Sphingosine-1-phosphate stimulates rat primary chondrocyte proliferation

Rat primary chondrocytes express the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor, S1P(2), S1P(3), S1P(4), but not S1P(1). When chondrocytes were stimulated with S1P or phytosphingosine-1-phosphate (PhS1P, an S1P(1)- and S1P(4)-selective agonist), phospholipase C-mediated cytosolic calcium increase was dramatically induced. S1P and PhS1P also stimulated two kinds of mitogen-activated protein kinases, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38 kinase in chondrocytes. In terms of the two phospholipids-mediated functional modulation of chondrocytes, S1P and PhS1P stimulated cellular proliferation. The two phospholipids-induced chondrocyte proliferations were almost completely blocked by PD98059 but not by SB203580, suggesting that ERK but not p38 kinase is essentially required for the proliferation. Pertussis toxin almost completely inhibited the two phospholipids-induced cellular proliferation and ERK activation, indicating the crucial role of G(i) protein. This study demonstrates the physiological role of two important phospholipids (S1P and PhS1P) on the modulation of rat primary chondrocyte proliferation, and the crucial role played by ERK in the process.     

Sphingosine kinases, sphingosine 1-phosphate, apoptosis and diseases

Sphingolipids are ubiquitous components of cell membranes and their metabolites ceramide (Cer), sphingosine (Sph), and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) have important physiological functions, including regulation of cell growth and survival. Cer and Sph are associated with growth arrest and apoptosis. Many stress stimuli increase levels of Cer and Sph, whereas suppression of apoptosis is associated with increased intracellular levels of S1P. In addition, extracellular/secreted S1P regulates cellular processes by binding to five specific G protein coupled-receptors (GPCRs). S1P is generated by phosphorylation of Sph catalyzed by two isoforms of sphingosine kinases (SphK), type 1 and type 2, which are critical regulators of the “sphingolipid rheostat”, producing pro-survival S1P and decreasing levels of pro-apoptotic Sph. Since sphingolipid metabolism is often dysregulated in many diseases, targeting SphKs is potentially clinically relevant. Here we review the growing recent literature on the regulation and the roles of SphKs and S1P in apoptosis and diseases.     

Sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling controlling osteoclasts and bone homeostasis

Bone is a dynamic organ that is continuously turned over during growth, even in adults. During bone remodeling, homeostasis is regulated by the balance between bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts. However, in pathological conditions such as osteoporosis, osteopetrosis, arthritic joint destruction, and bone metastasis, this equilibrium is disrupted. Since osteoclasts are excessively activated in osteolytic diseases, the inhibition of osteoclast function has been a major therapeutic strategy. It has recently been demonstrated that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a biologically active lysophospholipid that is enriched in blood, controls the trafficking of osteoclast precursors between the circulation and bone marrow cavities via G protein-coupled receptors, S1PRs. While S1PR1 mediates chemoattraction toward S1P in bone marrow, where S1P concentration is low, S1PR2 mediates chemorepulsion in blood, where the S1P concentration is high. The regulation of precursor recruitment may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for controlling osteoclast-dependent bone remodeling. By means of intravital multiphoton imaging of bone tissues, we have recently revealed that the reciprocal action of S1P controls the migration of osteoclast precursors between bone tissues and blood stream. Imaging technologies have enabled us to visualize the in situ behaviors of different cell types in intact tissues. In this review we also discuss future perspectives on this new method in the field of bone biology and medical sciences in general. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Advances in Lysophospholipid Research.     

Role of sphingosine kinase and sphingosine-1-phosphate in inflammatory arthritis

The importance of sphingosine kinase (SphK) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in inflammation has been extensively demonstrated. As an intracellular second messenger, S1P plays an important role in calcium signaling and mobilization, and cell proliferation and survival. Activation of various plasma membrane receptors, such as the formyl methionyl leucyl phenylalanine receptor, C5a receptor, and tumor necrosis factor α receptor, leads to a rapid increase in intracellular S1P level via SphK stimulation. SphK and S1P are implicated in various chronic autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, primary Sjögren’s syndrome, and inflammatory bowel disease. Recent studies have demonstrated the important role of SphK and S1P in the development of arthritis by regulating the pro-inflammatory responses. These novel pathways represent exciting potential therapeutic targets.     

Sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis

Blood vessels either form de novo through the process of vasculogenesis or through angiogenesis that involves the sprouting and proliferation of endothelial cells in pre-existing blood vessels. A complex interactive network of signaling cascades downstream from at least three of the nine known G-protein-coupled sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors act as a prime effector of neovascularization that occurs in embryonic development and in association with various pathologies. This review focuses on the current knowledge of the roles of S1P signaling in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, with particular emphasis on vascular cell adhesion and motility responses.     

Altered expression of sphingosine kinase 1 and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 in mouse hippocampus after kainic acid treatment

Kainic acid (KA) induces hippocampal cell death and astrocyte proliferation. There are reports that sphingosine kinase (SPHK)1 and sphingosine-1- phosphate (S1P) receptor 1 (S1P₁) signaling axis controls astrocyte proliferation. Here we examined the temporal changes of SPHK1/S1P₁ in mouse hippocampus during KA-induced hippocampal cell death. Mice were killed at 2, 6, 24, or 48 h after KA (30 mg/kg) injection. There was an increase in Fluoro-Jade B-positive cells in the hippocampus of KA-treated mice with temporal changes of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) expression. The lowest level of SPHK1 protein expression was found 2 h after KA treatment. Six hours after KA treatment, the expression of SPHK1 and S1P₁ proteins steadily increased in the hippocampus. In immunohistochemical analysis, SPHK1 and S1P₁ are more immunoreactive in astrocytes within the hippocampus of KA-treated mice than in hippocampus of control mice. These results indicate that SPHK1/S1P₁ signaling axis may play an important role in astrocytes proliferation during KA-induced excitotoxicity.     

鞘氨醇1- 磷酸受体4 研究进展

鞘氨醇1-磷酸(Sphingosine-1-phosphate,S1P)是一种具有生物学活性的溶血磷脂信号分子,在体内通过G蛋白偶联受体(G protein coupled receptor,GPCR)家族鞘氨醇1-磷酸受体(S1P receptors)的5个亚型(S1P1-5)介导多种生物学功能。S1P4也称内皮分化基因受体6(Endothelial differentiation gene receptor 6,Edg-6),主要在淋巴组织和造血组织中表达。近年的研究发现,免疫细胞的迁移分化、骨骼肌前体细胞的迁移、乳腺癌细胞的增殖、TGFβ1介导的抑制骨骼肌细胞凋亡均与S1P4相关。本文将综述近几年来关于S1P介导S1P4的生理病理应答及相关的信号转导机制。     

A rapid radioassay for sphingosine kinase

A solvent-extraction-based radioassay for measuring sphingosine kinase (SKase) activity has been developed. The assay utilizes [3H]sphingosine substrate and differentially extracts the [3H]sphingosine-1-phosphate product. The extracted radioactivity is demonstrated to be primarily [3H]sphingosine-1-phosphate with less than 1% contamination by [3H]sphingosine. When assaying SKase activity in the soluble cell fraction, the extraction efficiency of the labeled sphingosine-1-phosphate product is a reproducible 78%, which allows for a simple back calculation to correct for the 22% extraction loss. With minor modification, the assay is also a reproducible procedure for determining SKase activity in subcellular membrane fractions. The assay is far more rapid than thin-layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography methods, which makes it possible to do a large number of assays in a short period of time. The utility of the assay is demonstrated by using it to conduct a complete bisubstrate kinetic analysis of rat heart SKase.     

Sphingosine-1-phosphate Phosphatase 1 Regulates Keratinocyte Differentiation and Epidermal Homeostasis

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid whose levels are tightly regulated by its synthesis and degradation. Intracellularly, S1P is dephosphorylated by the actions of two S1P-specific phosphatases, sphingosine-1-phosphate phosphatases 1 and 2. To identify the physiological functions of S1P phosphatase 1, we have studied mice with its gene, Sgpp1, deleted. Sgpp1^−/− mice appeared normal at birth, but during the 1st week of life they exhibited stunted growth and suffered desquamation, with most dying before weaning. Both Sgpp1^−/− pups and surviving adults exhibited multiple epidermal abnormalities. Interestingly, the epidermal permeability barrier developed normally during embryogenesis in Sgpp1^−/− mice. Keratinocytes isolated from the skin of Sgpp1^−/− pups had increased intracellular S1P levels and displayed a gene expression profile that indicated overexpression of genes associated with keratinocyte differentiation. The results reveal S1P metabolism as a regulator of keratinocyte differentiation and epidermal homeostasis.     

Sphingosine-1-phosphate modulates growth and adhesion of ovarian cancer cells

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid molecule. It stimulates the growth of some cells, but inhibits the growth of others. In this study, we describe the detection of sub-microM to microM concentrations of S1P in the ascitic fluids of patients with ovarian cancer. In ovarian cancer cells cultured in vitro, S1P exhibited a dual effect on growth and/or survival. S1P (10 microM) induced cell death when cells were in suspension but stimulated cell growth when cells were attached. The calcium-dependent induction of cell death by S1P is apparently associated with its inhibitory effect on cell attachment and cell adhesion. S1P (10-30 microM) also induced calcium-dependent cell-cell aggregation.     

A house divided: Ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate in programmed cell death

Programmed cell death is an important physiological response to many forms of cellular stress. The signaling cascades that result in programmed cell death are as elaborate as those that promote cell survival, and it is clear that coordination of both protein- and lipid-mediated signals is crucial for proper cell execution. Sphingolipids are a large class of lipids whose diverse members share the common feature of a long-chain sphingoid base, e.g., sphingosine. Many sphingolipids have been shown to play essential roles in both death signaling and survival. Ceramide, an N-acylsphingosine, has been implicated in cell death following a myriad of cellular stresses. Sphingosine itself can induce cell death but via pathways both similar and dissimilar to those of ceramide. Sphingosine-1-phosphate, on the other hand, is an anti-apoptotic molecule that mediates a host of cellular effects antagonistic to those of its pro-apoptotic sphingolipid siblings. Extraordinarily, these lipid mediators are metabolically juxtaposed, suggesting that the regulation of their metabolism is of the utmost importance in determining cell fate. In this review, we briefly examine the role of ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate in programmed cell death and highlight the potential roles that these lipids play in the pathway to apoptosis.     

Sphingosine 1-phosphate regulates cytoskeleton dynamics: Implications in its biological response

The bioactive sphingolipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) elicits robust cytoskeletal rearrangement in a large variety of cell systems, mainly acting through a panel of specific cell surface receptors, named S1P receptors. Recent studies have begun to delineate the molecular mechanisms involved in the complex process responsible for cytoskeletal rearrangement following S1P ligation to its receptors. Notably, changes of cell shape and/or motility induced by S1P via cytoskeletal remodelling are functional to the biological action exerted by S1P which appears to be highly cell-specific. This review focuses on the current knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms of cytoskeleton dynamics elicited by S1P, with special emphasis on the relationship between cytoskeletal remodelling and the biological effects evoked by the sphingolipid in various cell types.     

Glomerular proliferation during early stages of diabetic nephropathy is associated with local increase of sphingosine-1-phosphate levels

In this study, the effects of short-term diabetes (4 days) on rat renal glomerular cells proliferation and the potential involvement of sphingolipids in this process were investigated. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes promoted increased intra-glomerular hyperplasia, particularly marked for mesangial cells. This was associated with a concomitant increase in neutral ceramidase and sphingosine-kinase activities and the accumulation of the pro-proliferative sphingolipid sphingosine-1-phosphate, in glomeruli isolated from kidney cortex of STZ-treated rats. These results suggest a possible involvement of sphingolipid metabolites in the glomerular proliferative response during the early stages of diabetic nephropathy.     

Fluorescence-based assay of sphingosine kinases

Sphingosine kinase enzymatic activity is commonly measured using radiolabeled substrates, with thin-layer chromatography and/or solvent extraction needed to detect the reaction product sphingosine-1-phosphate. We developed a fluorescence-based assay, using a sphingosine derivative labeled with a 7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazole moiety (15-NBD-Sph). Separation of substrate (15-NBD-Sph) from product (the corresponding phosphate) is achieved by extraction with chloroform/methanol at pH 8.5. The phosphate derivative is recovered by >98% in the aqueous phase and is directly detected and quantified by its fluorescence. 15-NBD-Sph is readily phosphorylated by human and murine sphingosine kinases 1 and 2. The suitability of the assay for measuring the activity of the kinases, both in the purified state and when contained in lysates of mammalian cells, was demonstrated. The present method is a convenient alternative to the radiometric assays and is particularly suited to the search for inhibitors of sphingosine kinases.     

Roles of sphingosine 1-phosphate on tumorigenesis

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid with a variety of biological activities.It is generated from the conversion of ceramide to sphingosine by ceramidase and the subsequent conversion of sphingosine to S1P,which is catalyzed by sphingosine kinases.Through increasing its intracellular levels by sphingolipid metabolism and binding to its cell surface receptors,S1P regulates several physiological and pathological processes,including cell proliferation,migration,angiogenesis and autophagy.These processes are responsible for tumor growth,metastasis and invasion and promote tumor survival.Since ceramide and S1P have distinct functions in regulating in cell fate decision,the balance between the ceramide/sphingosine/S1P rheostat becomes a potent therapeutic target for cancer cells.Herein,we summarize our current understanding of S1P signaling on tumorigenesis and its potential as a target for cancer therapy.     

Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase SPL is an endoplasmic reticulum-resident, integral membrane protein with the pyridoxal 5'-phosphate binding domain exposed to the cytosol

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a sphingolipid metabolite that functions as a bioactive lipid molecule. S1P is degraded either by S1P lyase or by S1P phosphohydrolase. The gene encoding mammalian S1P lyase, SPL, has been identified. Here, we characterize the SPL protein in its expression, localization, and topology. The expression levels of the SPL protein correlated well with the dihydrosphingosine-1-phosphate (DHS1P) lyase activity in most tissues. However, liver and heart exhibited high DHS1P lyase activities compared to their SPL protein levels. The SPL mRNA expression was temporally regulated during mouse embryonal development. Immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that SPL is localized at the endoplasmic reticulum. Proteinase K digestion studies revealed that the large hydrophilic domain, containing the active site, faces the cytosol. This active site orientation is opposite to that of S1P phosphohydrolase, indicating that the degradation of S1P by two S1P-degrading enzymes occurs in spatially separated sides of the endoplasmic reticulum.     

Sphingosine-1-phosphate as a mediator involved in development of fibrotic diseases

Fibrosis is a pathological process characterized by massive deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) such as type I/III collagens and fibronectin that are secreted by an expanded pool of myofibroblasts, which are phenotypically altered fibroblasts with more contractile, proliferative, migratory and secretory activities. Fibrosis occurs in various organs including the lung, heart, liver and kidney, resulting in loss of normal tissue architecture and functions. Myofibroblasts could originate from multiple sources including tissue-resident fibroblasts, epithelial and endothelial cells through mechanisms of epithelial/endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT/EndMT), and bone marrow-derived circulating progenitors called fibrocytes. Emerging evidence in recent years shows that sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) acts on several types of target cells and is engaged in pro-fibrotic inflammatory process and fibrogenic process through multiple mechanisms, which include vascular permeability change, leukocyte infiltration, and migration, proliferation and myofibroblast differentiation of fibroblasts. Many of these S1P actions are receptor subtype-specific. In these actions, S1P has multiple cross-talks with other cytokines, particularly transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ), which plays a major role in fibrosis. The cross-talks include the regulation of S1P production through altered expression and activity of sphingosine kinases in fibrotic lesions, altered expression of S1P receptors, and S1P receptor-mediated transactivation of TGFβ signaling pathway. These cross-talks may give rise to a feed-forward, amplifying loop between S1P and TGFβ, and possibly with other cytokines in stimulating fibrogenesis. Another lysophospholipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid has also been recently implicated in fibrosis. The lysophospholipid signaling pathways represent novel, promising therapeutic targets for treating refractory fibrotic diseases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Advances in Lysophospholipid Research.     

An assay system for measuring the acute production of sphingosine 1-phosphate in intact monolayers

Sphingosine kinase (SK) is a signaling enzyme that phosphorylates sphingosine to produce sphingosine 1-phosphate. Sphingosine and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) belong to a class of bioactive sphingolipid metabolites that are critical in a number of cellular processes, yet often have opposing biological functions. The intracellular localization of sphingosine kinase has been demonstrated in multiple studies to be a critical aspect of its signaling function. To date, assays of sphingosine kinase activity have been developed for measuring activity in lysates, where the effects of localization are lost. Here we outline a system in which the rate of production of S1P can be measured in intact cells using exogenously added radiolabeled ATP instead of tritiated sphingosine. The surprising ability of ATP to enter unpermeabilized monolayers is one aspect that makes this assay simple, efficient, and inexpensive, yet sensitive enough to measure endogenous enzyme activity. The assay is well behaved in terms of kinetics and substrate dependence. Overall, this assay is ideal for future studies to identify changes in S1P production in intact cells such as those that result from the differential intracellular targeting of sphingosine kinase.     

Sphingosine-1-phosphate metabolism: A structural perspective

Abstract

Sphingolipids represent an important class of bioactive signaling lipids which have key roles in numerous cellular processes. Over the last few decades, the levels of bioactive sphingolipids and/or their metabolizing enzymes have been realized to be important factors involved in disease development and progression, most notably in cancer. Targeting sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes in disease states has been the focus of many studies and has resulted in a number of pharmacological inhibitors, with some making it into the clinic as therapeutics. In order to better understand the regulation of sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes as well as to develop much more potent and specific inhibitors, the field of sphingolipids has recently taken a turn toward structural biology. The last decade has seen the structural determination of a number of sphingolipid enzymes and effector proteins. In these terms, one of the most complete arms of the sphingolipid pathway is the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) arm. The structures of proteins involved in the function and regulation of S1P are being used to investigate further the regulation of said proteins as well as in the design and development of inhibitors as potential therapeutics.