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Janneh AH. Sphingolipid Signaling and Complement Activation in Glioblastoma: A Promising Avenue for Therapeutic Intervention. BIOCHEM 2024; 4:126-143. [PMID: 38894892 PMCID: PMC11185840 DOI: 10.3390/biochem4020007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive type of malignant brain tumor with a poor prognosis due to the lack of effective treatment options. Therefore, new treatment options are required. Sphingolipids are essential components of the cell membrane, while complement components are integral to innate immunity, and both play a critical role in regulating glioblastoma survival signaling. This review focuses on recent studies investigating the functional roles of sphingolipid metabolism and complement activation signaling in glioblastoma. It also discusses how targeting these two systems together may emerge as a novel therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alhaji H Janneh
- Hollings Cancer Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA
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2
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Saez-Calveras N, Brewster AL, Stuve O. The validity of animal models to explore the pathogenic role of the complement system in multiple sclerosis: A review. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:1017484. [PMID: 36311030 PMCID: PMC9606595 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1017484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models of multiple sclerosis (MS) have been extensively used to characterize the disease mechanisms in MS, as well as to identify potential pharmacologic targets for this condition. In recent years, the immune complement system has gained increased attention as an important effector in the pathogenesis of MS. Evidence from histological, serum, and CSF studies of patients supports an involvement of complement in both relapsing-remitting and progressive MS. In this review, we discuss the history and advances made on the use of MS animal models to profile the effects of the complement system in this condition. The first studies that explored the complement system in the context of MS used cobra venom factor (CVF) as a complement depleting agent in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) Lewis rats. Since then, multiple mice and rat models of MS have revealed a role of C3 and the alternative complement cascade in the opsonization and phagocytosis of myelin by microglia and myeloid cells. Studies using viral vectors, genetic knockouts and pharmacologic complement inhibitors have also shown an effect of complement in synaptic loss. Antibody-mediated EAE models have revealed an involvement of the C1 complex and the classical complement as an effector of the humoral response in this disease. C1q itself may also be involved in modulating microglia activation and oligodendrocyte differentiation in these animals. In addition, animal and in vitro models have revealed that multiple complement factors may act as modulators of both the innate and adaptive immune responses. Finally, evidence gathered from mice models suggests that the membrane attack complex (MAC) may even exert protective roles in the chronic stages of EAE. Overall, this review summarizes the importance of MS animal models to better characterize the role of the complement system and guide future therapeutic approaches in this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nil Saez-Calveras
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Neurology Section, Parkland Hospital, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Amy L. Brewster
- Department of Biological Sciences, Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX, United States
| | - Olaf Stuve
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- Neurology Section, VA North Texas Health Care System, Dallas, TX, United States
- Peter O’Donnell Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Olaf Stuve,
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Hanada K, Sakai S, Kumagai K. Natural Ligand-Mimetic and Nonmimetic Inhibitors of the Ceramide Transport Protein CERT. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042098. [PMID: 35216212 PMCID: PMC8875512 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are recognized as key players in the inter-organelle trafficking of lipids and are rapidly gaining attention as a novel molecular target for medicinal products. In mammalian cells, ceramide is newly synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and converted to sphingomyelin in the trans-Golgi regions. The ceramide transport protein CERT, a typical LTP, mediates the ER-to-Golgi transport of ceramide at an ER-distal Golgi membrane contact zone. About 20 years ago, a potent inhibitor of CERT, named (1R,3S)-HPA-12, was found by coincidence among ceramide analogs. Since then, various ceramide-resembling compounds have been found to act as CERT inhibitors. Nevertheless, the inevitable issue remains that natural ligand-mimetic compounds might directly bind both to the desired target and to various undesired targets that share the same natural ligand. To resolve this issue, a ceramide-unrelated compound named E16A, or (1S,2R)-HPCB-5, that potently inhibits the function of CERT has recently been developed, employing a series of in silico docking simulations, efficient chemical synthesis, quantitative affinity analysis, protein-ligand co-crystallography, and various in vivo assays. (1R,3S)-HPA-12 and E16A together provide a robust tool to discriminate on-target effects on CERT from off-target effects. This short review article will describe the history of the development of (1R,3S)-HPA-12 and E16A, summarize other CERT inhibitors, and discuss their possible applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Hanada
- Department of Quality Assurance, Radiation Safety and Information Management, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan; (S.S.); (K.K.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Shota Sakai
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan; (S.S.); (K.K.)
| | - Keigo Kumagai
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan; (S.S.); (K.K.)
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Chung LH, Liu D, Liu XT, Qi Y. Ceramide Transfer Protein (CERT): An Overlooked Molecular Player in Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:13184. [PMID: 34947980 PMCID: PMC8705978 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids are a class of essential lipids implicated in constructing cellular membranes and regulating nearly all cellular functions. Sphingolipid metabolic network is centered with the ceramide-sphingomyelin axis. Ceramide is well-recognized as a pro-apoptotic signal; while sphingomyelin, as the most abundant type of sphingolipids, is required for cell growth. Therefore, the balance between these two sphingolipids can be critical for cancer cell survival and functioning. Ceramide transfer protein (CERT) dictates the ratio of ceramide to sphingomyelin within the cell. It is the only lipid transfer protein that specifically delivers ceramide from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus, where ceramide serves as the substrate for sphingomyelin synthesis. In the past two decades, an increasing body of evidence has suggested a critical role of CERT in cancer, but much more intensive efforts are required to draw a definite conclusion. Herein, we review all research findings of CERT, focusing on its molecular structure, cellular functions and implications in cancer. This comprehensive review of CERT will help to better understand the molecular mechanism of cancer and inspire to identify novel druggable targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long Hoa Chung
- Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; (D.L.); (X.T.L.)
| | | | | | - Yanfei Qi
- Centenary Institute of Cancer Medicine and Cell Biology, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia; (D.L.); (X.T.L.)
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Novel Insight in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (iNPH) Biomarker Discovery in CSF. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158034. [PMID: 34360799 PMCID: PMC8347603 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a potentially reversible neurological disease, causing motor and cognitive dysfunction and dementia. iNPH and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) share similar molecular characteristics, including amyloid deposition, t-tau and p-tau dysregulation; however, the disease is under-diagnosed and under-treated. The aim was to identify a panel of sphingolipids and proteins in CSF to diagnose iNPH at onset compared to aged subjects with cognitive integrity (C) and AD patients by adopting multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (MRM-MS) for sphingolipid quantitative assessment and advanced high-resolution liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) for proteomic analysis. The results indicated that iNPH are characterized by an increase in very long chains Cer C22:0, Cer C24:0 and Cer C24:1 and of acute-phase proteins, immunoglobulins and complement component fragments. Proteins involved in synaptic signaling, axogenesis, including BACE1, APP, SEZ6L and SEZ6L2; secretory proteins (CHGA, SCG3 and VGF); glycosylation proteins (POMGNT1 and DAG1); and proteins involved in lipid metabolism (APOH and LCAT) were statistically lower in iNPH. In conclusion, at the disease onset, several factors contribute to maintaining cell homeostasis, and the protective role of very long chains sphingolipids counteract overexpression of amyloidogenic and neurotoxic proteins. Monitoring specific very long chain Cers will improve the early diagnosis and can promote patient follow-up.
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Crivelli SM, Luo Q, Stevens JA, Giovagnoni C, van Kruining D, Bode G, den Hoedt S, Hobo B, Scheithauer AL, Walter J, Mulder MT, Exley C, Mold M, Mielke MM, De Vries HE, Wouters K, van den Hove DLA, Berkes D, Ledesma MD, Verhaagen J, Losen M, Bieberich E, Martinez-Martinez P. CERT L reduces C16 ceramide, amyloid-β levels, and inflammation in a model of Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Res Ther 2021; 13:45. [PMID: 33597019 PMCID: PMC7890977 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-021-00780-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysregulation of ceramide and sphingomyelin levels have been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Ceramide transfer proteins (CERTs) are ceramide carriers which are crucial for ceramide and sphingomyelin balance in cells. Extracellular forms of CERTs co-localize with amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques in AD brains. To date, the significance of these observations for the pathophysiology of AD remains uncertain. METHODS A plasmid expressing CERTL, the long isoform of CERTs, was used to study the interaction of CERTL with amyloid precursor protein (APP) by co-immunoprecipitation and immunofluorescence in HEK cells. The recombinant CERTL protein was employed to study interaction of CERTL with amyloid-β (Aβ), Aβ aggregation process in presence of CERTL, and the resulting changes in Aβ toxicity in neuroblastoma cells. CERTL was overexpressed in neurons by adeno-associated virus (AAV) in a mouse model of familial AD (5xFAD). Ten weeks after transduction, animals were challenged with behavior tests for memory, anxiety, and locomotion. At week 12, brains were investigated for sphingolipid levels by mass spectrometry, plaques, and neuroinflammation by immunohistochemistry, gene expression, and/or immunoassay. RESULTS Here, we report that CERTL binds to APP, modifies Aβ aggregation, and reduces Aβ neurotoxicity in vitro. Furthermore, we show that intracortical injection of AAV, mediating the expression of CERTL, decreases levels of ceramide d18:1/16:0 and increases sphingomyelin levels in the brain of male 5xFAD mice. CERTL in vivo over-expression has a mild effect on animal locomotion, decreases Aβ formation, and modulates microglia by decreasing their pro-inflammatory phenotype. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate a crucial role of CERTL in regulating ceramide levels in the brain, in amyloid plaque formation and neuroinflammation, thereby opening research avenues for therapeutic targets of AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone M. Crivelli
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40502 USA
| | - Qian Luo
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jo A.A. Stevens
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Caterina Giovagnoni
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Daan van Kruining
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Gerard Bode
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Sandra den Hoedt
- Department of Internal Medicine, Laboratory Vascular Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Barbara Hobo
- Laboratory for Neuroregeneration, Netherlands institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Anna-Lena Scheithauer
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jochen Walter
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Monique T. Mulder
- Department of Internal Medicine, Laboratory Vascular Medicine, Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Christopher Exley
- The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK
| | - Matthew Mold
- The Birchall Centre, Lennard-Jones Laboratories, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK
| | - Michelle M. Mielke
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Science Research, and Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, Rochester, MN USA
| | - Helga E. De Vries
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Kristiaan Wouters
- Department of Internal Medicine, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, the Netherlands
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel L. A. van den Hove
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Dusan Berkes
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Slovak University of Technology, Radlinského 9, 81237 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - María Dolores Ledesma
- Department of Molecular Neuropathology, Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa” (CSIC-UAM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Laboratory for Neuroregeneration, Netherlands institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Mario Losen
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Erhard Bieberich
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY USA
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Lexington, KY 40502 USA
| | - Pilar Martinez-Martinez
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
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7
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Morgan BP, Gommerman JL, Ramaglia V. An "Outside-In" and "Inside-Out" Consideration of Complement in the Multiple Sclerosis Brain: Lessons From Development and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 14:600656. [PMID: 33488361 PMCID: PMC7817777 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.600656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The last 15 years have seen an explosion of new findings on the role of complement, a major arm of the immune system, in the central nervous system (CNS) compartment including contributions to cell migration, elimination of synapse during development, aberrant synapse pruning in neurologic disorders, damage to nerve cells in autoimmune diseases, and traumatic injury. Activation of the complement system in multiple sclerosis (MS) is typically thought to occur as part of a primary (auto)immune response from the periphery (the outside) against CNS antigens (the inside). However, evidence of local complement production from CNS-resident cells, intracellular complement functions, and the more recently discovered role of early complement components in shaping synaptic circuits in the absence of inflammation opens up the possibility that complement-related sequelae may start and finish within the brain itself. In this review, the complement system will be introduced, followed by evidence that implicates complement in shaping the developing, adult, and normal aging CNS as well as its contribution to pathology in neurodegenerative conditions. Discussion of data supporting "outside-in" vs. "inside-out" roles of complement in MS will be presented, concluded by thoughts on potential approaches to therapies targeting specific elements of the complement system.
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Affiliation(s)
- B. Paul Morgan
- UK Dementia Research Institute at Cardiff, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | | | - Valeria Ramaglia
- Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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8
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Giovagnoni C, Crivelli SM, Losen M, Martinez-Martinez P. Immunofluorescence Labeling of Lipid-Binding Proteins CERTs to Monitor Lipid Raft Dynamics. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2187:327-335. [PMID: 32770516 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0814-2_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Fluorescence microscopy is a powerful and widely used tool in molecular biology. Over the years, the discovery and development of lipid-binding fluorescent probes has established new research possibilities to investigate lipid composition and dynamics in the cell. For instance, fluorescence microscopy has allowed the investigation of lipid localization and density in specific cell compartments such as membranes or organelles. Often, the characteristics and the composition of lipid-enriched structures are determined by analyzing the distribution of a fluorescently labeled lipid probe, which intercalates in lipid-enriched platforms, or specifically binds to parts of the lipid molecule. However, in many cases antibodies targeting proteins have higher specificity and are easier to generate. Therefore, we propose to use both antibodies targeting lipid transporters and lipid binding probes to better monitor lipid membrane changes. As an example, we visualize lipid rafts using the fluorescently labeled-B-subunit of the cholera toxin in combination with antibodies targeting ceramide-binding proteins CERTs, central molecules in the metabolism of sphingolipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caterina Giovagnoni
- Division of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
| | - Simone M Crivelli
- Division of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Mario Losen
- Division of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Pilar Martinez-Martinez
- Division of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
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9
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Crivelli SM, Giovagnoni C, Visseren L, Scheithauer AL, de Wit N, den Hoedt S, Losen M, Mulder MT, Walter J, de Vries HE, Bieberich E, Martinez-Martinez P. Sphingolipids in Alzheimer's disease, how can we target them? Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2020; 159:214-231. [PMID: 31911096 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2019.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Altered levels of sphingolipids and their metabolites in the brain, and the related downstream effects on neuronal homeostasis and the immune system, provide a framework for understanding mechanisms in neurodegenerative disorders and for developing new intervention strategies. In this review we will discuss: the metabolites of sphingolipids that function as second messengers; and functional aberrations of the pathway resulting in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathophysiology. Focusing on the central product of the sphingolipid pathway ceramide, we describ approaches to pharmacologically decrease ceramide levels in the brain and we argue on how the sphingolipid pathway may represent a new framework for developing novel intervention strategies in AD. We also highlight the possible use of clinical and non-clinical drugs to modulate the sphingolipid pathway and sphingolipid-related biological cascades.
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10
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van Kruining D, Luo Q, van Echten-Deckert G, Mielke MM, Bowman A, Ellis S, Oliveira TG, Martinez-Martinez P. Sphingolipids as prognostic biomarkers of neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and psychiatric diseases and their emerging role in lipidomic investigation methods. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2020; 159:232-244. [PMID: 32360155 PMCID: PMC7665829 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Lipids play an important role in neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and psychiatric disorders and an imbalance in sphingolipid levels is associated with disease. Although early diagnosis and intervention of these disorders would clearly have favorable long-term outcomes, no diagnostic tests currently exist that can accurately identify people at risk. Reliable prognostic biomarkers that are easily accessible would be beneficial to determine therapy and treatment response in clinical trials. Recent advances in lipidomic investigation methods have greatly progressed the knowledge of sphingolipids in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders over the past decades although more longitudinal studies are needed to understand its exact role in these disorders to be used as potential tools in the clinic. In this review, we give an overview of the current knowledge of sphingolipids in neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders and explore recent advances in investigation methods. Finally, the potential of sphingolipid metabolism products and signaling molecules as potential biomarkers for diagnosis, prognostic, or surrogate markers of treatment response is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daan van Kruining
- Division of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Qian Luo
- Division of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Gerhild van Echten-Deckert
- LIMES Institute for Membrane Biology and Lipid Biochemistry, Kekulé-Institute, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Michelle M Mielke
- Department of Health Sciences Research and Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota, United States
| | - Andrew Bowman
- The Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I), Division of Imaging Mass Spectrometry, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Shane Ellis
- The Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I), Division of Imaging Mass Spectrometry, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Tiago Gil Oliveira
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), ICVS/3B's, School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
| | - Pilar Martinez-Martinez
- Division of Neuroscience, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
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11
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Nakao N, Ueno M, Sakai S, Egawa D, Hanzawa H, Kawasaki S, Kumagai K, Suzuki M, Kobayashi S, Hanada K. Natural ligand-nonmimetic inhibitors of the lipid-transfer protein CERT. Commun Chem 2019. [DOI: 10.1038/s42004-019-0118-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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12
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Evaluation of serum sphingolipids and the influence of genetic risk factors in age-related macular degeneration. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200739. [PMID: 30071029 PMCID: PMC6071970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids are bioactive molecules associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and neurodegenerative diseases, but poorly studied in the context of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a prevalent sight-threatening disease of the ageing retina. Here, we found higher serum levels of hexosylceramide (HexCer) d18:1/16:0 in patients with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) and geographic atrophy (GA), two manifestations of late stage AMD, and higher ceramide (Cer) d18:1/16:0 levels in GA patients. A sensitivity analysis of genetic variants known to be associated with late stage AMD showed that rs1061170 (p.Y402H) in the complement factor H (CFH) gene influences the association of Cer d18:1/16:0 with GA. To understand the possible influence of this genetic variant on ceramide levels, we established a cell-based assay to test the modulation of genes in the ceramide metabolism by factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1), an alternative splicing variant of CFH that also harbors the 402 residue. We first showed that malondialdehyde-acetaldehyde adducts, an oxidation product commonly found in AMD retinas, induces an increase in ceramide levels in WERI-Rb1 cells in accordance with an increased expression of ceramide synthesis genes. Then, we observed that cells exposed to the non-risk FHL-1:Y402, but not the risk associated variant FHL-1:H402 or full-length CFH, downregulated ceramide synthase 2 and ceramide glucosyltransferase gene expression. Together, our findings show that serum ceramide and hexosylceramide species are altered in AMD patients and that ceramide levels may be influenced by AMD associated risk variants.
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13
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Mielke MM, Haughey NJ, Han D, An Y, Bandaru VVR, Lyketsos CG, Ferrucci L, Resnick SM. The Association Between Plasma Ceramides and Sphingomyelins and Risk of Alzheimer's Disease Differs by Sex and APOE in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. J Alzheimers Dis 2018; 60:819-828. [PMID: 28035934 DOI: 10.3233/jad-160925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellular and animal studies demonstrated relationships between sphingolipid metabolism and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology. High blood ceramide levels have been shown to predict cognitive impairment and AD, but these studies had small sample sizes and did not assess differences in risk by sex or APOE genotype. OBJECTIVE To determine whether plasma ceramides and sphingomyelins were associated with risk of AD, and whether the association varied by sex and APOE genotype. METHODS Participants included 626 men and 366 women, aged 55 years and older, enrolled in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging. Plasma ceramides and sphingomyelins were determined using quantitative analyses performed on a high-performance liquid chromatography coupled electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometer. Cox proportional hazards models, stratified by sex, were used to examine the relationship of plasma ceramides and sphingomyelins with risk of AD over a mean (SD) follow-up of 15.0 (7.0) years for men and 13.1 (5.9) years for women. RESULTS Among men, the highest tertile of most ceramides and sphingomyelins were associated with an increased risk of AD. Among women, there were no associations between any of the ceramides and risk of AD. In contrast, women in the highest tertile of most sphingomyelins had a reduced risk of AD, which was most pronounced among APOE ɛ4 carriers. CONCLUSION These results provide further evidence for the role of sphingolipid metabolism in AD and highlight the importance of considering sex and APOE genotype in assessing this relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle M Mielke
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Norman J Haughey
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.,Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Dingfen Han
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Yang An
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Constantine G Lyketsos
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Luigi Ferrucci
- Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Susan M Resnick
- Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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14
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Santos C, Stauffert F, Ballereau S, Dehoux C, Rodriguez F, Bodlenner A, Compain P, Génisson Y. Iminosugar-based ceramide mimicry for the design of new CERT START domain ligands. Bioorg Med Chem 2017; 25:1984-1989. [PMID: 28237558 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2017.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Revised: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 02/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The enigmatical dichotomy between the two CERT/GPBP protein isoforms, their vast panel of biological implications and the scarcity of known antagonist series call for new ligand chemotypes identification. We report the design of iminosugar-based ceramide mimics for the development of new START domain ligands potentially targeting either protein isoforms. Strategic choice of (i) an iminoxylitol core structure and (ii) the positioning of two dodecyl residues led to an extent of protein binding comparable to that of the natural cargo lipid ceramide or the archetypical inhibitor HPA-12. Molecular docking study evidenced a possible mode of protein binding fully coherent with the one observed in crystalline co-structures of known ligands. The present study thus paves the way for cellular CERT inhibition studies en route to the development of pharmacological tools aiming at deciphering the respective function and therapeutic potential of the two CERT/GPBP protein isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Santos
- SPCMIB, UMR5068 CNRS-Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse F-31062, France
| | - Fabien Stauffert
- Laboratoire de Synthèse Organique et Molécules Bioactives (SYBIO), Université de Strasbourg, CNRS (UMR 7509), Ecole Européenne de Chimie, Polymères et Matériaux (ECPM), 25 rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg, France
| | - Stéphanie Ballereau
- SPCMIB, UMR5068 CNRS-Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse F-31062, France
| | - Cécile Dehoux
- SPCMIB, UMR5068 CNRS-Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse F-31062, France
| | - Frédéric Rodriguez
- SPCMIB, UMR5068 CNRS-Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse F-31062, France
| | - Anne Bodlenner
- Laboratoire de Synthèse Organique et Molécules Bioactives (SYBIO), Université de Strasbourg, CNRS (UMR 7509), Ecole Européenne de Chimie, Polymères et Matériaux (ECPM), 25 rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg, France
| | - Philippe Compain
- Laboratoire de Synthèse Organique et Molécules Bioactives (SYBIO), Université de Strasbourg, CNRS (UMR 7509), Ecole Européenne de Chimie, Polymères et Matériaux (ECPM), 25 rue Becquerel, F-67087 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Yves Génisson
- SPCMIB, UMR5068 CNRS-Université Paul Sabatier-Toulouse III, 118 route de Narbonne, Toulouse F-31062, France.
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15
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Regal JF, Dornfeld KJ, Fleming SD. Radiotherapy: killing with complement. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2016; 4:94. [PMID: 27047953 DOI: 10.21037/atm.2015.12.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jean F Regal
- 1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth, Duluth, MN, USA ; 2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Essentia Health Cancer Center, Duluth, MN, USA ; 3 Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Kenneth J Dornfeld
- 1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth, Duluth, MN, USA ; 2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Essentia Health Cancer Center, Duluth, MN, USA ; 3 Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Sherry D Fleming
- 1 Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Minnesota Medical School Duluth, Duluth, MN, USA ; 2 Department of Radiation Oncology, Essentia Health Cancer Center, Duluth, MN, USA ; 3 Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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16
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Trichinella spiralis Paramyosin Binds Human Complement C1q and Inhibits Classical Complement Activation. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2015; 9:e0004310. [PMID: 26720603 PMCID: PMC4697845 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0004310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Trichinella spiralis expresses paramyosin (Ts-Pmy) as a defense mechanism. Ts-Pmy is a functional protein with binding activity to human complement C8 and C9 and thus plays a role in evading the attack of the host's immune system. In the present study, the binding activity of Ts-Pmy to human complement C1q and its ability to inhibit classical complement activation were investigated. METHODS AND FINDINGS The binding of recombinant and natural Ts-Pmy to human C1q were determined by ELISA, Far Western blotting and immunoprecipitation, respectively. Binding of recombinant Ts-Pmy (rTs-Pmy) to C1q inhibited C1q binding to IgM and consequently inhibited C3 deposition. The lysis of antibody-sensitized erythrocytes (EAs) elicited by the classical complement pathway was also inhibited in the presence of rTs-Pmy. In addition to inhibiting classical complement activation, rTs-Pmy also suppressed C1q binding to THP-1-derived macrophages, thereby reducing C1q-induced macrophages migration. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that T. spiralis paramyosin plays an important role in immune evasion by interfering with complement activation through binding to C1q in addition to C8 and C9.
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17
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18
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Michailidou I, Willems JGP, Kooi EJ, van Eden C, Gold SM, Geurts JJG, Baas F, Huitinga I, Ramaglia V. Complement C1q-C3-associated synaptic changes in multiple sclerosis hippocampus. Ann Neurol 2015; 77:1007-26. [PMID: 25727254 DOI: 10.1002/ana.24398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating disease of the central nervous system, leading to memory impairment in up to 65% of patients. Memory dysfunction in MS has been associated with loss of synapses in the hippocampus, but its molecular basis is unknown. Accumulating evidence suggests that components of the complement system, C1q and C3, can mediate elimination of synapses. METHODS To investigate the involvement of complement in synaptic changes in MS, gene and protein expression and localization of C1q and C3 were analyzed in relation to neuropathological changes in myelinated and demyelinated hippocampi from postmortem MS brains. Findings were compared to hippocampi of Alzheimer disease (AD) and non-neurological controls. RESULTS C1q expression and C3 activation were increased in myelinated and demyelinated MS hippocampi, mainly in the CA3/2 and CA1 subfields, which also showed a marked decrease in synaptic density and increased neuronal staining for the mitochondrial heat shock protein 70 (mtHSP70) stress marker. Neurons were the major source of C1q mRNA. C1q protein and activated C3 localized at synapses within human leukocyte antigen-positive cell processes and lysosomes, suggesting engulfment of complement-tagged synapses by microglia. A significant association (p < 0.0001) between the density of C1q and synaptophysin-positive synapses or mtHSP70 was seen in myelinated MS hippocampi, further pointing toward a link between the complement pathway and synaptic changes. In contrast to AD, MS hippocampi were consistently negative for the terminal complement activation complex C5b9. INTERPRETATION These data support a role for the C1q-C3 complement axis in synaptic alterations in the MS hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliana Michailidou
- Department of Genome Analysis, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Janske G P Willems
- Department of Genome Analysis, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Evert-Jan Kooi
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Corbert van Eden
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan M Gold
- Center for Molecular Neurobiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,Department of Psychiatry, Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jeroen J G Geurts
- Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Frank Baas
- Department of Genome Analysis, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Inge Huitinga
- Department of Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Valeria Ramaglia
- Department of Genome Analysis, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Department of Neuroimmunology, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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