Synthesis and biological evaluation of sphingosine kinase substrates as sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor prodrugs

In the search for bioactive sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor ligands, a series of 2-amino-2-heterocyclic-propanols were synthesized. These molecules were discovered to be substrates of human-sphingosine kinases 1 and 2 (SPHK1 and SPHK2). When phosphorylated, the resultant phosphates showed varied activities at the five sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors (S1P_1–5). Agonism at S1P₁ was displayed in vivo by induction of lymphopenia. A stereochemical preference of the quaternary carbon was crucial for phosphorylation by the kinases and alters binding affinities at the S1P receptors. Oxazole and oxadiazole compounds are superior kinase substrates to FTY720, the prototypical prodrug immunomodulator, fingolimod (FTY720). The oxazole-derived structure was the most active for human SPHK2. Imidazole analogues were less active substrates for SPHKs, but more potent and selective agonists of the S1P₁ receptor; additionally, the imidazole class of compounds rendered mice lymphopenic.     

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 kinase type 1 promotes estrogen-dependent tumorigenesis of breast cancer MCF-7 cells

The sphingolipid metabolite, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), formed by phosphorylation of sphingosine, has been implicated in cell growth, suppression of apoptosis, and angiogenesis. In this study, we have examined the contribution of intracellular S1P to tumorigenesis of breast adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells. Enforced expression of sphingosine kinase type 1 (SPHK1) increased S1P levels and blocked MCF-7 cell death induced by anti-cancer drugs, sphingosine, and TNF-alpha. SPHK1 also conferred a growth advantage, as determined by proliferation and growth in soft agar, which was estrogen dependent. While both ERK and Akt have been implicated in MCF-7 cell growth, SPHK1 stimulated ERK1/2 but had no effect on Akt. Surprisingly, parental growth of MCF-7 cells was only weakly stimulated by S1P or dihydro-S1P, ligands for the S1P receptors which usually mediate growth effects. When injected into mammary fat pads of ovariectomized nude mice implanted with estrogen pellets, MCF-7/SPHK1 cells formed more and larger tumors than vector transfectants with higher microvessel density in their periphery. Collectively, our results suggest that SPHK1 may play an important role in breast cancer progression by regulating tumor cell growth and survival.     

A Metabolic Shift Favoring Sphingosine 1-Phosphate at the Expense of Ceramide Controls Glioblastoma Angiogenesis

Studies in cell culture and mouse models of cancer have indicated that the soluble sphingolipid metabolite sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) promotes cancer cell proliferation, survival, invasiveness, and tumor angiogenesis. In contrast, its metabolic precursor ceramide is prodifferentiative and proapoptotic. To determine whether sphingolipid balance plays a significant role in glioma malignancy, we undertook a comprehensive analysis of sphingolipid metabolites in human glioma and normal gray matter tissue specimens. We demonstrate, for the first time, a systematic shift in sphingolipid metabolism favoring S1P over ceramide, which increases with increasing cancer grade. S1P content was, on average, 9-fold higher in glioblastoma tissues compared with normal gray matter, whereas the most abundant form of ceramide in the brain, C18 ceramide, was on average 5-fold lower. Increased S1P content in the tumors was significantly correlated with increased sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) and decreased sphingosine phosphate phosphatase 2 (SGPP2) expression. Inhibition of S1P production by cultured glioblastoma cells, using a highly potent and selective SPHK1 inhibitor, blocked angiogenesis in cocultured endothelial cells without affecting VEGF secretion. Our findings validate the hypothesis that an altered ceramide/S1P balance is an important feature of human cancers and support the development of SPHK1 inhibitors as antiangiogenic agents for cancer therapy.     

Identification of PECAM-1 association with sphingosine kinase 1 and its regulation by agonist-induced phosphorylation

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid mediator generated from sphingosine by sphingosine kinase (SPHK). S1P acts both extracellularly and intracellularly as a signaling molecule, although its intracellular targets are still undefined. Intracellular level of S1P is under strict regulatory control of SPHK regulation, S1P degradation, and S1P dephosphorylation. Therefore, clarifying the mechanisms regulating SPHK activity may help us understand when and where S1P is generated. In this study, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening to search for SPHK1a-binding molecules that may be involved in the regulation of the kinase localization or activity. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) was identified as a protein potentially associating with SPHK1a. Their association was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation analysis using HEK293 cells overexpressing PECAM-1 and SPHK1a. Moreover, the kinase activity appeared to be reduced in stable PECAM-1-expressing cells. PECAM-1 is expressed on the cell surface of vascular cells, and several stimuli are known to induce phosphorylation of its tyrosine residues. We found that such phosphorylation attenuated its association with SPHK1a. This association/dissociation of SPHK with PECAM-1, regulated by the phosphorylated state of the membrane protein, may be involved in the control of localized kinase activity in certain cell types.     

Stomatal closure induced by phytosphingosine-1-phosphate and sphingosine-1-phosphate depends on nitric oxide and pH of guard cells in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pisum sativum</Emphasis>

Main conclusion

Phyto-S1P and S1P induced stomatal closure in epidermis of pea ( Pisum sativum ) by raising the levels of NO and pH in guard cells. Phosphosphingolipids, such as phytosphingosine-1-phosphate (phyto-S1P) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), are important signaling components during drought stress. The biosynthesis of phyto-S1P or S1P is mediated by sphingosine kinases (SPHKs). Although phyto-S1P and S1P are known to be signaling components in higher plants, their ability to induce stomatal closure has been ambiguous. We evaluated in detail the effects of phyto-S1P, S1P and SPHK inhibitors on signaling events leading to stomatal closure in the epidermis of Pisum sativum. Phyto-S1P or S1P induced stomatal closure, along with a marked rise in nitric oxide (NO) and cytoplasmic pH of guard cells, as in case of ABA. Two SPHK inhibitors, DL-threo dihydrosphingosine and N’,N’-dimethylsphingosine, restricted ABA-induced stomatal closure and prevented the increase of NO or pH by ABA. Modulators of NO or pH impaired both stomatal closure and increase in NO or pH by phyto-S1P/S1P. The stomatal closure by phyto-S1P/S1P was mediated by phospholipase D and phosphatidic acid (PA). When present, PA elevated the levels of pH, but not NO of guard cells. Our results demonstrate that stomatal closure induced by phyto-S1P and S1P depends on rise in pH as well as NO of guard cells. A scheme of signaling events initiated by phyto-S1P/S1P, and converging to cause stomatal closure, is proposed.

     

Long‐chain base phosphates modulate pollen tube growth via channel‐mediated influx of calcium

Long‐chain base phosphates (LCBPs) have been correlated with amounts of crucial biological processes ranging from cell proliferation to apoptosis in animals. However, their functions in plants remain largely unknown. Here, we report that LCBPs, sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) and phytosphingosine‐1‐phosphate (Phyto‐S1P), modulate pollen tube growth in a concentration‐dependent bi‐phasic manner. The pollen tube growth in the stylar transmitting tissue was promoted by SPHK1 overexpression (SPHK1‐OE) but dampened by SPHK1 knockdown (SPHK1‐KD) compared with wild‐type of Arabidopsis; however, there was no detectable effect on in vitro pollen tube growth caused by misexpression of SPHK1. Interestingly, exogenous S1P or Phyto‐S1P applications could increase the pollen tube growth rate in SPHK1‐OE, SPHK1‐KD and wild‐type of Arabidopsis. Calcium ion (Ca²⁺)‐imaging analysis showed that S1P triggered a remarkable increase in cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration in pollen. Extracellular S1P induced hyperpolarization‐activated Ca²⁺ currents in the pollen plasma membrane, and the Ca²⁺ current activation was mediated by heterotrimeric G proteins. Moreover, the S1P‐induced increase of cytosolic free Ca²⁺ inhibited the influx of potassium ions in pollen tubes. Our findings suggest that LCBPs functions in a signaling cascade that facilitates Ca²⁺ influx and modulates pollen tube growth.     

Phosphorylation of the immunomodulatory drug FTY720 by sphingosine kinases

The immunomodulatory drug FTY720 is phosphorylated in vivo, and the resulting FTY720 phosphate as a ligand for sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors is responsible for the unique biological effects of the compound. So far, phosphorylation of FTY720 by murine sphingosine kinase (SPHK) 1a had been documented. We found that, while FTY720 is also phosphorylated by human SPHK1, the human type 2 isoform phosphorylates the drug 30-fold more efficiently, because of a lower Km of FTY720 for SPHK2. Similarly, murine SPHK2 was more efficient than SPHK1a. Among splice variants of the human SPHKs, an N-terminally extended SPHK2 isoform was even more active than SPHK2 itself. Further SPHK superfamily members, namely ceramide kinase and a "SPHK-like" protein, failed to phosphorylate sphingosine and FTY720. Thus, only SPHK1 and 2 appear to be capable of phosphorylating FTY720. Using selective assay conditions, SPHK1 and 2 activities in murine tissues were measured. While activity of SPHK2 toward sphingosine was generally lower than of SPHK1, FTY720 phosphorylation was higher under conditions favoring SPHK2. In human endothelial cells, while activity of SPHK1 toward sphingosine was 2-fold higher than of SPHK2, FTY720 phosphorylation was 7-fold faster under SPHK2 assay conditions. Finally, FTY720 was poorly phosphorylated in human blood as compared with rodent blood, in line with the low activity of SPHK1 and in particular of SPHK2 in human blood. To conclude, both SPHK1 and 2 are capable of phosphorylating FTY720, but SPHK2 is quantitatively more important than SPHK1.     

The outs and the ins of sphingosine-1-phosphate in immunity

The potent lipid mediator sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is produced inside cells by two closely related kinases, sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) and SPHK2, and has emerged as a crucial regulator of immunity. Many of the actions of S1P in innate and adaptive immunity are mediated by its binding to five G protein-coupled receptors, designated S1PR1-5, but recent findings have also identified important roles for S1P as a second messenger during inflammation. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the roles of S1P receptors and describe the newly identified intracellular targets of S1P that are crucial for immune responses. Finally, we discuss the therapeutic potential of new drugs that target S1P signalling and functions.     

Potential Link between the Sphingosine-1-Phosphate (S1P) System and Defective Alveolar Macrophage Phagocytic Function in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Introduction

We previously reported that alveolar macrophages from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are defective in their ability to phagocytose apoptotic cells, with a similar defect in response to cigarette smoke. The exact mechanisms for this defect are unknown. Sphingolipids including ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) are involved in diverse cellular processes and we hypothesised that a comprehensive analysis of this system in alveolar macrophages in COPD may help to delineate the reasons for defective phagocytic function.

Methods

We compared mRNA expression of sphingosine kinases (SPHK1/2), S1P receptors (S1PR1-5) and S1P-degrading enzymes (SGPP1, SGPP2, SGPL1) in bronchoalveolar lavage-derived alveolar macrophages from 10 healthy controls, 7 healthy smokers and 20 COPD patients (10 current- and 10 ex-smokers) using Real-Time PCR. Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells was investigated using flow cytometry. Functional associations were assessed between sphingosine signalling system components and alveolar macrophage phagocytic ability in COPD. To elucidate functional effects of increased S1PR5 on macrophage phagocytic ability, we performed the phagocytosis assay in the presence of varying concentrations of suramin, an antagonist of S1PR3 and S1PR5. The effects of cigarette smoking on the S1P system were investigated using a THP-1 macrophage cell line model.

Results

We found significant increases in SPHK1/2 (3.4- and 2.1-fold increases respectively), S1PR2 and 5 (4.3- and 14.6-fold increases respectively), and SGPL1 (4.5-fold increase) in COPD vs. controls. S1PR5 and SGPL1 expression was unaffected by smoking status, suggesting a COPD “disease effect” rather than smoke effect per se. Significant associations were noted between S1PR5 and both lung function and phagocytosis. Cigarette smoke extract significantly increased mRNA expression of SPHK1, SPHK2, S1PR2 and S1PR5 by THP-1 macrophages, confirming the results in patient-derived macrophages. Antagonising SIPR5 significantly improved phagocytosis.

Conclusion

Our results suggest a potential link between the S1P signalling system and defective macrophage phagocytic function in COPD and advise therapeutic targets.     

Sphingosine kinase 1 is essential for proteinase-activated receptor-1 signalling in epithelial and endothelial cells

There is accumulating evidence that activation of sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) is an important element in intracellular signalling cascades initiated by stimulation of multiple receptors, including certain growth factor, cytokine, and also G-protein coupled receptors. We here report that stimulation of the lung epithelial cell line A549 by thrombin leads to transient increase of SPHK1 activity and elevation of intracellular sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P); abrogation of this stimulation by SPHK1-specific siRNA, pharmacological inhibition, or expression of a dominant-negative SPHK1 mutant blocks the response to thrombin, as measured by secretion of MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8, and PGE₂. Using selective stimulation of proteinase-activated receptors (PARs) a specific involvement of SPHK1 in the PAR-1 induced responses in A549 cell, including activation of NFκB, was evident, while PAR-2 and PAR-4 responses were independent of SPHK1. Moreover, PAR-1 or thrombin-induced cytokine production and adhesion factor expression of human umbilical vein endothelial cells was also seen to depend on SPHK1. Using dermal microvascular endothelial cells from SPHK1-deficient mice, we showed that absence of the enzyme abrogates MCP-1 production induced in these cells upon treatment with thrombin or PAR-1 activating peptide. We propose SPHK1 inhibition as a novel way to block PAR-1 mediated signalling, which could be useful in treatment of a number of diseases, in particular in atherosclerosis.     

A polysaccharides MDG-1 augments survival in the ischemic heart by inducing S1P release and S1P1 expression

Ophiopogon japonicus is a traditional Chinese medicine used to treat cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have confirmed the anti-ischemic properties of a water-soluble β-D-fructan (MDG-1) from O. japonicus. The sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) signaling pathway is involved in its cytoprotective effects. Herein, we explore the role of the S1P signaling pathway in the anti-ischemic effect of MDG-1 and assess one possible mechanism by which it induces S1P release and sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P(1)) expression in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) and cardiomyocytes. Our evidence demonstrates that MDG-1 promotes sphingosine kinase (SPHK) activity in HMEC-1 cells. An analytical method for measuring the mass of S1P using ESI/MS/MS was developed and we found that MDG-1 increases intracellular S1P levels. Meanwhile, MDG-1 is protective during hypoxia and ischemia through mechanisms that require S1P(1) receptor activation, which was confirmed both in oxygen glucose deprivation (OGD) and coronary artery ligation models by using transfection of cloned human S1P(1) receptor and RNA interference. These data indicate that the increase of intracellular S1P generation, particularly by activation of the SPHK enzyme, coupled with the autocrine and paracrine stimulation of cell surface S1P receptors, is a potential mechanism in the anti-ischemic and cell protective effect of MDG-1.     

A chemical screen for modulators of mRNA translation identifies a distinct mechanism of toxicity for sphingosine kinase inhibitors

We here conducted an image-based chemical screen to evaluate how medically approved drugs, as well as drugs that are currently under development, influence overall translation levels. None of the compounds up-regulated translation, which could be due to the screen being performed in cancer cells grown in full media where translation is already present at very high levels. Regarding translation down-regulators, and consistent with current knowledge, inhibitors of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway were the most represented class. In addition, we identified that inhibitors of sphingosine kinases (SPHKs) also reduce mRNA translation levels independently of mTOR. Mechanistically, this is explained by an effect of the compounds on the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), which activates the integrated stress response (ISR) and contributes to the toxicity of SPHK inhibitors. Surprisingly, the toxicity and activation of the ISR triggered by 2 independent SPHK inhibitors, SKI-II and ABC294640, the latter in clinical trials, are also observed in cells lacking SPHK1 and SPHK2. In summary, our study provides a useful resource on the effects of medically used drugs on translation, identified compounds capable of reducing translation independently of mTOR and has revealed that the cytotoxic properties of SPHK inhibitors being developed as anticancer agents are independent of SPHKs.

A chemical screen to evaluate how 4100 drugs modulate translation rates confirms mTOR as the main pathway regulating translation and reveals that sphingosine kinase inhibitors downregulate translation via activation of the ER-stress response. Sphingosine kinase inhibitors, including one in clinical trials, activate stress responses and kill cells independently of the cognate target.     

Sphingosine 1-phosphate lyase blockade elicits myogenic differentiation of murine myoblasts acting via Spns2/S1P2 receptor axis

The bioactive sphingolipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) has emerged in the last three decades as main regulator of key cellular processes including cell proliferation, survival, migration and differentiation. A crucial role for this sphingolipid has been recognized in skeletal muscle cell biology both in vitro and in vivo. S1P lyase (SPL) is responsible for the irreversible degradation of S1P and together with sphingosine kinases, the S1P producing enzymes, regulates cellular S1P levels. In this study is clearly showed that the blockade of SPL by pharmacological or RNA interference approaches induces myogenic differentiation of C2C12 myoblasts. Moreover, down-regulation of the specific S1P transporter spinster homolog 2 (Spns2) abrogates myogenic differentiation brought about by SPL inhibition or down-regulation, pointing at a role of extracellular S1P in the pro-myogenic action induced by SPL blockade. Furthermore, also S1P₂ receptor down-regulation was found to abrogate the pro-myogenic effect of SPL blockade. These results provide further proof that inside-out S1P signaling is critically implicated in skeletal muscle biology and provide support to the concept that the specific targeting of SPL could represent an exploitable strategy to treat skeletal muscle disorders.     

High expression of sphingosine kinase 1 and S1P receptors in chemotherapy-resistant prostate cancer PC3 cells and their camptothecin-induced up-regulation

Although most of pharmacological therapies for cancer utilize the apoptotic machinery of the cells, the available anti-cancer drugs are limited due to the ability of prostate cancer cells to escape from the anti-cancer drug-induced apoptosis. A human prostate cancer cell line PC3 is resistant to camptothecin (CPT). To elucidate the mechanism of this resistance, we have examined the involvement of sphingosine kinase (SPHK) and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor in CPT-resistant PC3 and -sensitive LNCaP cells. PC3 cells exhibited higher activity accompanied with higher expression levels of protein and mRNA of SPHK1, and also elevated expression of S1P receptors, S1P(1) and S1P(3), as compared with those of LNCaP cells. The knockdown of SPHK1 by small interfering RNA and inhibition of S1P receptor signaling by pertussis toxin in PC3 cells induced significant inhibition of cell growth, suggesting implication of SPHK1 and S1P receptors in cell proliferation in PC3 cells. Furthermore, the treatment of PC3 cells with CPT was found to induce up-regulation of the SPHK1/S1P signaling by induction of both SPHK1 enzyme and S1P(1)/S1P(3) receptors. These findings strongly suggest that high expression and up-regulation of SPHK1 and S1P receptors protect PC3 cells from the apoptosis induced by CPT.