
| | - David J Feith
- a Department of Medicine , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , VA , USA.,b University of Virginia Cancer Center , Charlottesville , VA , USA
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- a Department of Medicine , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , VA , USA.,b University of Virginia Cancer Center , Charlottesville , VA , USA
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28
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Targeting sphingosine kinase 1 induces MCL1-dependent cell death in acute myeloid leukemia. Blood 2016; 129:771-782. [PMID: 27956387 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2016-06-720433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive malignancy where despite improvements in conventional chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, overall survival remains poor. Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) generates the bioactive lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and has established roles in tumor initiation, progression, and chemotherapy resistance in a wide range of cancers. The role and targeting of SPHK1 in primary AML, however, has not been previously investigated. Here we show that SPHK1 is overexpressed and constitutively activated in primary AML patient blasts but not in normal mononuclear cells. Subsequent targeting of SPHK1 induced caspase-dependent cell death in AML cell lines, primary AML patient blasts, and isolated AML patient leukemic progenitor/stem cells, with negligible effects on normal bone marrow CD34+ progenitors from healthy donors. Furthermore, administration of SPHK1 inhibitors to orthotopic AML patient-derived xenografts reduced tumor burden and prolonged overall survival without affecting murine hematopoiesis. SPHK1 inhibition was associated with reduced survival signaling from S1P receptor 2, resulting in selective downregulation of the prosurvival protein MCL1. Subsequent analysis showed that the combination of BH3 mimetics with either SPHK1 inhibition or S1P receptor 2 antagonism triggered synergistic AML cell death. These results support the notion that SPHK1 is a bona fide therapeutic target for the treatment of AML.
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29
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LeBlanc FR, Liu X, Hengst J, Fox T, Calvert V, Petricoin EF, Yun J, Feith DJ, Loughran TP. Sphingosine kinase inhibitors decrease viability and induce cell death in natural killer-large granular lymphocyte leukemia. Cancer Biol Ther 2016; 16:1830-40. [PMID: 26252351 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2015.1078949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipid metabolism has been identified as a potential therapeutic target in cancer. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a potent bioactive sphingolipid metabolite produced by sphingosine kinases-1 and -2 (SPHK1 and SPHK2). Elevated SPHK1 has been found in numerous cancer types and been shown to contribute to survival, chemotherapeutic resistance and malignancy. However, its role in large granular Natural Killer (NK) large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia has not been investigated. Here, we examine SPHK1 as a therapeutic target in LGL leukemia. We found that SPHK1 is overexpressed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from LGL leukemia patients which results in elevated S1P in the sera. The use of SPHK1 inhibitors, SKI-II or SKI-178, decreased leukemic NK cell viability and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. SKI-II and SKI-178 restored the sphingolipid balance by increasing ceramide and decreasing S1P in leukemic NKL cells. SKI-II and SKI-178 also induced apoptosis in primary NK-LGLs from leukemia patients. Mechanistic studies in NK-LGL cell lines demonstrated that SKI-178 and SKI-II induced cell cycle arrest at G2/M. We found that SKI-178 induced phosphorylation of Bcl-2 at Ser70, and that this was dependent on CDK1. We further show that SPHK1 inhibition with SKI-178 leads to decreased JAK-STAT signaling. Our data demonstrate that SPHK1 represents a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of NK-LGL leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis R LeBlanc
- a Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute; Penn State College of Medicine ; Hershey , PA USA.,b University of Virginia Cancer Center; University of Virginia ; Charlottesville , VA USA
| | - Xin Liu
- a Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute; Penn State College of Medicine ; Hershey , PA USA
| | - Jeremy Hengst
- c Department of Pharmacology ; Penn State College of Medicine ; Hershey , PA USA
| | - Todd Fox
- b University of Virginia Cancer Center; University of Virginia ; Charlottesville , VA USA
| | - Valerie Calvert
- d Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine; George Mason University ; Manassas , VA USA
| | - Emanuel F Petricoin
- d Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine; George Mason University ; Manassas , VA USA
| | - Jong Yun
- c Department of Pharmacology ; Penn State College of Medicine ; Hershey , PA USA
| | - David J Feith
- b University of Virginia Cancer Center; University of Virginia ; Charlottesville , VA USA
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- b University of Virginia Cancer Center; University of Virginia ; Charlottesville , VA USA
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30
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Rodriguez YI, Campos LE, Castro MG, Aladhami A, Oskeritzian CA, Alvarez SE. Sphingosine-1 Phosphate: A New Modulator of Immune Plasticity in the Tumor Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2016; 6:218. [PMID: 27800303 PMCID: PMC5066089 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last 15 years, increasing evidences demonstrate a strong link between sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and both normal physiology and progression of different diseases, including cancer and inflammation. Indeed, numerous studies show that tissue levels of this sphingolipid metabolite are augmented in many cancers, affecting survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastatic spread. Recent insights into the possible role of S1P as a therapeutic target has attracted enormous attention and opened new opportunities in this evolving field. In this review, we will focus on the role of S1P in cancer, with particular emphasis in new developments that highlight the many functions of this sphingolipid in the tumor microenvironment. We will discuss how S1P modulates phenotypic plasticity of macrophages and mast cells, tumor-induced immune evasion, differentiation and survival of immune cells in the tumor milieu, interaction between cancer and stromal cells, and hypoxic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamila I Rodriguez
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas San Luis (IMIBIO-SL) CONICET , San Luis , Argentina
| | - Ludmila E Campos
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas San Luis (IMIBIO-SL) CONICET , San Luis , Argentina
| | - Melina G Castro
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas San Luis (IMIBIO-SL) CONICET , San Luis , Argentina
| | - Ahmed Aladhami
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine , Columbia, SC , USA
| | - Carole A Oskeritzian
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina School of Medicine , Columbia, SC , USA
| | - Sergio E Alvarez
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas San Luis (IMIBIO-SL) CONICET, San Luis, Argentina; Universidad Nacional de San Luis, San Luis, Argentina
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31
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Pitman MR, Costabile M, Pitson SM. Recent advances in the development of sphingosine kinase inhibitors. Cell Signal 2016; 28:1349-1363. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2016.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Revised: 06/09/2016] [Accepted: 06/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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32
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Vogt D, Stark H. Therapeutic Strategies and Pharmacological Tools Influencing S1P Signaling and Metabolism. Med Res Rev 2016; 37:3-51. [PMID: 27480072 DOI: 10.1002/med.21402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
During the last two decades the study of the sphingolipid anabolic, catabolic, and signaling pathways has attracted enormous interest. Especially the introduction of fingolimod into market as first p.o. therapeutic for the treatment of multiple sclerosis has boosted this effect. Although the complex regulation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and other catabolic and anabolic sphingosine-related compounds is not fully understood, the influence on different (patho)physiological states from inflammation to cytotoxicity as well as the availability of versatile pharmacological tools that represent new approaches to study these states are described. Here, we have summarized various aspects concerning the many faces of sphingolipid function modulation by different pharmacological tools up to clinical candidates. Due to the immense heterogeneity of physiological or pharmacological actions and complex cross regulations, it is difficult to predict their role in upcoming therapeutic approaches. Currently, inflammatory, immunological, and/or antitumor aspects are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Vogt
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straße 9, D-60438, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Holger Stark
- Institute of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, D-40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
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33
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Therapeutic potential of targeting sphingosine kinases and sphingosine 1-phosphate in hematological malignancies. Leukemia 2016; 30:2142-2151. [PMID: 27461062 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2016.208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2016] [Revised: 06/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sphingolipids, such as ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) are bioactive molecules that have important functions in a variety of cellular processes, which include proliferation, survival, differentiation and cellular responses to stress. Sphingolipids have a major impact on the determination of cell fate by contributing to either cell survival or death. Although ceramide and sphingosine are usually considered to induce cell death, S1P promotes survival of cells. Sphingosine kinases (SPHKs) are the enzymes that catalyze the conversion of sphingosine to S1P. There are two isoforms, SPHK1 and SPHK2, which are encoded by different genes. SPHK1 has recently been implicated in contributing to cell transformation, tumor angiogenesis and metastatic spread, as well as cancer cell multidrug-resistance. More recent findings suggest that SPHK2 also has a role in cancer progression. This review is an overview of our understanding of the role of SPHKs and S1P in hematopoietic malignancies and provides information on the current status of SPHK inhibitors with respect to their therapeutic potential in the treatment of hematological cancers.
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34
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Biegelmeyer R, Schröder R, Rambo DF, Dresch RR, Carraro JLF, Mothes B, Moreira JCF, da Frota Junior MLC, Henriques AT. Sphingosines Derived from Marine Sponge as Potential Multi-Target Drug Related to Disorders in Cancer Development. Mar Drugs 2015; 13:5552-63. [PMID: 26308014 PMCID: PMC4584339 DOI: 10.3390/md13095552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2015] [Revised: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/14/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Haliclona tubifera, marine sponge species abundant in Brazilian coastline, presents only a few papers published in the literature. Recently, we have reported the isolation of two modified C18 sphingoid bases: (2R,3R,6R,7Z)-2-aminooctadec-7-ene-1,3,6-triol and and (2R,3R,6R)-2-aminooctadec-1,3,6-triol. In order to continue our research, in this work aimed at the biological investigation of fractions that led to the isolation of these compounds. We evaluated the cytotoxic effect of marine sponge H. tubifera fractions in glioma (U87) and neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) human cell lines. In addition, considering the link between cancer, imbalance of reactive oxygen species and coagulation disorders, we also investigated the in vitro effects on blood coagulation and their redox properties. We showed that the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction, rich in sphingoid bases, had important cytotoxic effects in both cancer cell lines with an IC50 < 15 μg/mL and also can inhibit the production of peroxyl radicals. Interestingly, this fraction increased the recalcification time of human blood, showing anticoagulant properties. The present study indicates the sphingosines fraction as a promising source of chemical prototypes, especially multifunctional drugs in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata Biegelmeyer
- Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil; E-Mails: (D.F.R.); (R.R.D.); (A.T.H.)
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (R.B.); (M.L.C.F.J.); Tel.: +55-51-3308-5258 (R.B.); +55-51-3308-5577 (M.L.C.F.J.); Fax: +55-51-3308-5437 (R.B.)
| | - Rafael Schröder
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Dpto. Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90035-000, Brazil; E-Mails: (R.S.); (J.C.F.M.)
| | - Douglas F. Rambo
- Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil; E-Mails: (D.F.R.); (R.R.D.); (A.T.H.)
| | - Roger R. Dresch
- Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil; E-Mails: (D.F.R.); (R.R.D.); (A.T.H.)
| | - João L. F. Carraro
- Museu Nacional, Departamento de Invertebrados, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 20940-040, Brazil; E-Mail:
| | - Beatriz Mothes
- Fundação Zoobotânica, Museu de Ciências Naturais, Porto Alegre, RS 90690-000, Brazil; E-Mail:
| | - José Cláudio F. Moreira
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Dpto. Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90035-000, Brazil; E-Mails: (R.S.); (J.C.F.M.)
| | - Mário L. C. da Frota Junior
- Centro de Estudos em Estresse Oxidativo, Dpto. Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90035-000, Brazil; E-Mails: (R.S.); (J.C.F.M.)
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (R.B.); (M.L.C.F.J.); Tel.: +55-51-3308-5258 (R.B.); +55-51-3308-5577 (M.L.C.F.J.); Fax: +55-51-3308-5437 (R.B.)
| | - Amélia T. Henriques
- Laboratório de Farmacognosia, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS 90610-000, Brazil; E-Mails: (D.F.R.); (R.R.D.); (A.T.H.)
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Morad SAF, Cabot MC. Tamoxifen regulation of sphingolipid metabolism--Therapeutic implications. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2015; 1851:1134-45. [PMID: 25964209 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2015.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2015] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Tamoxifen, a triphenylethylene antiestrogen and one of the first-line endocrine therapies used to treat estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer, has a number of interesting, off-target effects, and among these is the inhibition of sphingolipid metabolism. More specifically, tamoxifen inhibits ceramide glycosylation, and enzymatic step that can adventitiously support the influential tumor-suppressor properties of ceramide, the aliphatic backbone of sphingolipids. Additionally, tamoxifen and metabolites N-desmethyltamoxifen and 4-hydroxytamoxifen, have been shown to inhibit ceramide hydrolysis by the enzyme acid ceramidase. This particular intervention slows ceramide destruction and thereby depresses formation of sphingosine 1-phosphate, a mitogenic sphingolipid with cancer growth-promoting properties. As ceramide-centric therapies are becoming appealing clinical interventions in the treatment of cancer, agents like tamoxifen that can retard the generation of mitogenic sphingolipids and buffer ceramide clearance via inhibition of glycosylation, take on new importance. In this review, we present an abridged, lay introduction to sphingolipid metabolism, briefly chronicle tamoxifen's history in the clinic, examine studies that demonstrate the impact of triphenylethylenes on sphingolipid metabolism in cancer cells, and canvass works relevant to the use of tamoxifen as adjuvant to drive ceramide-centric therapies in cancer treatment. The objective is to inform the readership of what could be a novel, off-label indication of tamoxifen and structurally-related triphenylethylenes, an indication divorced from estrogen receptor status and one with application in drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samy A F Morad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, 115 Heart Drive, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena 83523, Egypt
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, 115 Heart Drive, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
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