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Kumar S, Singh A, Pandey P, Khopade A, Sawant KK. Application of sphingolipid-based nanocarriers in drug delivery: an overview. Ther Deliv 2024:1-19. [PMID: 39072358 DOI: 10.1080/20415990.2024.2377066] [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: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids (SL) are well recognized for their cell signaling through extracellular and intracellular pathways. Based on chemistry different types of SL are biosynthesized in mammalian cells and have specific function in cellular activity. SL has an ampiphilic structure with have hydrophobic body attached to the polar head enables their use as a drug delivery agent in the form of nanocarriers. SL-based liposomes can improve the solubility of lipophilic drugs through host and drug complexes and are more stable than conventional liposomal formulations. Preclinical studies of SL nanocarriers are reported on topical delivery, oral delivery, ocular delivery, chemotherapeutic delivery, cardiovascular delivery and Alzheimer's disease. The commercial challenges and patents related to SL nanoformulations are highlighted in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samarth Kumar
- Formulation Research & Development-Non-Orals, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Vadodara, 390012, Gujarat, India
- Faculty of Pharmacy, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, 390001, India
| | - Ajit Singh
- Formulation Research & Development-Non-Orals, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Vadodara, 390012, Gujarat, India
| | - Prachi Pandey
- Krishna School of Pharmacy & Research, KPGU, Vadodara, Gujarat, 391243, India
| | - Ajay Khopade
- Formulation Research & Development-Non-Orals, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Vadodara, 390012, Gujarat, India
| | - Krutika K Sawant
- Faculty of Pharmacy, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, Gujarat, 390001, India
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2
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Ciner A, Gourdin T, Davidson J, Parette M, Walker SJ, Fox TE, Jiang Y. A phase I study of the ceramide nanoliposome in patients with advanced solid tumors. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2024; 93:23-29. [PMID: 37736793 PMCID: PMC10796569 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-023-04588-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Ceramide is a sphingolipid metabolite that deactivates multiple oncogenic signaling pathways and promotes cell death. In-vivo data demonstrate single-agent anti-cancer activity and enhanced efficacy with combination strategies. This phase I dose-escalation trial evaluated Ceramide nanoLiposomes (CNL) in patients with advanced solid tumors and no standard treatment option. METHODS The primary objective was to establish the maximum tolerated dose. Secondary objectives included determining the recommended phase II dose, the safety and tolerability, the pharmacokinetic profile and preliminary anti-tumor efficacy. RESULTS 15 patients with heavily pretreated metastatic disease enrolled. Safety data were analyzed for all patients, while pharmacokinetic data were available for 14 patients. There were no grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached and there were no dose-limiting toxicities. The most common grade 1 or 2 treatment-related adverse events included headache, fatigue, constipation, nausea and transaminitis. The maximum concentration and area under the curve increased with dose. Clearance was consistent between doses and was observed mainly through the liver without significant hepatotoxicity. The half-life ranged from 20 to 30 h and the volume of distribution was consistent with a lipophilic drug. CONCLUSIONS CNL exhibited an encouraging safety profile and pharmacokinetic parameters, with some signals of efficacy including prolonged stable disease in 1 patient with refractory pancreatic cancer. Pre-clinical data indicate potential synergy between CNL and multiple systemic therapies including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Future studies are planned investigating CNL in combination strategies. TRIAL REGISTRATION This study is registered under ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02834611.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron Ciner
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Theodore Gourdin
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | | | | | - Susan J Walker
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Todd E Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Yixing Jiang
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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3
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Thim EA, Fox T, Deering T, Vass LR, Sheybani ND, Kester M, Price RJ. Solid tumor treatment via augmentation of bioactive C6 ceramide levels with thermally ablative focused ultrasound. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2023; 13:3145-3153. [PMID: 37335416 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-023-01377-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Sparse scan partial thermal ablation (TA) with focused ultrasound (FUS) may be deployed to treat solid tumors and increase delivery of systemically administered therapeutics. Furthermore, C6-ceramide-loaded nanoliposomes (CNLs), which rely upon the enhanced-permeation and retention (EPR) effect for delivery, have shown promise for treating solid tumors and are being tested in clinical trials. Here, our objective was to determine whether CNLs synergize with TA in the control of 4T1 breast tumors. CNL monotherapy of 4T1 tumors yielded significant intratumoral bioactive C6 accumulation by the EPR effect, but tumor growth was not controlled. TA increased bioactive C6 accumulation by ~ 12.5-fold over the EPR effect. In addition, TA + CNL caused shifts in long-chain to very-long-chain ceramide ratios (i.e., C16/24 and C18/C24) that could potentially contribute to tumor control. Nonetheless, these changes in intratumoral ceramide levels were still insufficient to confer tumor growth control beyond that achieved when combining with TA with control "ghost" nanoliposomes (GNL). While this lack of synergy could be due to increased "pro-tumor" sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels, this is unlikely because S1P levels exhibited only a moderate and statistically insignificant increase with TA + CNL. In vitro studies showed that 4T1 cells are highly resistant to C6, offering the most likely explanation for the inability of TA to synergize with CNL. Thus, while our results show that sparse scan TA is a powerful approach for markedly enhancing CNL delivery and generating "anti-tumor" shifts in long-chain to very-long-chain ceramide ratios, resistance of the tumor to C6 can still be a rate-limiting factor for some solid tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Andrew Thim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Box 800759, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Todd Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Tye Deering
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Luke R Vass
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Natasha D Sheybani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Box 800759, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Box 800759, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA
| | - Richard J Price
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Box 800759, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA.
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4
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Zhu H, Chen HJ, Wen HY, Wang ZG, Liu SL. Engineered Lipidic Nanomaterials Inspired by Sphingomyelin Metabolism for Cancer Therapy. Molecules 2023; 28:5366. [PMID: 37513239 PMCID: PMC10383197 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28145366] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingomyelin (SM) and its metabolites are crucial regulators of tumor cell growth, differentiation, senescence, and programmed cell death. With the rise in lipid-based nanomaterials, engineered lipidic nanomaterials inspired by SM metabolism, corresponding lipid targeting, and signaling activation have made fascinating advances in cancer therapeutic processes. In this review, we first described the specific pathways of SM metabolism and the roles of their associated bioactive molecules in mediating cell survival or death. We next summarized the advantages and specific applications of SM metabolism-based lipidic nanomaterials in specific cancer therapies. Finally, we discussed the challenges and perspectives of this emerging and promising SM metabolism-based nanomaterials research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Center for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry, and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Hua-Jie Chen
- Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Hai-Yan Wen
- Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Zhi-Gang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Center for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry, and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shu-Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biosensing and Molecular Recognition, Research Center for Analytical Sciences, College of Chemistry, and School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China
- Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, Faculty of Materials Science and Chemistry, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
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5
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Thim EA, Fox T, Deering T, Vass LR, Sheybani ND, Kester M, Price RJ. Solid Tumor Treatment via Augmentation of Bioactive C6 Ceramide Levels with Thermally Ablative Focused Ultrasound. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.23.532394. [PMID: 36993445 PMCID: PMC10055354 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.23.532394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Sparse scan partial thermal ablation (TA) with focused ultrasound (FUS) may be deployed to treat solid tumors and increase delivery of systemically administered therapeutics. Further, C6-ceramide-loaded nanoliposomes (CNLs), which rely upon the enhanced permeation and retention (EPR) effect for delivery, have shown promise for treating solid tumors and are being tested in clinical trials. Here, our objective was to determine whether CNLs synergize with TA in the control of 4T1 breast tumors. CNL-monotherapy of 4T1 tumors yielded significant intratumoral bioactive C6 accumulation by the EPR effect, but tumor growth was not controlled. TA increased bioactive C6 accumulation by ∼12.5-fold over the EPR effect. In addition, TA+CNL caused shifts in long-chain to very-long-chain ceramide ratios (i.e., C16/24 and C18/C24) that could potentially contribute to tumor control. Nonetheless, these changes in intratumoral ceramide levels were still insufficient to confer tumor growth control beyond that achieved when combining with TA with control "ghost" nanoliposomes (GNL). While this lack of synergy could be due to increased "pro-tumor" sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels, this is unlikely because S1P levels exhibited only a moderate and statistically insignificant increase with TA+CNL. In vitro studies showed that 4T1 cells are highly resistant to C6, offering the most likely explanation for the inability of TA to synergize with CNL. Thus, while our results show that sparse scan TA is a powerful approach for markedly enhancing CNL delivery and generating "anti-tumor" shifts in long-chain to very-long-chain ceramide ratios, resistance of the tumor to C6 can still be a rate-limiting factor for some solid tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Andrew Thim
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Todd Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Tye Deering
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Luke R. Vass
- Department of Pathology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Natasha D. Sheybani
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
| | - Richard J. Price
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908
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6
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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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7
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Companioni O, Mir C, Garcia-Mayea Y, LLeonart ME. Targeting Sphingolipids for Cancer Therapy. Front Oncol 2021; 11:745092. [PMID: 34737957 PMCID: PMC8560795 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.745092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids are an extensive class of lipids with different functions in the cell, ranging from proliferation to cell death. Sphingolipids are modified in multiple cancers and are responsible for tumor proliferation, progression, and metastasis. Several inhibitors or activators of sphingolipid signaling, such as fenretinide, safingol, ABC294640, ceramide nanoliposomes (CNLs), SKI-II, α-galactosylceramide, fingolimod, and sonepcizumab, have been described. The objective of this review was to analyze the results from preclinical and clinical trials of these drugs for the treatment of cancer. Sphingolipid-targeting drugs have been tested alone or in combination with chemotherapy, exhibiting antitumor activity alone and in synergism with chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. As a consequence of treatments, the most frequent mechanism of cell death is apoptosis, followed by autophagy. Aslthough all these drugs have produced good results in preclinical studies of multiple cancers, the outcomes of clinical trials have not been similar. The most effective drugs are fenretinide and α-galactosylceramide (α-GalCer). In contrast, minor adverse effects restricted to a few subjects and hepatic toxicity have been observed in clinical trials of ABC294640 and safingol, respectively. In the case of CNLs, SKI-II, fingolimod and sonepcizumab there are some limitations and absence of enough clinical studies to demonstrate a benefit. The effectiveness or lack of a major therapeutic effect of sphingolipid modulation by some drugs as a cancer therapy and other aspects related to their mechanism of action are discussed in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmel Companioni
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cristina Mir
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yoelsis Garcia-Mayea
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Matilde E LLeonart
- Biomedical Research in Cancer Stem Cells Group, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Network Center in Oncology, CIBERONC, Madrid, Spain
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8
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Cruz AF, Caleiras MB, Fonseca NA, Gonçalves N, Mendes VM, Sampaio SF, Moura V, Melo JB, Almeida RD, Manadas B, Simões S, Moreira JN. The Enhanced Efficacy of Intracellular Delivery of Doxorubicin/C6-Ceramide Combination Mediated by the F3 Peptide/Nucleolin System Is Supported by the Downregulation of the PI3K/Akt Pathway. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13123052. [PMID: 34207464 PMCID: PMC8235382 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13123052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Targeted nanomedicine-based approaches that aim at the simultaneous delivery of synergistic drug combinations to multiple cellular populations are of high relevance for tackling heterogeneity on solid tumors. Considering that cancer stem cells (CSC) may originate from non-stem cancer cells, single-drug regimens targeting only one of these cell populations could enable tumors to evade treatments. As such, the identification of a common marker, such as nucleolin, might result in a therapeutic advantage. The results herein generated suggested a transversal role of nucleolin in the internalization of F3 peptide-targeted pegylated pH-sensitive liposomes into bulk ovarian cancer cells, including putative CSC-enriched ovarian cells. The intracellular delivery of a drug combination such as the one tested herein was relevant in the context of cell lines with higher intrinsic resistances to doxorubicin. The enhanced efficacy of the F3 peptide-targeted liposomal combination of doxorubicin/C6-ceramide was supported by the downregulation of the Akt pathway, within a specific range of basal level of expression. Abstract Targeting multiple cellular populations is of high therapeutic relevance for the tackling of solid tumors heterogeneity. Herein, the ability of pegylated and pH-sensitive liposomes, functionalized with the nucleolin-binding F3 peptide and containing doxorubicin (DXR)/C6-ceramide synergistic combination, to target, in vitro, ovarian cancer, including ovarian cancer stem cells (CSC), was assessed. The underlying molecular mechanism of action of the nucleolin-mediated intracellular delivery of C6-ceramide to cancer cells was also explored. The assessment of overexpression of surface nucleolin expression by flow cytometry was critical to dissipate differences identified by Western blot in membrane/cytoplasm of SKOV-3, OVCAR-3 and TOV-112D ovarian cancer cell lines. The former was in line with the significant extent of uptake into (bulk) ovarian cancer cells, relative to non-targeted and non-specific counterparts. This pattern of uptake was recapitulated with putative CSC-enriched ovarian SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 sub-population (EpCAMhigh/CD44high). Co-encapsulation of DXR:C6-ceramide into F3 peptide-targeted liposomes improved cytotoxic activity relative to liposomes containing DXR alone, in an extent that depended on the intrinsic resistance to DXR and on the incubation time. The enhanced cytotoxicity of the targeted combination was mechanistically supported by the downregulation of PI3K/Akt pathway by C6-ceramide, only among the nucleolin-overexpressing cancer cells presenting a basal p-Akt/total Akt ratio lower than 1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana F. Cruz
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.C.); (M.B.C.); (N.A.F.); (N.G.); (V.M.M.); (S.F.S.); (V.M.); (R.D.A.); (B.M.); (S.S.)
- Univ Coimbra—University of Coimbra, CIBB, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mariana B. Caleiras
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.C.); (M.B.C.); (N.A.F.); (N.G.); (V.M.M.); (S.F.S.); (V.M.); (R.D.A.); (B.M.); (S.S.)
- Univ Coimbra—University of Coimbra, CIBB, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Nuno A. Fonseca
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.C.); (M.B.C.); (N.A.F.); (N.G.); (V.M.M.); (S.F.S.); (V.M.); (R.D.A.); (B.M.); (S.S.)
- TREAT U, SA—Parque Industrial de Taveiro, Lote 44, 3045-508 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Nélio Gonçalves
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.C.); (M.B.C.); (N.A.F.); (N.G.); (V.M.M.); (S.F.S.); (V.M.); (R.D.A.); (B.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Vera M. Mendes
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.C.); (M.B.C.); (N.A.F.); (N.G.); (V.M.M.); (S.F.S.); (V.M.); (R.D.A.); (B.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Susana F. Sampaio
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.C.); (M.B.C.); (N.A.F.); (N.G.); (V.M.M.); (S.F.S.); (V.M.); (R.D.A.); (B.M.); (S.S.)
- Univ Coimbra—University of Coimbra, CIBB, Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (IIIUC), 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vera Moura
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.C.); (M.B.C.); (N.A.F.); (N.G.); (V.M.M.); (S.F.S.); (V.M.); (R.D.A.); (B.M.); (S.S.)
- TREAT U, SA—Parque Industrial de Taveiro, Lote 44, 3045-508 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana B. Melo
- iCBR—Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research, CIBB, Center of Investigation on Environment Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal;
- Univ Coimbra—University of Coimbra, Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Faculty of Medicine, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ramiro D. Almeida
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.C.); (M.B.C.); (N.A.F.); (N.G.); (V.M.M.); (S.F.S.); (V.M.); (R.D.A.); (B.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Bruno Manadas
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.C.); (M.B.C.); (N.A.F.); (N.G.); (V.M.M.); (S.F.S.); (V.M.); (R.D.A.); (B.M.); (S.S.)
| | - Sérgio Simões
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.C.); (M.B.C.); (N.A.F.); (N.G.); (V.M.M.); (S.F.S.); (V.M.); (R.D.A.); (B.M.); (S.S.)
- Univ Coimbra—University of Coimbra, CIBB, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João N. Moreira
- CNC—Center for Neurosciences and Cell Biology, Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, Faculty of Medicine (Polo 1), Rua Larga, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.F.C.); (M.B.C.); (N.A.F.); (N.G.); (V.M.M.); (S.F.S.); (V.M.); (R.D.A.); (B.M.); (S.S.)
- Univ Coimbra—University of Coimbra, CIBB, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pólo das Ciências da Saúde, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Correspondence:
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9
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Gao F, Chen X, Lu J, Hu S, Xu H, Shi Y, Feng M, Ding J, Liu H, Luo C, Xie Z, Wang J. Discovery of novel ceramide analogs with favorable pharmacokinetic properties and combination with AKT inhibitor against colon cancer. Eur J Med Chem 2021; 215:113274. [PMID: 33592537 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2021.113274] [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] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Ceramides have emerged as potential therapeutic option with novel mechanism to affect the proliferation, differentiation, senescence, and apoptosis of cancer cells through regulation of multiple signal transduction. Aiming at the improvement of the apoptosis activity and pharmacokinetic profiles of ceramides, a novel series of ceramide analogs were developed through structure simplification and conformation restriction. Among them, compound 12 bearing an alkoxyl naphthyl motif, with favorable rat pharmacokinetic properties, showed better anti-proliferative activity against various colon cancer cells (IC50 ∼20 μM) than other ceramide analogues, as well as the synergistic effect combined with AKT inhibitor MK2206. Additionally, we demonstrated that this combination therapy promoted caspase 3-dependent apoptotic pathway and intensified cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, the combination of compound 12 and MK2206 displayed synergistic anti-tumor effect in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiaoxu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Junyan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Shulei Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Hui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yuqiang Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Mingshun Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Jian Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Cheng Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Zuoquan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Jiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Drug Research and CAS Key Laboratory of Receptor Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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10
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Positively Charged Nanoparticle Delivery of n-Butylidenephthalide Enhances Antitumor Effect in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 2021:8817875. [PMID: 33791383 PMCID: PMC7997748 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8817875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second and sixth leading cause of cancer death in men and woman in 185 countries statistics, respectively. n-Butylidenephthalide (BP) has shown anti-HCC activity, but it also has an unstable structure that decreases its potential antitumor activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the cell uptake, activity protection, and antitumor mechanism of BP encapsulated in the novel liposome LPPC in HCC cells. BP/LPPC exhibited higher cell uptake and cytotoxicity than BP alone, and combined with clinical drug etoposide (VP-16), BP/LPPC showed a synergistic effect against HCC cells. Additionally, BP/LPPC increased cell cycle regulators (p53, p-p53, and p21) and decreased cell cycle-related proteins (Rb, p-Rb, CDK4, and cyclin D1), leading to cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase in HCC cells. BP/LPPC induced cell apoptosis through activation of both the extrinsic (Fas-L and Caspase-8) and intrinsic (Bax and Caspase-9) apoptosis pathways and activated the caspase cascade to trigger HCC cell death. In conclusion, the LPPC complex improved the antitumor activity of BP in terms of cytotoxicity, cell cycle regulation and cell apoptosis, and BP/LPPC synergistically inhibited cell growth during combination treatment with VP-16 in HCC cells. Therefore, BP/LPPC is potentially a good candidate for clinical drug development or for use as an adjuvant for clinical drugs as a combination therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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11
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Inhibitors of Ceramide- and Sphingosine-Metabolizing Enzymes as Sensitizers in Radiotherapy and Chemotherapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082062. [PMID: 32722626 PMCID: PMC7463798 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In the treatment of advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), including oral SCC, radiotherapy is a commonly performed therapeutic modality. The combined use of radiotherapy with chemotherapy improves therapeutic effects, but it also increases adverse events. Ceramide, a central molecule in sphingolipid metabolism and signaling pathways, mediates antiproliferative responses, and its level increases in response to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. However, when ceramide is metabolized, prosurvival factors, such as sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), ceramide-1-phosphate (C1P), and glucosylceramide, are produced, reducing the antitumor effects of ceramide. The activities of ceramide- and sphingosine-metabolizing enzymes are also associated with radio- and chemo-resistance. Ceramide analogs and low molecular-weight compounds targeting these enzymes exert anticancer effects. Synthetic ceramides and a therapeutic approach using ultrasound have also been developed. Inhibitors of ceramide- and sphingosine-metabolizing enzymes and synthetic ceramides can function as sensitizers of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for HNSCC.
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12
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Chang KF, Chang JT, Huang XF, Lin YL, Liao KW, Huang CW, Tsai NM. Antitumor Effects of N-Butylidenephthalide Encapsulated in Lipopolyplexs in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25102394. [PMID: 32455622 PMCID: PMC7288114 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25102394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related death in the world. N-Butylidenephthalide (BP), a natural compound, inhibits several cancers, such as hepatoma, brain tumor and colon cancer. However, due to the unstable structure, the activity of BP is quickly lost after dissolution in an aqueous solution. A polycationic liposomal polyethylenimine and polyethylene glycol complex (LPPC), a new drug carrier, encapsulates both hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds, maintains the activity of the compound, and increases uptake of cancer cells. The purpose of this study is to investigate the antitumor effects and protection of BP encapsulated in LPPC in CRC cells. The LPPC encapsulation protected BP activity, increased the cytotoxicity of BP and enhanced cell uptake through clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Moreover, the BP/LPPC-regulated the expression of the p21 protein and cell cycle-related proteins (CDK4, Cyclin B1 and Cyclin D1), resulting in an increase in the population of cells in the G0/G1 and subG1 phases. BP/LPPC induced cell apoptosis by activating the extrinsic (Fas, Fas-L and Caspase-8) and intrinsic (Bax and Caspase-9) apoptosis pathways. Additionally, BP/LPPC combined with 5-FU synergistically inhibited the growth of HT-29 cells. In conclusion, LPPC enhanced the antitumor activity and cellular uptake of BP, and the BP/LPPC complex induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, thereby causing death. These findings suggest the putative use of BP/LPPC as an adjuvant cytotoxic agent for colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai-Fu Chang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan; (K.-F.C.); (J.T.C.); (X.-F.H.)
- Department of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
| | - Jinghua Tsai Chang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan; (K.-F.C.); (J.T.C.); (X.-F.H.)
| | - Xiao-Fan Huang
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan; (K.-F.C.); (J.T.C.); (X.-F.H.)
- Department of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Ling Lin
- Agricultural Biotechnology Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan;
| | - Kuang-Wen Liao
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30068, Taiwan;
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Bioengineering, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 30068, Taiwan
| | - Chien-Wei Huang
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Armed Forces General Hospital, Kaohsiung 80284, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-W.H.); (N.-M.T.)
| | - Nu-Man Tsai
- Department of Medical Laboratory and Biotechnology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
- Clinical Laboratory, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
- Correspondence: (C.-W.H.); (N.-M.T.)
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13
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Choi MK, Song IS. Recent advances in the formulation of sphingolipid anticancer therapeutics. JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL INVESTIGATION 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40005-020-00475-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
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14
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Kovilakath A, Cowart LA. Sphingolipid Mediators of Myocardial Pathology. J Lipid Atheroscler 2020; 9:23-49. [PMID: 32821720 PMCID: PMC7379069 DOI: 10.12997/jla.2020.9.1.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. While the causes of cardiomyopathy continue to be elucidated, current evidence suggests that aberrant bioactive lipid signaling plays a crucial role as a component of cardiac pathophysiology. Sphingolipids have been implicated in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease, as they regulate numerous cellular processes that occur in primary and secondary cardiomyopathies. Experimental evidence gathered over the last few decades from both in vitro and in vivo model systems indicates that inhibitors of sphingolipid synthesis attenuate a variety of cardiomyopathic symptoms. In this review, we focus on various cardiomyopathies in which sphingolipids have been implicated and the potential therapeutic benefits that could be gained by targeting sphingolipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kovilakath
- Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - L. Ashley Cowart
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
- Hunter Holmes McGuire Veteran's Affairs Medical Center, Richmond, VA, USA
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15
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Chen J, Khiste SK, Fu X, Roy KR, Dong Y, Zhang J, Liu M, Liu YY, Liu Z. Rubusoside-assisted solubilization of poorly soluble C 6-Ceramide for a pilot pharmacokinetic study. Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat 2019; 146:106402. [PMID: 31841664 DOI: 10.1016/j.prostaglandins.2019.106402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Although C6-Ceramide has attracted much attention as a possible tumor suppressor, the delivery of C6-Ceramide is still challenging due to its inherent hydrophobicity and insolubility. In this study we explored the use of a natural compound rubusoside (RUB) as a solubilizer to enhance the solubility of a fluorescence-labeled C6-Ceramide (NBD C6-Ceramide) and to characterize its pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution in an animal model. RUB significantly enhanced the solubility of NBD C6-Ceramide by forming nanomicelles, and efficiently delivered NBD C6-Ceramide in rats by oral and intravenous administration. RUB loaded 1.96 % of NBD C6-Ceramide in the nanomicelles and solubilized it to a concentration of 3.6 mg/mL in water. NBD C6-Ceramide in nanomicelles remained stable in aqueous solutions, allowing intravenous administration without the use of any organic solvents or surfactants. After oral administration, NBD C6-Ceramide rapidly rose to peak plasma concentrations within the first 90 min, distributed to tissues, and remained in vivo for more than 24 h. Tissular levels of NBD C6-Ceramide from high to low were associated with heart, lung, cerebellum, testicle, spleen, liver, kidney, and brain. Altogether, our study demonstrated that RUB-assisted nanomicelles can serve as an efficient and convenient delivery system for short-chain C6-Ceramide and enable in vivo evaluation of potential new cancer treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianzhong Chen
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, LSU Agricultural Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA
| | - Sachin K Khiste
- Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA 71203, USA
| | - Xiaomei Fu
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, LSU Agricultural Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA; School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, China
| | - Kartik R Roy
- Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA 71203, USA
| | - Yixuan Dong
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, LSU Agricultural Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA
| | - Jian Zhang
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, LSU Agricultural Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA; School of Perfume and Aroma Technology, Shanghai Institute of Technology, Shanghai 201418, China
| | - Mei Liu
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, LSU Agricultural Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA; School of Pharmacy, Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 330004, China
| | - Yong-Yu Liu
- Basic Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA 71203, USA
| | - Zhijun Liu
- School of Renewable Natural Resources, LSU Agricultural Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA.
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16
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Kang CM, Yun B, Kim M, Song M, Kim YH, Lee SH, Lee H, Lee SM, Lee SM. Postoperative serum metabolites of patients on a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet after pancreatectomy for pancreatobiliary cancer: a nontargeted metabolomics pilot study. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16820. [PMID: 31727967 PMCID: PMC6856065 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53287-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A ketogenic diet is a potential adjuvant cancer therapy that limits glucose availability to tumours while fuelling normal tissues with ketone bodies. We examined the effect of a low carbohydrate ketogenic diet (LCKD) (80% kcal from fat, ketogenic ratio 1.75:1, w/w) compared to a general hospital diet (GD) on serum metabolic profiles in patients (n = 18, ≥ 19 years old) who underwent pancreatectomy for pancreatobiliary cancer. Serum samples collected preoperatively (week 0) and after the dietary intervention (week 2) were analysed with a nontargeted metabolomics approach using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Serum β-hydroxybutyrate and total ketone levels significantly increased after 2 weeks of LCKD compared to GD (p < 0.05). Principal component analysis score plots and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis also showed significant differences between groups at week 2, with strong validation. In all, 240 metabolites differed between LCKD and GD. Pathways including glycerophospholipid and sphingolipid metabolisms were significantly enriched in the LCKD samples. LCKD decreased C22:1-ceramide levels, which are reported to be high in pancreatic cancer, while increasing lysophosphatidylcholine (18:2), uric acid, citrulline, and inosine levels, which are generally low in pancreatic cancer. Postoperative LCKD might beneficially modulate pancreatic cancer-related metabolites in patients with pancreatobiliary cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Moo Kang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yonsei Pancreatobiliary Cancer Center, Severance Hospital, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - BoKyeong Yun
- Department of Food and Nutrition, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Minju Kim
- Department of Food and Nutrition, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Mina Song
- Department of Food and Nutrition, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Yeon-Hee Kim
- Department of Food and Nutrition, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Sung Hwan Lee
- Department of Systems Biology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas, 77030, United States
| | - Hosun Lee
- Department of Nutrition Care, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Song Mi Lee
- Department of Nutrition Care, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul, 03722, Korea
| | - Seung-Min Lee
- Department of Food and Nutrition, BK21 PLUS Project, College of Human Ecology, Yonsei University, Seoul, 03722, Korea.
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17
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Alrbyawi H, Poudel I, Dash RP, Srinivas NR, Tiwari AK, Arnold RD, Babu RJ. Role of Ceramides in Drug Delivery. AAPS PharmSciTech 2019; 20:287. [PMID: 31410612 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-019-1497-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramides belong to the sphingolipid group of lipids, which serve as both intracellular and intercellular messengers and as regulatory molecules that play essential roles in signal transduction, inflammation, angiogenesis, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer cell degeneration. Ceramides also play an important structural role in cell membranes by increasing their rigidity, creating micro-domains (rafts and caveolae), and altering membrane permeability; all these events are involved in the cell signaling. Ceramides constitute approximately half of the lipid composition in the human skin contributing to barrier function as well as epidermal signaling as they affect both proliferation and apoptosis of keratinocytes. Incorporation of ceramides in topical preparations as functional lipids appears to alter skin barrier functions. Ceramides also appear to enhance the bioavailability of drugs by acting as lipid delivery systems. They appear to regulate the ocular inflammation signaling, and external ceramides have shown relief in the anterior and posterior eye disorders. Ceramides play a structural role in liposome formulations and enhance the cellular uptake of amphiphilic drugs, such as chemotherapies. This review presents an overview of the various biological functions of ceramides, and their utility in topical, oral, ocular, and chemotherapeutic drug delivery.
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18
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Abstract
Bioactive lipids are essential components of human cells and tissues. As discussed in this review, the cancer lipidome is diverse and malleable, with the ability to promote or inhibit cancer pathogenesis. Targeting lipids within the tumor and surrounding microenvironment may be a novel therapeutic approach for treating cancer patients. Additionally, the emergence of a novel super-family of lipid mediators termed specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) has revealed a new role for bioactive lipid mediators in the resolution of inflammation in cancer biology. The role of SPMs in cancer holds great promise in our understanding of cancer pathogenesis and can ultimately be used in future cancer diagnostics and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Sulciner
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Allison Gartung
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Molly M Gilligan
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Charles N Serhan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Center for Experimental Therapeutics and Reperfusion Injury, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Dipak Panigrahy
- Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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19
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Lu P, White-Gilbertson S, Nganga R, Kester M, Voelkel-Johnson C. Expression of the SNAI2 transcriptional repressor is regulated by C 16-ceramide. Cancer Biol Ther 2019; 20:922-930. [PMID: 30836822 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2019.1579962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ceramide synthase 6 (CerS6) is an enzyme that preferentially generates pro-apoptotic C16-ceramide in the sphingolipid metabolic pathway. Reduced expression of CerS6 has been associated with apoptosis resistance and recent studies point to a role for CerS6 in epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Because cells that undergo EMT are also more resistant to apoptosis, we hypothesized that reduced expression of CerS6 could induce changes that are associated with EMT. We found that shRNA-mediated knockdown of CerS6 increases expression of the EMT transcription factor SNAI2 but not SNAI1 or TWIST. Treatment with C6-ceramide nanoliposomes (CNL) resulted in a preferential increase in C16-ceramide and suppressed SNAI2 transcriptional activation and protein expression. The increase in C16-ceramide following CNL treatment was dependent on CerS activity and occurred even when CerS6 shRNA was expressed. shRNA against CerS5, which like CerS6 preferentially generates C16-ceramide, also decreased transcriptional activation of SNAI2, suggesting a role for C16-ceramide rather than a specific enzyme in the regulation of this transcription factor. While loss of CerS6 has been associated with apoptosis resistance, we found that cells lacking this protein are more susceptible to the effects CNL. In summary, our study identifies SNAI2 as a novel target whose expression can be influenced by C16-ceramide levels. The potential of CNL to suppress SNAI2 expression has important clinical implications, since elevated expression of this transcription factor has been associated with an aggressive phenotype or poor outcomes in several types of solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Lu
- a Department of Microbiology & Immunology , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA.,b Hollings Cancer Center , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA
| | - Shai White-Gilbertson
- a Department of Microbiology & Immunology , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA.,b Hollings Cancer Center , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA
| | - Rose Nganga
- b Hollings Cancer Center , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA.,c Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA
| | - Mark Kester
- d Department of Pharmacology, Biomedical Engineering, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics , University of Virginia , Charlottesville , VA , USA
| | - Christina Voelkel-Johnson
- a Department of Microbiology & Immunology , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA.,b Hollings Cancer Center , Medical University of South Carolina , Charleston , SC , USA
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20
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Kreitzburg KM, van Waardenburg RCAM, Yoon KJ. Sphingolipid metabolism and drug resistance in ovarian cancer. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018; 1:181-197. [PMID: 31891125 PMCID: PMC6936734 DOI: 10.20517/cdr.2018.06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Despite progress in understanding molecular aberrations that contribute to the development and progression of ovarian cancer, virtually all patients succumb to drug resistant disease at relapse. Emerging data implicate bioactive sphingolipids and regulation of sphingolipid metabolism as components of response to chemotherapy or development of resistance. Increases in cytosolic ceramide induce apoptosis in response to therapy with multiple classes of chemotherapeutic agents. Aberrations in sphingolipid metabolism that accelerate the catabolism of ceramide or that prevent the production and accumulation of ceramide contribute to resistance to standard of care platinum- and taxane-based agents. The aim of this review is to highlight current literature and research investigating the influence of the sphingolipids and enzymes that comprise the sphingosine-1-phosphate pathway on the progression of ovarian cancer. The focus of the review is on the utility of sphingolipid-centric therapeutics as a mechanism to circumvent drug resistance in this tumor type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly M Kreitzburg
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | | | - Karina J Yoon
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
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21
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Trayssac M, Hannun YA, Obeid LM. Role of sphingolipids in senescence: implication in aging and age-related diseases. J Clin Invest 2018; 128:2702-2712. [PMID: 30108193 PMCID: PMC6025964 DOI: 10.1172/jci97949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is defined as the progressive deterioration of physiological function with age. Incidence of many pathologies increases with age, including neurological and cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Aging tissues become less adaptable and renewable, and cells undergo senescence, a process by which they "irreversibly" stop dividing. Senescence has been shown to serve as a tumor suppression mechanism with clear desirable effects. However, senescence also has deleterious consequences, especially for cardiovascular, metabolic, and immune systems. Sphingolipids are a major class of lipids that regulate cell biology, owing to their structural and bioactive properties and diversity. Their involvement in the regulation of aging and senescence has been demonstrated and studied in multiple organisms and cell types, especially that of ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate; ceramide induces cellular senescence and sphingosine-1-phosphate delays it. These discoveries could be very useful in the future to understand aging mechanisms and improve therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Trayssac
- Stony Brook Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Yusuf A. Hannun
- Stony Brook Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | - Lina M. Obeid
- Stony Brook Cancer Center and Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
- Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York, USA
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22
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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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Abstract
Exosomes are secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) that carry micro RNAs and other factors to reprogram cancer cells and tissues affected by cancer. Exosomes are exchanged between cancer cells and other tissues, often to prepare a premetastatic niche, escape immune surveillance, or spread multidrug resistance. Only a few studies investigated the function of lipids in exosomes although their lipid composition is different from that of the secreting cells. Ceramide is one of the lipids critical for exosome formation, and it is also enriched in these EVs. New research suggests that lipids in the exosomal membrane may organize and transmit "mobile rafts" that turn exosomes into extracellular signalosomes spreading activation of cell signaling pathways in oncogenesis and metastasis. Ceramide may modulate the function of mobile rafts and their effect on these cell signaling pathways. The critical role of lipids and, in particular, ceramide for formation, secretion, and function of exosomes may lead to a radically new understanding of cancer biology and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Elsherbini
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
| | - Erhard Bieberich
- Department of Physiology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, United States
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Li G, Liu D, Kimchi ET, Kaifi JT, Qi X, Manjunath Y, Liu X, Deering T, Avella DM, Fox T, Rockey DC, Schell TD, Kester M, Staveley-O’Carroll KF. Nanoliposome C6-Ceramide Increases the Anti-tumor Immune Response and Slows Growth of Liver Tumors in Mice. Gastroenterology 2018; 154:1024-1036.e9. [PMID: 29408569 PMCID: PMC5908238 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2017] [Revised: 10/05/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Ceramide, a sphingolipid metabolite, affects T-cell signaling, induces apoptosis of cancer cells, and slows tumor growth in mice. However, it has not been used as a chemotherapeutic agent because of its cell impermeability and precipitation in aqueous solution. We developed a nanoliposome-loaded C6-ceremide (LipC6) to overcome this limitation and investigated its effects in mice with liver tumors. METHODS Immune competent C57BL/6 mice received intraperitoneal injections of carbon tetrachloride and intra-splenic injections of oncogenic hepatocytes. As a result, tumors resembling human hepatocellular carcinomas developed in a fibrotic liver setting. After tumors formed, mice were given an injection of LipC6 or vehicle via tail vein every other day for 2 weeks. This was followed by administration, also via tail vein, of tumor antigen-specific (TAS) CD8+ T cells isolated from the spleens of line 416 mice, and subsequent immunization by intraperitoneal injection of tumor antigen-expressing B6/WT-19 cells. Tumor growth was monitored with magnetic resonance imaging. Tumor apoptosis, proliferation, and AKT expression were analyzed using immunohistochemistry and immunoblots. Cytokine production, phenotype, and function of TAS CD8+ T cells and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) were studied with flow cytometry, real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and ELISA. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) in TAMs and bone marrow-derived macrophages, induced by colony stimulating factor 2 (GMCSF or CSF2) or colony stimulating factor 1 (MCSF or CSF1), were detected using a luminescent assay. RESULTS Injection of LipC6 slowed tumor growth by reducing tumor cell proliferation and phosphorylation of AKT, and increasing tumor cell apoptosis, compared with vehicle. Tumors grew more slowly in mice given the combination of LipC6 injection and TAS CD8+ T cells followed by immunization compared with mice given vehicle, LipC6, the T cells, or immunization alone. LipC6 injection also reduced numbers of TAMs and their production of ROS. LipC6 induced TAMs to differentiate into an M1 phenotype, which reduced immune suppression and increased activity of CD8+ T cells. These results were validated by experiments with bone marrow-derived macrophages induced by GMCSF or MCSF. CONCLUSIONS In mice with liver tumors, injection of LipC6 reduces the number of TAMs and the ability of TAMs to suppress the anti-tumor immune response. LipC6 also increases the anti-tumor effects of TAS CD8+ T cells. LipC6 might therefore increase the efficacy of immune therapy in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangfu Li
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri; Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri.
| | - Dai Liu
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri,Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri,Address requests for reprints to: Kevin F. Staveley-O’Carroll, MD, PhD, Professor, Chair of Surgery, Director of Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, One Hospital Drive, Mc501, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65212. ; fax: 573-884-4585; or Guangfu Li, PhD, DVM, Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery, Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, One Hospital Dr., Medical Sciences Building, M272, Columbia, MO 65212. ; fax: 573-884-4585
| | - Eric T. Kimchi
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri,Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Jussuf T. Kaifi
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri,Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Xiaoqiang Qi
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri,Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Yariswamy Manjunath
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri,Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Xinjian Liu
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri,Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Tye Deering
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Diego M. Avella
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri,Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Todd Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Don C. Rockey
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Todd D. Schell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina
| | - Kevin F. Staveley-O’Carroll
- Department of Surgery, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri,Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, Missouri
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Zhang X, Kitatani K, Toyoshima M, Ishibashi M, Usui T, Minato J, Egiz M, Shigeta S, Fox T, Deering T, Kester M, Yaegashi N. Ceramide Nanoliposomes as a MLKL-Dependent, Necroptosis-Inducing, Chemotherapeutic Reagent in Ovarian Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2018; 17:50-59. [PMID: 29079707 PMCID: PMC5752574 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-17-0173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Ceramides are bioactive lipids that mediate cell death in cancer cells, and ceramide-based therapy is now being tested in dose-escalating phase I clinical trials as a cancer treatment. Multiple nanoscale delivery systems for ceramide have been proposed to overcome the inherent toxicities, poor pharmacokinetics, and difficult biophysics associated with ceramide. Using the ceramide nanoliposomes (CNL), we now investigate the therapeutic efficacy and signaling mechanisms of this nanoscale delivery platform in refractory ovarian cancer. Treatment of ovarian cancer cells with CNL decreased the number of living cells through necroptosis but not apoptosis. Mechanistically, dying SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells exhibit activation of pseudokinase mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) as evidenced by oligomerization and relocalization to the blebbing membranes, showing necroptotic characteristics. Knockdown of MLKL, but not its upstream protein kinases such as receptor-interacting protein kinases, with siRNA significantly abolished CNL-induced cell death. Monomeric MLKL protein expression inversely correlated with the IC50 values of CNL in distinct ovarian cancer cell lines, suggesting MLKL as a possible determinant for CNL-induced cell death. Finally, systemic CNL administration suppressed metastatic growth in an ovarian cancer cell xenograft model. Taken together, these results suggest that MLKL is a novel pronecroptotic target for ceramide in ovarian cancer models. Mol Cancer Ther; 17(1); 50-59. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuewei Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kazuyuki Kitatani
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
- Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Masafumi Toyoshima
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Masumi Ishibashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Toshinori Usui
- Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Junko Minato
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Mahy Egiz
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Shogo Shigeta
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Todd Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Tye Deering
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Nobuo Yaegashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
- Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
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Dupre TV, Doll MA, Shah PP, Sharp CN, Siow D, Megyesi J, Shayman J, Bielawska A, Bielawski J, Beverly LJ, Hernandez-Corbacho M, Clarke CJ, Snider AJ, Schnellmann RG, Obeid LM, Hannun YA, Siskind LJ. Inhibiting glucosylceramide synthase exacerbates cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury. J Lipid Res 2017; 58:1439-1452. [PMID: 28490444 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m076745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute kidney injury (AKI), resulting from chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin, remains an obstacle in the treatment of cancer. Cisplatin-induced AKI involves apoptotic and necrotic cell death, pathways regulated by sphingolipids such as ceramide and glucosylceramide. Results from this study indicate that C57BL/6J mice treated with cisplatin had increased ceramide and hexosylceramide levels in the renal cortex 72 h following cisplatin treatment. Pretreatment of mice with inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase and de novo ceramide synthesis (amitriptyline and myriocin, respectively) prevented accumulation of ceramides and hexosylceramide in the renal cortex and protected from cisplatin-induced AKI. To determine the role of ceramide metabolism to hexosylceramides in kidney injury, we treated mice with a potent and highly specific inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase, the enzyme responsible for catalyzing the glycosylation of ceramides to form glucosylceramides. Inhibition of glucosylceramide synthase attenuated the accumulation of the hexosylceramides and exacerbated ceramide accumulation in the renal cortex following treatment of mice with cisplatin. Increasing ceramides and decreasing glucosylceramides in the renal cortex sensitized mice to cisplatin-induced AKI according to markers of kidney function, kidney injury, inflammation, cell stress, and apoptosis. Under conditions of high ceramide generation, data suggest that metabolism of ceramides to glucosylceramides buffers kidney ceramides and helps attenuate kidney injury.-Dupre, T. V., M. A. Doll, P. P. Shah, C. N. Sharp, D. Siow, J. Megyesi, J. Shayman, A. Bielawska, J. Bielawski, L. J. Beverly, M. Hernandez-Corbacho, C. J. Clarke, A. J. Snider, R. G. Schnellmann, L. M. Obeid, Y. A. Hannun, and L. J. Siskind. Inhibiting glucosylceramide synthase exacerbates cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury. J. Lipid Res 2017. 58: 1439-1452.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tess V Dupre
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | - Mark A Doll
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | - Parag P Shah
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | - Cierra N Sharp
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | - Deanna Siow
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | - Judit Megyesi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, Little Rock, AR
| | - James Shayman
- Department Internal Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
| | - Alicja Bielawska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lipidomics Shared Resources, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Jacek Bielawski
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Lipidomics Shared Resources, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
| | - Levi J Beverly
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
| | | | - Christopher J Clarke
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Ashley J Snider
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY; Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY
| | - Rick G Schnellmann
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
| | - Lina M Obeid
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY; Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, NY
| | - Yusuf A Hannun
- Department of Medicine and Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY
| | - Leah J Siskind
- Departments of Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Louisville, Louisville, KY; James Graham Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY.
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Morad SAF, Ryan TE, Neufer PD, Zeczycki TN, Davis TS, MacDougall MR, Fox TE, Tan SF, Feith DJ, Loughran TP, Kester M, Claxton DF, Barth BM, Deering TG, Cabot MC. Ceramide-tamoxifen regimen targets bioenergetic elements in acute myelogenous leukemia. J Lipid Res 2016; 57:1231-42. [PMID: 27140664 PMCID: PMC4918852 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m067389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Revised: 04/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of our study was to determine the mechanism of action of the short-chain ceramide analog, C6-ceramide, and the breast cancer drug, tamoxifen, which we show coactively depress viability and induce apoptosis in human acute myelogenous leukemia cells. Exposure to the C6-ceramide-tamoxifen combination elicited decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential and complex I respiration, increases in reactive oxygen species (ROS), and release of mitochondrial proapoptotic proteins. Decreases in ATP levels, reduced glycolytic capacity, and reduced expression of inhibitors of apoptosis proteins also resulted. Cytotoxicity of the drug combination was mitigated by exposure to antioxidant. Cells metabolized C6-ceramide by glycosylation and hydrolysis, the latter leading to increases in long-chain ceramides. Tamoxifen potently blocked glycosylation of C6-ceramide and long-chain ceramides. N-desmethyltamoxifen, a poor antiestrogen and the major tamoxifen metabolite in humans, was also effective with C6-ceramide, indicating that traditional antiestrogen pathways are not involved in cellular responses. We conclude that cell death is driven by mitochondrial targeting and ROS generation and that tamoxifen enhances the ceramide effect by blocking its metabolism. As depletion of ATP and targeting the "Warburg effect" represent dynamic metabolic insult, this ceramide-containing combination may be of utility in the treatment of leukemia and other cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samy A F Morad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Terence E Ryan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - P Darrell Neufer
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Tonya N Zeczycki
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Traci S Davis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Matthew R MacDougall
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Todd E Fox
- Cancer Center, Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - David J Feith
- Cancer Center, Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine Oncology, Department of Medicine
| | - Thomas P Loughran
- Cancer Center, Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
| | - Mark Kester
- Cancer Center, Division of Hematology Oncology, Department of Medicine
| | - David F Claxton
- Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA
| | - Brian M Barth
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
| | - Tye G Deering
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC
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Ma YY, Mou XZ, Ding YH, Zou H, Huang DS. Delivery systems of ceramide in targeted cancer therapy: ceramide alone or in combination with other anti-tumor agents. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2016; 13:1397-406. [PMID: 27168034 DOI: 10.1080/17425247.2016.1188803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Yu Ma
- Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Medical School and Jiangsu Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao-Zhou Mou
- Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ya-Hui Ding
- Department of Cardiology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hai Zou
- Department of Cardiology, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dong-Sheng Huang
- Clinical Research Institute, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhejiang Provincial People’s Hospital, Hangzhou, China
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29
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Major apoptotic mechanisms and genes involved in apoptosis. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:8471-86. [PMID: 27059734 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-5035-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 362] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
As much as the cellular viability is important for the living organisms, the elimination of unnecessary or damaged cells has the opposite necessity for the maintenance of homeostasis in tissues, organs and the whole organism. Apoptosis, a type of cell death mechanism, is controlled by the interactions between several molecules and responsible for the elimination of unwanted cells from the body. Apoptosis can be triggered by intrinsically or extrinsically through death signals from the outside of the cell. Any abnormality in apoptosis process can cause various types of diseases from cancer to auto-immune diseases. Different gene families such as caspases, inhibitor of apoptosis proteins, B cell lymphoma (Bcl)-2 family of genes, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor gene superfamily, or p53 gene are involved and/or collaborate in the process of apoptosis. In this review, we discuss the basic features of apoptosis and have focused on the gene families playing critical roles, activation/inactivation mechanisms, upstream/downstream effectors, and signaling pathways in apoptosis on the basis of cancer studies. In addition, novel apoptotic players such as miRNAs and sphingolipid family members in various kind of cancer are discussed.
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Hajj C, Becker-Flegler KA, Haimovitz-Friedman A. Novel mechanisms of action of classical chemotherapeutic agents on sphingolipid pathways. Biol Chem 2016; 396:669-79. [PMID: 25719313 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2014-0302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The prevailing mechanisms of action of traditional chemotherapeutic agents have been challenged by sphingolipid cancer research. Many studies have shown that ceramide generation in response to cytotoxic agents is central to tumor cell death. Ceramide can be generated either via hydrolysis of cell-membrane sphingomyelin by sphingomyelinases, hydrolysis of cerebrosides, or via de novo synthesis by ceramide synthases. Ceramide can act as a second messenger for apoptosis, senescence or autophagy. Inherent or acquired alterations in the sphingolipid pathway can account for resistance to the classic chemotherapeutic agents. In particular, it has been shown that activation of the acid ceramidase can lead to the formation of sphingosine 1-phosphate, which then antagonizes ceramide signaling by initiating a pro-survival signaling pathway. Furthermore, ceramide glycosylation catalyzed by glucosylceramide synthase converts ceramide to glucosylceramide, thus eliminating ceramide and consequently protecting cancer cells from apoptosis. In this review, we describe the effects of some of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents on ceramide generation, with a particular emphasis on strategies used to enhance the efficacy of these agents.
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Kester M, Bassler J, Fox TE, Carter CJ, Davidson JA, Parette MR. Preclinical development of a C6-ceramide NanoLiposome, a novel sphingolipid therapeutic. Biol Chem 2016; 396:737-47. [PMID: 25838296 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2015-0129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Despite the therapeutic potential of sphingolipids, the ability to develop this class of compounds as active pharmaceutical ingredients has been hampered by issues of solubility and delivery. Beyond these technical hurdles, significant challenges in completing the necessary preclinical studies to support regulatory review are necessary for commercialization. This review seeks to identify the obstacles and potential solutions in the translation of a novel liposomal technology from the academic bench to investigational new drug (IND) stage by discussing the preclinical development of the Ceramide NanoLiposome (CNL), which is currently being developed as an anticancer drug for the initial indication of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma remains as a chemoresistant disease with the poorest prognosis. Gemcitabine has been the standard treatment during the last decade. Erlotinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, in combination with gemcitabine produces a small increase in survival. However, these results remain insufficient. The aim of this study was to investigate the molecular interplay in vitro between them regarding their effects over cytotoxicity, proliferation, apoptosis, and invasion. METHODS Using the human pancreatic cancer cell lines Panc-1 and BxPC-3 in vitro, the effects of gemcitabine and erlotinib therapy on growth, proliferation, and invasion were tested by cytotoxicity, cell cycle, and Annexin V-Fluorescein Isothiocyanate analysis, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, protein expression, and Chip assays. RESULTS Therapy decreased cell proliferation causing G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest with induction of apoptosis in the Panc-1 cell line. This blockade was associated with increased p27 expression. Besides, treatments enhanced the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway and the binding of NF-κB to the promoters of genes related to the proliferation and the evasion of apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that, although gemcitabine and erlotinib exert antiproliferative effects over pancreatic cancer cell lines, the gemcitabine-induced activation of NF-κB expression and its DNA-binding activities are important drawbacks of this treatment against pancreatic cancer.
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Abstract
Studies over the past two decades have identified ceramide as a multifunctional central molecule in the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway. Given its diverse tumor suppressive activities, molecular understanding of ceramide action will produce fundamental insights into processes that limit tumorigenesis and may identify key molecular targets for therapeutic intervention. Ceramide can be activated by a diverse array of stresses such as heat shock, genotoxic damage, oxidative stress and anticancer drugs. Ceramide triggers a variety of tumor suppressive and anti-proliferative cellular programs such as apoptosis, autophagy, senescence, and necroptosis by activating or repressing key effector molecules. Defects in ceramide generation and metabolism in cancer contribute to tumor cell survival and resistance to chemotherapy. The potent and versatile anticancer activity profile of ceramide has motivated drug development efforts to (re-)activate ceramide in established tumors. This review focuses on our current understanding of the tumor suppressive functions of ceramide and highlights the potential downstream targets of ceramide which are involved in its tumor suppressive action.
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Linton SS, Sherwood SG, Drews KC, Kester M. Targeting cancer cells in the tumor microenvironment: opportunities and challenges in combinatorial nanomedicine. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 8:208-22. [PMID: 26153136 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2015] [Revised: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancer therapies of the future will rely on synergy between drugs delivered in combination to achieve both maximum efficacy and decreased toxicity. Nanoscale drug delivery vehicles composed of highly tunable nanomaterials ('nanocarriers') represent the most promising approach to achieve simultaneous, cell-selective delivery of synergistic ratios of combinations of drugs within solid tumors. Nanocarriers are currently being used to co-encapsulate and deliver synergistic ratios of multiple anticancer drugs to target cells within solid tumors. Investigators exploit the unique environment associated with solid tumors, termed the tumor microenvironment (TME), to make 'smart' nanocarriers. These sophisticated nanocarriers exploit the pathological conditions in the TME, thereby creating highly targeted nanocarriers that release their drug payload in a spatially and temporally controlled manner. The translational and commercial potential of nanocarrier-based combinatorial nanomedicines in cancer therapy is now a reality as several companies have initiated human clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel S Linton
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Samantha G Sherwood
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Kelly C Drews
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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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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de Souza PC, Ranjan A, Towner RA. Nanoformulations for therapy of pancreatic and liver cancers. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2015; 10:1515-34. [DOI: 10.2217/nnm.14.231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic and liver cancers often have poor prognoses. Clinically, pancreatic and liver cancer requires early diagnosis, and surgery is often associated with tumor recurrence. Currently, chemotherapies are limited in their ability to accurately target the tumors, and are associated with significant toxicity in patients. Targeting of chemotherapy can be improved by encapsulation in nanocarriers. A variety of preclinical studies indicate relatively superior therapeutic outcomes compared with drug alone therapy. Targeted nanoparticle imaging agents may also additionally facilitate better diagnosis and improve patient outcomes. This review discusses the nanoformulations that are under investigation (mainly preclinical studies, but also with some current clinical trial examples) against pancreatic and liver cancers, understands the challenges and provides future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Coutinho de Souza
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74074, USA
- Advanced Magnetic Resonance Center, MS 60, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
| | - Ashish Ranjan
- Department of Physiological Sciences, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74074, USA
| | - Rheal A Towner
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Center for Veterinary Health Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74074, USA
- Advanced Magnetic Resonance Center, MS 60, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, USA
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C6-ceramide nanoliposome suppresses tumor metastasis by eliciting PI3K and PKCζ tumor-suppressive activities and regulating integrin affinity modulation. Sci Rep 2015; 5:9275. [PMID: 25792190 PMCID: PMC4366857 DOI: 10.1038/srep09275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanoliposomal formulation of C6-ceramide, a proapoptotic sphingolipid metabolite, presents an effective way to treat malignant tumor. Here, we provide evidence that acute treatment (30 min) of melanoma and breast cancer cells with nanoliposomal C6-ceramide (NaL-C6) may suppress cell migration without inducing cell death. By employing a novel flow migration assay, we demonstrated that NaL-C6 decreased tumor extravasation under shear conditions. Compared with ghost nanoliposome, NaL-C6 triggered phosphorylation of PI3K and PKCζ and dephosphorylation of PKCα. Concomitantly, activated PKCζ translocated into cell membrane. siRNA knockdown or pharmacological inhibition of PKCζ or PI3K rescued NaL-C6-mediated suppression of tumor migration. By inducing dephosphorylation of paxillin, PKCζ was responsible for NaL-C6-mediated stress fiber depolymerization and focal adhesion disassembly in the metastatic tumor cells. PKCζ and PI3K regulated cell shear-resistant adhesion in a way that required integrin αvβ3 affinity modulation. In conclusion, we identified a novel role of acute nanoliposomal ceramide treatment in reducing integrin affinity and inhibiting melanoma metastasis by conferring PI3K and PKCζ tumor-suppressive activities.
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Di Bartolomeo S, Agostini A, Spinedi A. Differential apoptotic effect and metabolism of N-acetylsphingosine and N-hexanoylsphingosine in CHP-100 human neurotumor cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2015; 458:456-461. [PMID: 25656578 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2015.01.107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The cytotoxic effects of N-acetylsphingosine (C2-Cer) and N-hexanoylsphingosine (C6-Cer) were compared together with their specific intracellular accumulation profiles and metabolism in human CHP-100 neuroepithelioma cells. The two short-chain ceramides, administered in the culture medium at an equimolar concentration, evoked a differential apoptotic response, with C6-Cer showing markedly more cytotoxic than C2-Cer. Apoptosis, that was suppressed in both cases by inhibition of caspase-9, but not of caspase-8, associated with a higher intracellular accumulation of C6-Cer over C2-Cer, notwithstanding C6-Cer was actively metabolized by direct glucosylation or by conversion to natural ceramide via the sphingosine salvage pathway, whereas C2-Cer was apparently metabolically inhert. C2-Cer cytotoxicity was markedly enhanced by increasing its concentration in the culture medium, and this response associated with a higher intracellular accumulation of this compound, in the absence of any natural ceramide elevation. These results support the notion that the differential apoptotic effect evoked by C2-Cer and C6-Cer in CHP-100 cells is driven by their differential intracellular accumulation profiles, but not by their differential property to generate natural ceramide via the sphingosine salvage pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Di Bartolomeo
- Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Agostini
- Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Angelo Spinedi
- Department of Biology, University of Rome 'Tor Vergata', Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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Morad SAF, Tan SF, Feith DJ, Kester M, Claxton DF, Loughran TP, Barth BM, Fox TE, Cabot MC. Modification of sphingolipid metabolism by tamoxifen and N-desmethyltamoxifen in acute myelogenous leukemia--Impact on enzyme activity and response to cytotoxics. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2015; 1851:919-28. [PMID: 25769964 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2015.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2014] [Revised: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The triphenylethylene antiestrogen, tamoxifen, can be an effective inhibitor of sphingolipid metabolism. This off-target activity makes tamoxifen an interesting ancillary for boosting the apoptosis-inducing properties of ceramide, a sphingolipid with valuable tumor censoring activity. Here we show for the first time that tamoxifen and metabolite, N-desmethyltamoxifen (DMT), block ceramide glycosylation and inhibit ceramide hydrolysis (by acid ceramidase, AC) in human acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) cell lines and in AML cells derived from patients. Tamoxifen (1-10 μM) inhibition of AC in AML cells was accompanied by decreases in AC protein expression. Tamoxifen also depressed expression and activity of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1), the enzyme-catalyzing production of mitogenic sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1-P). Results from mass spectroscopy showed that tamoxifen and DMT (i) increased the levels of endogenous C16:0 and C24:1 ceramide molecular species, (ii) nearly totally halted production of respective glucosylceramide (GC) molecular species, (iii) drastically reduced levels of sphingosine (to 9% of control), and (iv) reduced levels of S1-P by 85%, in vincristine-resistant HL-60/VCR cells. The co-administration of tamoxifen with either N-(4-hydroxyphenyl)retinamide (4-HPR), a ceramide-generating retinoid, or a cell-deliverable form of ceramide, C6-ceramide, resulted in marked decreases in HL-60/VCR cell viability that far exceeded single agent potency. Combination treatments resulted in synergistic apoptotic cell death as gauged by increased Annexin V binding and DNA fragmentation and activation of caspase-3. These results show the versatility of adjuvant triphenylethylene with ceramide-centric therapies for magnifying therapeutic potential in AML. Such drug regimens could serve as effective strategies, even in the multidrug-resistant setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samy A F Morad
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Su-Fern Tan
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0716, USA
| | - David J Feith
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0716, USA; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0716, USA
| | - Mark Kester
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0716, USA
| | | | - Thomas P Loughran
- Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0716, USA; University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0716, USA
| | - Brian M Barth
- Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Todd E Fox
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0001, USA
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brody School of Medicine, East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
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Haakenson JK, Khokhlatchev AV, Choi YJ, Linton SS, Zhang P, Zaki PM, Fu C, Cooper TK, Manni A, Zhu J, Fox TE, Dong C, Kester M. Lysosomal degradation of CD44 mediates ceramide nanoliposome-induced anoikis and diminished extravasation in metastatic carcinoma cells. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:8632-43. [PMID: 25681441 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.609677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The ceramide nanoliposome (CNL) has shown promise in being able to treat a variety of primary tumors. However, its potential for treating metastatic cancer remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that CNL increases anoikis while preventing cancer cell extravasation under both static and physiological fluid flow conditions. Mechanistically, CNL limits metastases by decreasing CD44 protein levels in human breast and pancreatic cancer cells via lysosomal degradation of CD44, independent of palmitoylation or proteasome targeting. siRNA down-regulation of CD44 mimics CNL-induced anoikis and diminished extravasation of cancer cells. Taken together, our data indicate that ceramide limits CD44-dependent cancer cell migration, suggesting that CNL could be used to prevent and treat solid tumor metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrei V Khokhlatchev
- the Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, and
| | - Younhee J Choi
- the Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, and
| | | | - Pu Zhang
- the Department of Bioengineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16801
| | - Peter M Zaki
- the Department of Bioengineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16801
| | - Changliang Fu
- the Department of Bioengineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16801
| | | | | | - Junjia Zhu
- Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania 17033
| | - Todd E Fox
- the Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, and
| | - Cheng Dong
- the Department of Bioengineering, Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania 16801
| | - Mark Kester
- From the Departments of Pharmacology, the Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, and
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41
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Sänger N, Ruckhäberle E, Györffy B, Engels K, Heinrich T, Fehm T, Graf A, Holtrich U, Becker S, Karn T. Acid ceramidase is associated with an improved prognosis in both DCIS and invasive breast cancer. Mol Oncol 2015; 9:58-67. [PMID: 25131496 PMCID: PMC5528695 DOI: 10.1016/j.molonc.2014.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2014] [Revised: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid ceramidase (ASAH1) a key enzyme of sphingolipid metabolism converting pro-apoptotic ceramide to sphingosine has been shown to be overexpressed in various cancers. We previously demonstrated higher expression of ASAH1 in ER positive compared to ER negative breast cancer. In the current study we performed subtype specific analyses of ASAH1 gene expression in invasive and non invasive breast cancer. We show that expression of ASAH1 is mainly associated with luminal A - like cancers which are known to have the best prognosis of all breast cancer subtypes. Moreover tumors with high ASAH1 expression among the other subtypes are also characterized by an improved prognosis. The good prognosis of tumors with high ASAH1 is independent of the type of adjuvant treatment in breast cancer and is also detected in non small cell lung cancer patients. Moreover, even in pre-invasive DCIS of the breast ASAH1 is associated with a luminal phenotype and a reduced frequency of recurrences. Thus, high ASAH1 expression is generally associated with an improved prognosis in invasive breast cancer independent of adjuvant treatment and could also be valuable as prognostic factor for pre-invasive DCIS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Sänger
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Eugen Ruckhäberle
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Balazs Györffy
- MTA TTK Lendület Cancer Biomarker Research Group, Budapest, Hungary; 2(nd) Dept. of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-SE Pediatrics and Nephrology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Knut Engels
- Zentrum für Pathologie, Zytologie und Molekularpathologie Neuss, Germany
| | - Tomas Heinrich
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Tanja Fehm
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Heinrich-Heine-University Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Anna Graf
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Uwe Holtrich
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sven Becker
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Thomas Karn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Frankfurt, Germany.
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Wang Q, Zou J, Zhang X, Mu H, Yin Y, Xie P. Glucosylceramide synthase promotes Bcl-2 expression via the ERK signaling pathway in the K562/A02 leukemia drug-resistant cell line. Int J Hematol 2014; 100:559-66. [PMID: 25281403 DOI: 10.1007/s12185-014-1679-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2014] [Revised: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/21/2014] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) to chemotherapeutic agents is a major obstacle to curative treatment of cancer. In various types of cancers, overexpression of glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) has been observed to be associated with MDR, thus making GCS a target for reversal of resistance. Our previous work demonstrated that GCS and Bcl-2 are co-overexpressed in the K562/A02 leukemia multidrug-resistant cell line compared with its sensitive counterpart, K562. In the present study, we investigated the effects of GCS on apoptosis in K562/A02 and the associated molecular mechanisms. Our results indicate that the inhibition of GCS caused downregulation of Bcl-2 as well as apoptosis enhancement in response to ADM via the ERK pathway, while JNK or p38 MAPK signaling appeared to play less significant roles in the regulation of apoptosis and MDR in K562/A02 cells. Targeting GCS by siRNA also enhanced ceramide accumulation, which is involved in GCS knockdown-induced inhibition of ERK activation and Bcl-2 expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Wang
- Central Laboratory, Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 299 Qingyang Road, Wuxi, 214023, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
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Barth BM, Keasey NR, Wang X, Shanmugavelandy SS, Rampal R, Hricik T, Cabot MC, Kester M, Wang HG, Shultz LD, Tallman MS, Levine RL, Loughran TP, Claxton DF. Engraftment of Human Primary Acute Myeloid Leukemia Defined by Integrated Genetic Profiling in NOD/SCID/IL2rγnull Mice for Preclinical Ceramide-Based Therapeutic Evaluation. JOURNAL OF LEUKEMIA (LOS ANGELES, CALIF.) 2014; 2:146. [PMID: 28239612 PMCID: PMC5321614 DOI: 10.4172/2329-6917.1000146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous and poor prognosis disease with few available therapeutic options. Novel advances are urgently needed, however effective models to test experimental therapeutics have been lacking. Recently, NOD/SCID/IL2rγnull (NSG) mice were shown to engraft primary human AML in a manner that recapitulated the natural disease and its progression. Additionally, integrated genomic profiling was used to refine risk stratification of AML. In this study, we demonstrated the engraftment of molecularly defined primary AML in NSG mice. We showed that AML that express DNMT3A mutations, which predict for adverse outcome, engrafted with exceptional efficacy. Lastly, we demonstrated that human AML-engrafted NSG mice can be effectively used to study novel ceramide-based therapeutics. Ceramide is a bioactive sphingolipid that has been implicated as an inducer of apoptosis. Elevation in cancer cell ceramide levels either via exogenous delivery or by provoking intracellular ceramide generation is the goal of ceramide-based therapeutics. In this study, we used the human AML-engrafted NSG mouse model to evaluate nanoliposomal short-chain C6-ceramide and a nanoliposomal formulation of the ceramide-inducer tamoxifen. Altogether, the NSG model is likely to prove invaluable in the study of novel agents, sushc as ceramide-based therapeutics, with the ability to define therapeutic activity against specific molecularly defined and risk stratified AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Barth
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
- Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
| | - Nichole R Keasey
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
- Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
| | - Xujung Wang
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
- Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
| | | | - Raajit Rampal
- Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, USA
| | - Todd Hricik
- Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, USA
| | - Myles C Cabot
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, East Carolina University, Greenville, USA
| | - Mark Kester
- University of Virginia Cancer Center, Charlottesville, USA
| | - Hong-Gang Wang
- Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
| | | | - Martin S Tallman
- Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, USA
| | - Ross L Levine
- Leukemia Service, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, USA
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, USA
| | | | - David F Claxton
- Department of Medicine, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
- Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, USA
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Kapse-Mistry S, Govender T, Srivastava R, Yergeri M. Nanodrug delivery in reversing multidrug resistance in cancer cells. Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:159. [PMID: 25071577 PMCID: PMC4090910 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 06/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Different mechanisms in cancer cells become resistant to one or more chemotherapeutics is known as multidrug resistance (MDR) which hinders chemotherapy efficacy. Potential factors for MDR includes enhanced drug detoxification, decreased drug uptake, increased intracellular nucleophiles levels, enhanced repair of drug induced DNA damage, overexpression of drug transporter such as P-glycoprotein(P-gp), multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRP1, MRP2), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP). Currently nanoassemblies such as polymeric/solid lipid/inorganic/metal nanoparticles, quantum dots, dendrimers, liposomes, micelles has emerged as an innovative, effective, and promising platforms for treatment of drug resistant cancer cells. Nanocarriers have potential to improve drug therapeutic index, ability for multifunctionality, divert ABC-transporter mediated drug efflux mechanism and selective targeting to tumor cells, cancer stem cells, tumor initiating cells, or cancer microenvironment. Selective nanocarrier targeting to tumor overcomes dose-limiting side effects, lack of selectivity, tissue toxicity, limited drug access to tumor tissues, high drug doses, and emergence of multiple drug resistance with conventional or combination chemotherapy. Current review highlights various nanodrug delivery systems to overcome mechanism of MDR by neutralizing, evading, or exploiting the drug efflux pumps and those independent of drug efflux pump mechanism by silencing Bcl-2 and HIF1α gene expressions by siRNA and miRNA, modulating ceramide levels and targeting NF-κB. “Theragnostics” combining a cytotoxic agent, targeting moiety, chemosensitizing agent, and diagnostic imaging aid are highlighted as effective and innovative systems for tumor localization and overcoming MDR. Physical approaches such as combination of drug with thermal/ultrasound/photodynamic therapies to overcome MDR are focused. The review focuses on newer drug delivery systems developed to overcome MDR in cancer cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonali Kapse-Mistry
- Department of Pharmaceutics, SVKM's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, University of Mumbai Mumbai, India
| | - Thirumala Govender
- Discipline of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal Durban, South Africa
| | - Rohit Srivastava
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay Mumbai, India
| | - Mayur Yergeri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, SVKM's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, University of Mumbai Mumbai, India
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C6-ceramide nanoliposomes target the Warburg effect in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. PLoS One 2013; 8:e84648. [PMID: 24367685 PMCID: PMC3868606 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0084648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 11/26/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Ceramide is a sphingolipid metabolite that induces cancer cell death. When C6-ceramide is encapsulated in a nanoliposome bilayer formulation, cell death is selectively induced in tumor models. However, the mechanism underlying this selectivity is unknown. As most tumors exhibit a preferential switch to glycolysis, as described in the "Warburg effect", we hypothesize that ceramide nanoliposomes selectively target this glycolytic pathway in cancer. We utilize chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) as a cancer model, which has an increased dependency on glycolysis. In CLL cells, we demonstrate that C6-ceramide nanoliposomes, but not control nanoliposomes, induce caspase 3/7-independent necrotic cell death. Nanoliposomal ceramide inhibits both the RNA and protein expression of GAPDH, an enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, which is overexpressed in CLL. To confirm that ceramide targets GAPDH, we demonstrate that downregulation of GAPDH potentiates the decrease in ATP after ceramide treatment and exogenous pyruvate treatment as well as GAPDH overexpression partially rescues ceramide-induced necrosis. Finally, an in vivo murine model of CLL shows that nanoliposomal C6-ceramide treatment elicits tumor regression, concomitant with GAPDH downregulation. We conclude that selective inhibition of the glycolytic pathway in CLL cells with nanoliposomal C6-ceramide could potentially be an effective therapy for leukemia by targeting the Warburg effect.
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Bizzozero L, Cazzato D, Cervia D, Assi E, Simbari F, Pagni F, De Palma C, Monno A, Verdelli C, Querini PR, Russo V, Clementi E, Perrotta C. Acid sphingomyelinase determines melanoma progression and metastatic behaviour via the microphtalmia-associated transcription factor signalling pathway. Cell Death Differ 2013; 21:507-20. [PMID: 24317198 DOI: 10.1038/cdd.2013.173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2013] [Revised: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is a rapidly growing and highly metastatic cancer with high mortality rates, for which a resolutive treatment is lacking. Identification of novel therapeutic strategies and biomarkers of tumour stage is thus of particular relevance. We report here on a novel biomarker and possible candidate therapeutic target, the sphingolipid metabolising enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase). A-SMase expression correlates inversely with tumour stage in human melanoma biopsies. Studies in a mouse model of melanoma and on cell lines derived from mouse and human melanomas demonstrated that A-SMase levels of expression actually determine the malignant phenotype of melanoma cells in terms of pigmentation, tumour progression, invasiveness and metastatic ability. The action of A-SMase is mediated by the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, the subsequent proteasomal degradation of the Microphtalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) and inhibition of cyclin-dependent kinase 2, Bcl-2 and c-Met, downstream targets of Mitf involved in tumour cell proliferation, survival and metastatisation.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Bizzozero
- Scientific Institute IRCCS E Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy
| | - D Cazzato
- 1] Scientific Institute IRCCS E Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy [2] Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - D Cervia
- 1] Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy [2] Department for Innovation in Biological, Agro-food and Forest systems, Università della Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - E Assi
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - F Simbari
- Research Unit on Bioactive Molecules, Department of Biomedical Chemistry, Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (IQAC-CSIC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - F Pagni
- Department of Pathology, Università di Milano-Bicocca, Monza, Italy
| | - C De Palma
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - A Monno
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Division of Molecular Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - C Verdelli
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - P R Querini
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Division of Molecular Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - V Russo
- Division of Regenerative Medicine and Division of Molecular Oncology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - E Clementi
- 1] Scientific Institute IRCCS E Medea, Bosisio Parini, Lecco, Italy [2] Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - C Perrotta
- Unit of Clinical Pharmacology, National Research Council Institute of Neuroscience, Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, University Hospital L. Sacco, Università di Milano, Milan, Italy
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Abstract
Sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes are becoming targets for chemotherapeutic development with an increasing interest in the recent years. In this chapter we introduce the sphingolipid family of lipids, and the role of individual species in cell homeostasis. We also discuss their roles in several rare diseases and overall, in cancer transformation. We follow the biosynthesis pathway of the sphingolipid tree, focusing on the enzymes in order to understand how using small molecule inhibitors makes it possible to modulate cancer progression. Finally, we describe the most used and historically significant inhibitors employed in cancer research, their relationships to sphingolipid metabolism, and some promising results found in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Canals
- Department of Medicine, University of Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - Yusuf A. Hannun
- Health Science Center, Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, L-4, 178, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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Hankins JL, Doshi UA, Haakenson JK, Young MM, Barth BM, Kester M. The therapeutic potential of nanoscale sphingolipid technologies. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2013:197-210. [PMID: 23579457 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-7091-1368-4_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nanotechnologies, while small in size, widen the scope of drug delivery options for compounds with problematic pharmacokinetics, such as bioactive sphingolipids. We describe the development of historical sphingolipid nanotechnologies, such as nanoliposomes, and project future uses for a broad repertoire of nanoscale sphingolipid therapy formulations. In particular, we describe sphingo-nanotherapies for treatment of cancer, inflammatory disease, and cardiovascular disease. We conclude with a discussion of the challenges associated with regulatory approval, scale-up, and development of these nanotechnology therapies for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jody L Hankins
- Department of Pharmacology, R130, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
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50
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Barth BM, Shanmugavelandy SS, Tacelosky DM, Kester M, Morad SAF, Cabot MC. Gaucher's disease and cancer: a sphingolipid perspective. Crit Rev Oncog 2013; 18:221-234. [PMID: 23510065 PMCID: PMC3604879 DOI: 10.1615/critrevoncog.2013005814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Gaucher's disease is a sphingolipidosis characterized by a specific deficiency in an acidic glucocerebrosidase, which results in aberrant accumulation of glucosylceramide primarily within the lysosome. Gaucher's disease has been correlated with cases of myeloma, leukemia, glioblastoma, lung cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma, although the reasons for the correlation are currently being debated. Some suggest that the effects of Gaucher's disease may be linked to cancer, while others implicate the therapies used to treat Gaucher's disease. This debate is not entirely surprising, as the speculations linking Gaucher's disease with cancer fail to address the roles of ceramide and glucosylceramide in cancer biology. In this review, we will discuss, in the context of cancer biology, ceramide metabolism to glucosylceramide, the roles of glucosylceramide in multidrug-resistance, and the role of ceramide as an anticancer lipid. This review should reveal that it is most practical to associate elevated glucosylceramide, which accompanies Gaucher's disease, with the progression of cancer. Furthermore, this review proposes that the therapies used to treat Gaucher's disease, which augment ceramide accumulation, are likely not linked to correlations with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M. Barth
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | | | - Diana M. Tacelosky
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA
| | - Samy A. F. Morad
- Experimental Therapeutics Program, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
| | - Myles C. Cabot
- Experimental Therapeutics Program, John Wayne Cancer Institute, Santa Monica, CA, USA
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