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Formation of free sphingosine and ceramide from exogenous ganglioside GM1 by cerebellar granule cells in culture.

Cerebellar granule cells differentiated in culture were incubated with ganglioside [3H-Sph]GM1 in order to have it inserted into the plasma membrane and metabolized. Among the formed metabolites radioactive sphingosine and ceramide were identified. [3H]Ceramide started to be measurable after 10 min of incubation (pulse), and [3H]sphingosine after 15 min. Their concentrations increased with pulse time, and, after a 1-hour pulse, with chase time. After a 1-hour pulse with 2 x 10(-6) M [3H-Sph]GM1 followed by a 4-hour chase, the amount of [3H]sphingosine and [3H]ceramide formed were 0.04 and 0.4 pmol/10(6) cells, respectively. Particularly the ability to produce sphingosine was higher in differentiated than in undifferentiated cells. It is concluded that ganglioside turnover contributes to the maintenance of the intracellular levels of free sphingosine and ceramide.

Cells, Cultured↗

Na+/H+ exchange activity induced by thrombin is not inhibited by protein kinase inhibitors, staurosporine, K-252a, H-7 and sphingosine, in human platelets.

In human platelets stimulated with thrombin (40 mU/ml), Na+/H+ exchange activity [the ethylisopropylamiloride (EIPA)-sensitive increase of cytoplasmic pH (pHc)] and protein kinase C (PKC) activity [phosphorylation of 47 kDa protein (P47), a substrate for PKC] were determined in the presence of protein kinase inhibitors, staurosporine (0.05-1 microM), K-252a (0.5-10 microM), H-7 (100 microM) and sphingosine (20-40 microM). Staurosporine and K-252a completely blocked PKC activity. H-7 and sphingosine reduced the P47 phosphorylation to 64% and 35%, respectively. On the contrary, the thrombin-induced pHc increase was not inhibited by staurosporine, K-252a or H-7. Sphingosine elevated the resting pHc by 0.26-0.42 independently of the Na+/H+ exchanger and inhibited the thrombin-induced pHc increase. However, after the resting pHc elevated by sphingosine had been reduced to the initial level by adding sodium propionate, the thrombin-induced pHc increase was observed again. These results suggested that sphingosine inhibited the thrombin-induced pHc increase by elevating the resting pHc. Thus, we concluded that the Na+/H+ exchanger was activated by thrombin through a pathway independent of PKC.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

Sphingosine increases inositol trisphosphate in rat parotid acinar cells by a mechanism that is independent of protein kinase C but dependent on extracellular calcium.

In rat parotid acinar cells prelabelled with [3H]-inositol, sphingosine stimulated the accumulation of [3H]-inositol polyphosphates. When the cells were exposed to sphingosine, [3H]-inositol trisphosphate (InsP3) was accumulated in a time- and dose-dependent manner. When the extracellular Ca2+ was chelated by 1 mM EGTA, the effect of sphingosine on InsP3 accumulation was completely inhibited. Ionophores, A23187 and ionomycin, had no significant effect on InsP3 accumulation. An inhibitor of protein kinase C, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H-7), failed to stimulate InsP3 accumulation. In the homogenate of parotid acinar cells, InsP3 3-kinase and 5-phosphomonoesterase activities were not affected by sphingosine. These results suggest that sphingosine activates phosphoinositide turnover by a mechanism dependent upon extracellular Ca2+, but different from that of an ionophore, and independent of protein kinase C.

Animals↗

Modulation of protein kinase C and diverse cell functions by sphingosine--a pharmacologically interesting compound linking sphingolipids and signal transduction.

Sphingosine, the backbone moiety of sphingomyelin, gangliosides and other complex sphingolipids, is a potent inhibitor of protein kinase C in vitro and of cellular events dependent on this enzyme. The systems that have been found, thus far, to be affected by sphingosine encompass various components of host defense system, including the activation of platelets, neutrophils and natural killer cells; the cytolytic activity of pathogens and expression of viral genes; cell growth and differentiation in several cell types, including leukemic and neuronal cells; insulin stimulated hexose transport and metabolism in adipocytes; ion-transport systems in various models; the response of neuronal cells to excitatory compounds; and receptor desensitization. While sphingosine has appeared to be a relatively potent and specific inhibitor of protein kinase C in the systems studied, recent findings with the epidermal growth factor receptor indicate that it may serve as a pleotrophic modulator of cell functions. New strategies for the design of pharmacologically active agents should arise from further studies of the action of long-chain (sphingoid) bases. Furthermore, since free sphingosine is a natural constituent of cells and the levels can be modulated by phorbol esters and other factors, a cycle of complex sphingolipid hydrolysis and resynthesis to regulate the amount of free sphingosine may constitute one mechanism of action of these compounds.

Animals↗

Modulation of the free sphingosine levels in Epstein Barr virus transformed human B lymphocytes by phorbol dibutyrate.

The amounts of free sphingosine in Epstein Barr virus transformed B lymphocytes (EBV-B) treated with sphingosine and phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PD) has been quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). PD treatment did not affect intracellular sphingosine level, while it seems to lessen the removal of this long chain base in sphingosine-treated EBV-B cells. The previous results relative to sphingosine-dependent changes in choline-metabolite levels have to be interpreted on the basis of these results.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Dexamethasone-dependent modulation of human lymphoblastoid B cell line through sphingosine production.

The relationship between dexamethasone-dependent changes in intracellular sphingosine levels, energy and phospholipid metabolism have been investigated by 31P-NMR spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography. The cellular functions have been evaluated by cellular growth and immunoglobulin M secretion (IgM). Significant increases in intracellular phosphorylcholine (PCho), extracellular choline (Cho), and endogenous sphingosine levels were observed only at 30 min incubation with dexamethasone. These results confirmed a sphingosine-dependent hydrolysis of choline-linked phospholipids (Miccheli, A., Ricciolini, R., Piccolella, E., Delfini, M. and Conti, F. (1991) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1093, 29-35). Furthermore, no significant variations were evidenced at hours 1, 2, 6 and 18 of incubation. Dexamethasone causes an inhibition of cellular growth and IgM secretion as well as the sphingosine treatment. The results suggest that the effect of dexamethasone may be mediated by endogenous sphingosine production in Epstein-Barr virus transformed B lymphocytes.

B-Lymphocytes↗

Sphingosine kinase activity confers resistance to apoptosis by fumonisin B1 in human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells.

Fumonisin B1 induces cytotoxicity in sensitive cells by inhibiting ceramide synthase due to its structural similarity to the long-chain backbones of sphingolipids. The resulting accumulation of sphingoid bases has been established as a mechanism for fumonisin B1 cytotoxicity. We found that despite the accumulation of sphinganine, human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells are resistant to fumonisin B1 toxicity; 25 microM fumonisin B1 exposure for 48 h did not increase apoptosis in these cells, while it did so in sensitive porcine kidney epithelial (LLC-PK1) cells. In this study, DL-threo-dihydrosphingosine, the sphingosine kinase inhibitor (SKI), considerably increased the sensitivity of HEK-293 cells to fumonisin B1. Treatment of these cells with 25 microM fumonisin B1 and 2.5 microM SKI increased apoptosis. Sphingoid bases, sphinganine or sphingosine, added to cell cultures induced apoptosis by themselves and their effects were potentiated by SKI or fumonisin B1. Addition of physiological amounts of sphingosine-1-phosphate prevented the toxic effects induced by SKI inhibition and fumonisin B1. Results indicated that HEK-293 cells are resistant to fumonisin B1 due to rapid formation of sphingosine-1-phosphate that imparts survival properties. Taken together, these findings suggest that sphingoid base metabolism by sphingosine kinase may be a critical event in rendering the HEK-293 cells relatively resistant to fumonisin B1-induced apoptosis.

Animals↗

Sphingosine impairs mitochondrial function by opening permeability transition pore.

Growing evidence suggest that, in the heart, sphingosine participates to contractile dysfunction by altering calcium transients and mitochondria function. However, mechanisms underlying sphingosine-induced cardiac mitochondria dysfunction are poorly understood. Here, we studied the effects of sphingosine on isolated cardiac mitochondria of either wild-type or Bcl-2 overexpressing transgenic mice. Sphingosine induced reductions in ADP-coupled respiration, membrane potential, mitochondrial cytochrome c content and ATP production, which were partially prevented by cyclosporine A and mitochondrial Bcl-2 overexpression. These data suggest that sphingosine promotes mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, which may result in uncoupled respiration and participate in cardiac contractile dysfunction.

Animals↗

Sphingosine kinase-dependent directional migration of leukocytes in response to phorbol ester.

Syndecan-4 participates in focal adhesion by non-G protein-dependent activation of protein kinase C. Ligation of syndecan-4 with antithrombin elicits pertussis toxin-sensitive chemotaxis of leukocytes. As activation of protein kinase C stimulates release of sphingosine-1-phosphate, a chemoattracting G protein-coupled receptor agonist, we studied directional migration of leukocytes in response to phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a direct activator of protein kinase C. Human peripheral blood neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes were purified and tested for chemotactic migration in micropore filter assays in response to PMA. Dose-dependent stimulation of migration was seen only when leukocytes were exposed to concentration gradients of PMA; in the absence of such a gradient, inhibition of random migration was induced. Dimethylsphingosine inhibited PMA-induced leukocyte chemotaxis, indicating that activation of sphingosine kinase for enhanced production of sphingosine-1-phosphate mediates the chemotactic response to PMA. Pertussis toxin abrogated the chemotactic response to PMA, suggesting involvement of G protein-coupled sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor. Dimethylsphingosine also inhibited leukocyte chemotaxis toward antithrombin, indicating that similar mechanisms may be involved upon syndecan-4 ligation. Data show that protein kinase C-dependent activation of sphingosine kinase may play a central role in leukocyte chemotaxis toward non-G protein-coupled receptor agonists.

Chemokine CCL5↗

Rapid turnover of sphingosine synthesized de novo from [14C]serine by Chinese hamster ovary cells.

It has been hypothesized that complex sphingolipids may serve as another "lipid second messenger" system via their hydrolysis to free sphingosine, which inhibits protein kinase C and affects multiple cellular functions. To investigate sphingolipid turnover, Chinese hamster ovary cells were pulse labelled with [14C]serine and the [14C]sphingosine in cellular sphingolipids was determined over time. Much of the radiolabelled sphingosine was initially seen in ceramides and was incorporated into sphingomyelin during the 5-hour chase. A major portion of the radiolabel that was initially seen in other sphingolipids disappeared over time. Overall, about half of the total long-chain bases made during this pulse were degraded within 2 to 5 h, depending on the method of analysis. Hence, a substantial portion of the sphingosine synthesized de novo by these cells is turned over fairly quickly. Since the doubling time of these cells is 12 h, this rapid turnover may reflect the remodelling of the cell surface, or the utilization of the free sphingosine derived from sphingolipid turnover, as part of the control of cell growth and division.

Cell Line↗

Effect of sphingosine on rat glial cells: inhibition of prostaglandin E2 and insensitivity of nitric oxide generation.

The effect of sphingosine on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated protein kinase C (PKC) activation and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and nitric oxide (NO) production was studied in primary cultures of rat glial cells. Incubation of cells with LPS elicited translocation of PKC from the cytosolic to the membranous compartment, as shown by measuring PKC activity and by immunoblotting. Under these conditions, a sustained increase in both PGE2 and NO production was measured. Thus, PGE2 levels were 259 +/- 28 (n = 8) and 230 +/- 48 (n = 4) (control levels 11.4 +/- 5.2 (n = 5) and 13 +/- 7.5 (n = 3)) pg/ml, at 24 and 48 h, respectively. NO levels were 9.3 +/- 0.9 (n = 10) and 11.6 +/- 0.8 (n = 9) (control levels 0.4 +/- 0.18 and 1.0 +/- 0.44) nmol/ml, at 24 and 48 h, respectively. Sphingosine, a naturally occurring compound, which inhibits PKC activity, elicited a concentration-dependent decrease in LPS-mediated PGE2 production. This inhibition was more pronounced after 48 h than after 24 h of incubation (IC50 = 8 and 20 microg sphingosine, respectively). By contrast, sphingosine did not inhibit NO production under the same conditions. We conclude that sphingosine may be involved in modulation of the local inflammatory response in glial cells, at least in part. We also surmise that LPS-mediated PGE2 production and NO production are probably regulated by different mechanisms, i.e., a PKC-dependent and a PKC-independent mechanism.

Animals↗

Role of sphingosine synthesis inhibition in transcutaneous delivery of levodopa.

The present study was designed to investigate the role of skin sphingosine synthesis inhibition in enhancing the in vitro permeation of levodopa (LD), a hydrophilic drug, across rat skin. beta-Chloroalanine (beta-CA), a selective inhibitor of serine palmitoyl transferase was used for inhibiting sphingosine synthesis in viable skin. The sphingosine content in viable skin perturbed by acetone treatment and immediately treated with beta-CA (600 or 1200 microg/7 cm(2)) was significantly less than that of perturbed viable skin after 36 h of treatment (P<0.001). The in vitro permeation of LD across perturbed-beta-CA treated skin was significantly greater than that across perturbed skin (P<0.001). This indicates an inverse relationship between in vitro permeation of LD and skin sphingosine content. The systemic delivery of percutaneously applied LD across normal rat skin was negligible. Higher C(max), lower T(max) and maintenance of effective plasma concentration of LD over 28 h was achieved by a single topical application of carbidopa-LD combination (1:4) to perturbed-beta-CA treated skin. Hence, skin sphingosine synthesis inhibition can be used as a novel means of enhancing systemic delivery of LD.

Acyltransferases↗

Phosphatidic acid is the prominent product of endogenous neuronal nuclear lipid phosphorylation, an activity enhanced by sphingosine, linked to phospholipase C and associated with the nuclear envelope.

Using endogenous lipid substrates, assays of lipid phosphorylation indicated that neuronal nuclei had a considerable superiority in phosphatidic acid (PA) formation when compared with homogenates and other subfractions of cerebral cortex. This predominance of neuronal nuclear PA labelling was linked to a sizable pool of nuclear diacylglycerols that expanded significantly with incubation. PA was also the dominant product of neuronal nuclear lipid phosphorylation reactions. Nuclear envelope preparations and the parent neuronal nuclei showed specific rates of PA formation that were comparable, based upon membrane phospholipid contents. As well, using an exogenous diacylglycerol substrate, the distribution of diacylglycerol kinase activities closely followed phospholipid contents of subfractions derived from the neuronal nucleus during envelope preparation. This evidence suggested an association between diacylglycerol kinase and the neuronal nuclear envelope. Nuclear PA formation increased in the presence of sphingosine, while sphingosine decreased PA formation in other subfractions. Likely sphingosine exerted its effect on nuclear diacylglycerol kinase, as sphingosine did not elevate levels of nuclear diacylglycerols. Phosphoinositidase C was present in the nuclei and inhibitors of this enzyme did decrease PA formation, indicating diacylglycerols from inositides as substrates for nuclear diacylglycerol kinase. The nuclear envelope fraction had a considerably lower specific phosphoinositidase C activity than the parent nuclei, and showed an activation of PA formation by sphingosine, but a less efficient handling of the exogenous diacylglycerol substrate. It is possible that phosphoinositidase C and diacylglycerol kinase are closely situated within the neuronal nuclei, and a loss of the former activity may compromise the latter.

Animals↗

Modulation of protein kinase C by endogenous sphingosine: inhibition of phorbol dibutyrate binding in Niemann-Pick C fibroblasts.

The abnormal and variable increase in levels of free sphingoid bases recently described in fibroblasts from Niemann-Pick C patients allowed us to investigate the modulation of protein kinase C in vivo by endogenous sphingosine. The specific binding of [20-3H]phorbol 12, 13-dibutyrate to the regulatory domain of membrane-bound protein kinase C was significantly decreased in fibroblasts from patients compared with controls. A pronounced difference between the two groups (P<0.0001) was demonstrated in low-density lipoprotein-supplemented medium, i.e. under conditions known to disclose abnormal mobilization of unesterified cholesterol in Niemann-Pick C fibroblasts. Furthermore the degree of impairment of [3H]phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate binding was highly correlated (r=0.95) with the sphingosine levels measured in fibroblasts from those patients. Scatchard analysis of the binding data indicated that Niemann-Pick C and control fibroblasts contained almost the same number of binding sites per cell. A 8-34-fold increase in Kd was measured in Niemann-Pick C fibroblasts with at least a 5-fold increase in sphingosine levels. Removal, by cell fractionation, of membrane-bound protein kinase C from the bulk of sphingosine induced a normalization of Kd values. The overall results suggest that protein kinase C inhibition is directly related to sphingosine accumulation.

Fibroblasts↗

Effect of acute exercise on the content of free sphinganine and sphingosine in different skeletal muscle types of the rat.

It has previously been shown that prolonged exercise of moderate intensity reduces the content of ceramide in each type of skeletal muscle. This was accompanied by a reduction in the activity of neutral, Mg++-dependent sphingomyelinase (the major enzyme responsible for ceramide formation from sphingomyelin) in the soleus and red gastrocnemius, but not in the white gastrocnemius (A. Dobrzyń and J. Górski, Am. J. Physiol.: Endorcinol. Metab. 282: E277 - E285, 2002). No other data on regulation of ceramide metabolism in contracting muscles are available. The aim of the present study was to examine the content of sphinganine (a key precursor of ceramide on the de novo synthesis route) and the content of sphingosine (the main product of ceramide catabolism) in different skeletal muscle types after two kinds of acute exercise. The experiments were carried out on 30 male Wistar rats, 250 - 280 g of body weight. The rats were divided equally into three groups: 1 - control, 2 - run until exhaustion (1200 m/h, +10 degree incline), 3 - a group in which the sciatic nerve was stimulated 10 min with tetanic pulses (60 pulses/min). Samples were taken of the soleus and of the red and white section of the gastrocnemius. These muscles are composed mostly of the slow-twitch oxidative, fast-twitch oxidative-glycolytic and fast-twitch glycolytic fibers, respectively. Lipids were extracted with chloroform/methanol. Sphinganine and sphingosine were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. At rest, the content of sphinganine in the soleus was higher than in the red gastrocnemius (p < 0.05), and in the latter, it was higher than in the white gastrocnemius (p < 0.01). Prolonged exercise increased the content of sphinganine approximately 6-fold in each muscle. The resting content of sphingosine in the soleus and in the red gastrocnemius was similar--higher than in the white gastrocnemius (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). The content of sphingosine increased over 3-fold in the soleus and nearly 2-fold in the red and white sections of the gastrocnemius. Stimulation of the sciatic nerve increased the content of both compounds approximately 2-fold in each muscle. We conclude that acute exercise increases both de novo synthesis and catabolism of ceramide in skeletal muscles. Accumulation of sphingosine in contracting muscles may contribute to the development of fatigue.

Animals↗

Phosphatidate phosphohydrolase catalyzes the hydrolysis of ceramide 1-phosphate, lysophosphatidate, and sphingosine 1-phosphate.

A Mg2+-independent phosphatidate phosphohydrolase was purified from rat liver plasma membranes in two distinct forms, an anionic protein and a cationic protein. Both forms of the enzyme dephosphorylated phosphatidate, ceramide 1-phosphate, lysophosphatidate, and sphingosine 1-phosphate. When assayed at a constant molar ratio of lipid to Triton X-100 of 1:500, the apparent Km values of the anionic phosphohydrolase for the lipid substrates was 3.5, 1.9, 0.4, and 4.0 microM, respectively. The relative catalytic efficiency of the enzyme for phosphatidate, ceramide 1-phosphate, lysophosphatidate, and sphingosine 1-phosphate was 0.16, 0.14, 0.48, and 0.04 liter (min x mg)-1, respectively. The hydrolysis of phosphatidate was inhibited competitively by ceramide 1-phosphate, lysophosphatidate, and sphingosine 1-phosphate. The Ki(app) values were 5.5, 5.9, and 4.0 microM, respectively. The hydrolysis of phosphatidate by the phosphohydrolase conformed to a surface dilution kinetic model. It is concluded that the enzyme is a lipid phosphomonoesterase that could modify the balance of phosphatidate, ceramide 1-phosphate, lysophosphatidate, and sphingosine 1-phosphate relative to diacylglycerol, ceramide, monoacylglycerol, and sphingosine, respectively. The enzyme could thus play an important role in regulating cell activation and signal transduction.

Animals↗

A GTPase-independent mechanism of p21-activated kinase activation. Regulation by sphingosine and other biologically active lipids.

p21-activated kinases (PAKs) are serine/threonine kinases that have been identified as targets for the small GTPases Rac and Cdc42. PAKs have been implicated in cytoskeletal regulation, stimulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades, and in control of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase. Membrane targeting of PAK1 induced increased kinase activity in a GTPase-independent manner, suggesting that other mechanisms for PAK regulation exist. We observed concentration- and time-dependent activation of PAK1 by sphingosine and several related long chain sphingoid bases but not by ceramides or a variety of other lipids. Although phospholipids were generally ineffective, phosphatidic acid and phosphatidylinositol also had stimulatory effects on PAK1. Lipid stimulation induced a similar level of PAK1 activity as did stimulation by GTPases, and the patterns of PAK1 autophosphorylation determined after partial tryptic digestion and two-dimensional peptide analysis were similar with each class of activator. Lipid stimulation of PAK1 activity was dependent upon intact PAK kinase activity, as indicated by studies with a kinase-dead PAK1 mutant. Treatment of COS-7 cells expressing wild type PAK1 with sphingosine, fumonisin B, or sphingomyelinase, all of which are able to elevate the levels of free sphingosine, induced increased activity of PAK1 as determined using a p47(phox) peptide substrate. Studies using PAK1 mutants suggest that lipids act at a site overlapping or identical to the GTPase-binding domain on PAK. The inactive sphingosine derivative N,N-dimethylsphingosine was an effective inhibitor of PAK1 activation in response to either sphingosine or Cdc42. Our results demonstrate a novel GTPase-independent mechanism of PAK activation and, additionally, suggest that PAK(s) may be important mediators of the biological effects of sphingolipids.

Animals↗

SphK1 and SphK2, sphingosine kinase isoenzymes with opposing functions in sphingolipid metabolism.

The potent sphingolipid metabolite sphingosine 1-phosphate is produced by phosphorylation of sphingosine catalyzed by sphingosine kinase (SphK) types 1 and 2. In contrast to pro-survival SphK1, the putative BH3-only protein SphK2 inhibits cell growth and enhances apoptosis. Here we show that SphK2 catalytic activity also contributes to its ability to induce apoptosis. Overexpressed SphK2 also increased cytosolic free calcium induced by serum starvation. Transfer of calcium to mitochondria was required for SphK2-induced apoptosis, as cell death and cytochrome c release was abrogated by inhibition of the mitochondrial Ca(2+) transporter. Serum starvation increased the proportion of SphK2 in the endoplasmic reticulum and targeting SphK1 to the endoplasmic reticulum converted it from anti-apoptotic to pro-apoptotic. Overexpression of SphK2 increased incorporation of [(3)H]palmitate, a substrate for both serine palmitoyltransferase and ceramide synthase, into C16-ceramide, whereas SphK1 decreased it. Electrospray ionizationmass spectrometry/mass spectrometry also revealed an opposite effect on ceramide mass levels. Importantly, specific down-regulation of SphK2 reduced conversion of sphingosine to ceramide in the recycling pathway and conversely, down-regulation of SphK1 increased it. Our results demonstrate that SphK1 and SphK2 have opposing roles in the regulation of ceramide biosynthesis and suggest that the location of sphingosine 1-phosphate production dictates its functions.

3T3 Cells↗