RESUMO
Ceramide (Cer) is involved in the regulation of several cellular processes by mechanisms that depend on Cer-induced changes on membrane biophysical properties. Accumulating evidence shows that Cers with different N-acyl chain composition differentially impact cell physiology, which may in part be due to specific alterations in membrane biophysical properties. We now address how the sphingolipid (SL) N-acyl chain affects membrane properties in cultured human embryonic kidney cells by overexpressing different Cer synthases (CerSs). Our results show an increase in the order of cellular membranes in CerS2-transfected cells caused by the enrichment in very long acyl chain SLs. Formation of Cer upon treatment of cells with bacterial sphingomyelinase promoted sequential changes in the properties of the membranes: after an initial increase in the order of the fluid plasma membrane, reorganization into domains with gel-like properties whose characteristics are dependent on the acyl chain structure of the Cer was observed. Moreover, the extent of alterations of membrane properties correlates with the amount of Cer formed. These data reinforce the significance of Cer-induced changes on membrane biophysical properties as a likely molecular mechanism by which different acyl chain Cers exert their specific biological actions.
Assuntos
Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Ceramidas/biossíntese , Esfingomielina Fosfodiesterase/fisiologia , Polarização de Fluorescência , Células HEK293 , Humanos , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Esfingolipídeos/metabolismo , Esfingosina N-Aciltransferase/metabolismo , Proteínas Supressoras de Tumor/metabolismoRESUMO
Ceramide, the backbone of all sphingolipids, is synthesized by a family of ceramide synthases (CerS) that each use acyl-CoAs of defined chain length for N-acylation of the sphingoid long chain base. CerS mRNA expression and enzymatic activity do not always correlate with the sphingolipid acyl chain composition of a particular tissue, suggesting post-translational mechanism(s) of regulation of CerS activity. We now demonstrate that CerS activity can be modulated by dimer formation. Under suitable conditions, high M(r) CerS complexes can be detected by Western blotting, and various CerS co-immunoprecipitate. CerS5 activity is inhibited in a dominant-negative fashion by co-expression with catalytically inactive CerS5, and CerS2 activity is enhanced by co-expression with a catalytically active form of CerS5 or CerS6. In a constitutive heterodimer comprising CerS5 and CerS2, the activity of CerS2 depends on the catalytic activity of CerS5. Finally, CerS dimers are formed upon rapid stimulation of ceramide synthesis by curcumin. Together, these data demonstrate that ceramide synthesis can be regulated by the formation of CerS dimers and suggest a novel way to generate the acyl chain composition of ceramide (and downstream sphingolipids), which may depend on the interaction of CerS with each other.
Assuntos
Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica/fisiologia , Multimerização Proteica/fisiologia , RNA Mensageiro/biossíntese , Esfingosina N-Aciltransferase/metabolismo , Catálise , Ceramidas/biossíntese , Ceramidas/genética , Células HEK293 , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Ligação Proteica/fisiologia , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Esfingosina N-Aciltransferase/genéticaRESUMO
To identify novel inhibitors of sphingomyelin (SM) metabolism, a new and selective high throughput microscopy-based screening based on the toxicity of the SM-specific toxin, lysenin, was developed. Out of a library of 2011 natural compounds, the limonoid, 3-chloro-8ß-hydroxycarapin-3,8-hemiacetal (CHC), rendered cells resistant to lysenin by decreasing cell surface SM. CHC treatment selectively inhibited the de novo biosynthesis of SM without affecting glycolipid and glycerophospholipid biosynthesis. Pretreatment with brefeldin A abolished the limonoid-induced inhibition of SM synthesis suggesting that the transport of ceramide (Cer) from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus is affected. Unlike the Cer transporter (CERT) inhibitor HPA-12, CHC did not change the transport of a fluorescent short chain Cer analog to the Golgi apparatus or the formation of fluorescent and short chain SM from the corresponding Cer. Nevertheless, CHC inhibited the conversion of de novo synthesized Cer to SM. We show that CHC specifically inhibited the CERT-mediated extraction of Cer from the endoplasmic reticulum membranes in vitro. Subsequent biochemical screening of 21 limonoids revealed that some of them, such as 8ß-hydroxycarapin-3,8-hemiacetal and gedunin, which exhibits anti-cancer activity, inhibited SM biosynthesis and CERT-mediated extraction of Cer from membranes. Model membrane studies suggest that 8ß-hydroxycarapin-3,8-hemiacetal reduced the miscibility of Cer with membrane lipids and thus induced the formation of Cer-rich membrane domains. Our study shows that certain limonoids are novel inhibitors of SM biosynthesis and suggests that some biological activities of these limonoids are related to their effect on the ceramide metabolism.
Assuntos
Ceramidas/metabolismo , Retículo Endoplasmático/efeitos dos fármacos , Retículo Endoplasmático/metabolismo , Limoninas/farmacologia , Proteínas Serina-Treonina Quinases/metabolismo , Esfingomielinas/biossíntese , Animais , Células CHO , Varredura Diferencial de Calorimetria , Cricetinae , Células HeLa , Humanos , Metabolismo dos Lipídeos/efeitos dos fármacos , Microscopia Confocal , Esfingolipídeos/metabolismoRESUMO
Little is known about the effects of altering sphingolipid (SL) acyl chain structure and composition on the biophysical properties of biological membranes. We explored the biophysical consequences of depleting very long acyl chain (VLC) SLs in membranes prepared from lipid fractions isolated from a ceramide synthase 2 (CerS2)-null mouse, which is unable to synthesize C22-C24 ceramides. We demonstrate that ablation of CerS2 has different effects on liver and brain, causing a significant alteration in the fluidity of the membrane and affecting the type and/or extent of the phases present in the membrane. These changes are a consequence of the depletion of VLC and unsaturated SLs, which occurs to a different extent in liver and brain. In addition, ablation of CerS2 causes changes in intrinsic membrane curvature, leading to strong morphological alterations that promote vesicle adhesion, membrane fusion, and tubule formation. Together, these results show that depletion of VLC-SLs strongly affects membrane biophysical properties, which may compromise cellular processes that critically depend on membrane structure, such as trafficking and sorting.
Assuntos
Membrana Celular/química , Membrana Celular/metabolismo , Oxirredutases/metabolismo , Animais , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Fígado/metabolismo , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Microscopia Confocal , Microssomos/metabolismo , Oxirredutases/genética , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização por Electrospray , Esfingolipídeos/metabolismoRESUMO
Sphingolipids (SLs) act as signaling molecules and as structural components in both neuronal cells and myelin. We now characterize the biochemical, histological, and behavioral abnormalities in the brain of a mouse lacking very long acyl (C22-C24) chain SLs. This mouse, which is defective in the ability to synthesize C22-C24-SLs due to ablation of ceramide synthase 2, has reduced levels of galactosylceramide (GalCer), a major component of myelin, and in particular reduced levels of non-hydroxy-C22-C24-GalCer and 2-hydroxy-C22-C24- GalCer. Noteworthy brain lesions develop with a time course consistent with a vital role for C22-C24-GalCer in myelin stability. Myelin degeneration and detachment was observed as was abnormal motor behavior originating from a subcortical region. Additional abnormalities included bilateral and symmetrical vacuolization and gliosis in specific brain areas, which corresponded to some extent to the pattern of ceramide synthase 2 expression, with astrogliosis considerably more pronounced than microglial activation. Unexpectedly, unidentified storage materials were detected in lysosomes of astrocytes, reminiscent of the accumulation that occurs in lysosomal storage disorders. Together, our data demonstrate a key role in the brain for SLs containing very long acyl chains and in particular GalCer with a reduction in their levels leading to distinctive morphological abnormalities in defined brain regions.
Assuntos
Astrócitos/metabolismo , Encefalopatias Metabólicas Congênitas/metabolismo , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Galactosilceramidas/metabolismo , Microglia/metabolismo , Bainha de Mielina/metabolismo , Animais , Astrócitos/patologia , Encéfalo/patologia , Encefalopatias Metabólicas Congênitas/genética , Encefalopatias Metabólicas Congênitas/patologia , Galactosilceramidas/genética , Camundongos , Camundongos Mutantes , Microglia/patologia , Bainha de Mielina/patologia , Esfingosina N-Aciltransferase/metabolismoRESUMO
Ceramide is an important lipid signaling molecule that plays critical roles in regulating cell behavior. Ceramide synthesis is surprisingly complex and is orchestrated by six mammalian ceramide synthases, each of which produces ceramides with restricted acyl chain lengths. We have generated a CerS2 null mouse and characterized the changes in the long chain base and sphingolipid composition of livers from these mice. Ceramide and downstream sphingolipids were devoid of very long (C22-C24) acyl chains, consistent with the substrate specificity of CerS2 toward acyl-CoAs. Unexpectedly, C16-ceramide levels were elevated, and as a result, total ceramide levels were unaltered; however, C16-ceramide synthesis in vitro was not increased. Levels of sphinganine were also significantly elevated, by up to 50-fold, reminiscent of the effect of the ceramide synthase inhibitor, fumonisin B1. With the exceptions of glucosylceramide synthase and neutral sphingomyelinase 2, none of the other enzymes tested in either the sphingolipid biosynthetic or degradative pathways were significantly changed. Total glycerophospholipid and cholesterol levels were unaltered, although there was a marked elevation in C18:1 and C18:2 fatty acids in phosphatidylethanolamine, concomitant with a reduction in C18:0 and C20:4 fatty acids. Finally, differences were observed in the biophysical properties of lipid extracts isolated from liver microsomes, with membranes from CerS2 null mice displaying higher membrane fluidity and showing morphological changes. Together, these results demonstrate novel modes of cross-talk and regulation between the various branches of lipid metabolic pathways upon inhibition of very long acyl chain ceramide synthesis.
Assuntos
Ceramidas/metabolismo , Fígado/metabolismo , Oxirredutases/fisiologia , Esfingolipídeos/metabolismo , Animais , Western Blotting , Feminino , Homeostase , Metabolismo dos Lipídeos , Fígado/citologia , Masculino , Redes e Vias Metabólicas , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Oxirredutases/antagonistas & inibidores , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase Reversa , Transdução de Sinais , Espectrometria de Massas por Ionização por Electrospray , Esfingomielina Fosfodiesterase/genética , Esfingomielina Fosfodiesterase/metabolismoRESUMO
We have generated a mouse that cannot synthesize very long acyl chain (C22-C24) ceramides (Pewzner-Jung, Y., Park, H., Laviad, E. L., Silva, L. C., Lahiri, S., Stiban, J., Erez-Roman, R., Brugger, B., Sachsenheimer, T., Wieland, F. T., Prieto, M., Merrill, A. H., and Futerman, A. H. (2010) J. Biol. Chem. 285, 10902-10910) due to ablation of ceramide synthase 2 (CerS2). As a result, significant changes were observed in the sphingolipid profile of livers from these mice, including elevated C16-ceramide and sphinganine levels. We now examine the functional consequences of these changes. CerS2 null mice develop severe nonzonal hepatopathy from about 30 days of age, the age at which CerS2 expression peaks in wild type mice, and display increased rates of hepatocyte apoptosis and proliferation. In older mice there is extensive and pronounced hepatocellular anisocytosis with widespread formation of nodules of regenerative hepatocellular hyperplasia. Progressive hepatomegaly and noninvasive hepatocellular carcinoma are also seen from approximately 10 months of age. Even though CerS2 is found at equally high mRNA levels in kidney and liver, there are no changes in renal function and no pathological changes in the kidney. High throughput analysis of RNA expression in liver revealed up-regulation of genes associated with cell cycle regulation, protein transport, cell-cell interactions and apoptosis, and down-regulation of genes associated with intermediary metabolism, such as lipid and steroid metabolism, adipocyte signaling, and amino acid metabolism. In addition, levels of the cell cycle regulator, the cyclin dependent-kinase inhibitor p21(WAF1/CIP1), were highly elevated, which occurs by at least two mechanisms, one of which may involve p53. We propose a functional rationale for the synthesis of sphingolipids with very long acyl chains in liver homeostasis and in cell physiology.
Assuntos
Biomarcadores Tumorais/metabolismo , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Regulação da Expressão Gênica no Desenvolvimento , Hepatomegalia/patologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas Experimentais/patologia , Fígado/patologia , Oxirredutases/fisiologia , Animais , Biomarcadores Tumorais/genética , Western Blotting , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/enzimologia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/genética , Feminino , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Hepatócitos/citologia , Hepatócitos/enzimologia , Hepatomegalia/enzimologia , Homeostase , Lipídeos/análise , Fígado/metabolismo , Testes de Função Hepática , Neoplasias Hepáticas Experimentais/enzimologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas Experimentais/genética , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Análise de Sequência com Séries de Oligonucleotídeos , Oxirredutases/antagonistas & inibidores , RNA Mensageiro/genética , RNA Mensageiro/metabolismo , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Via Transcriptase ReversaRESUMO
Plasma cells (PCs) are terminally differentiated B lymphocytes responsible for the synthesis and secretion of Igs. The differentiation of B cells into PCs involves a remarkable expansion of both lipid and protein components of the endoplasmic reticulum. Despite their importance in many signal transduction pathways, the role of ceramides, and of complex sphingolipids that are derived from ceramide, in PC differentiation has never been directly studied. To assess their putative role in PC differentiation, we blocked ceramide synthesis with fumonisin B1, a specific inhibitor of ceramide synthase. Under fumonisin B1 treatment, N-linked glycosylation was severely impaired in LPS-activated, but not in naive, B cells. We also show that ceramide synthesis is strongly induced by XBP-1 (X box-binding protein-1). In the absence of ceramide synthesis, ER expansion was dramatically diminished. Our results underscore ceramide biosynthesis as a key metabolic pathway in the process of PC differentiation and reveal a previously unknown functional link between sphingolipids and N-linked glycosylation in PCs.
Assuntos
Linfócitos B/citologia , Diferenciação Celular , Ceramidas/biossíntese , Plasmócitos/metabolismo , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA , Fumonisinas/farmacologia , Glicosilação , Lipopolissacarídeos/farmacologia , Redes e Vias Metabólicas , Camundongos , Oxirredutases/antagonistas & inibidores , Plasmócitos/citologia , Fatores de Transcrição de Fator Regulador X , Fatores de Transcrição , Proteína 1 de Ligação a X-BoxRESUMO
The ceramide synthase (CerS) enzymes are key regulators of ceramide homeostasis. CerS1 is central to regulating C18 ceramide which has been shown to be important in cancer and the response to chemotherapeutic drugs. Previous work indicated that some drugs induced a novel and specific translocation of CerS1 from the endoplasmic reticulum to the Golgi apparatus. We now show that diverse stresses such as UV light, DTT, as well as drugs with different mechanisms of action induce CerS1 translocation. The stresses cause a specific cleavage of the CerS1 enzyme, and the cleavage is dependent on the action of the proteasome. Inhibition of proteasome function inhibits stress-induced CerS1 translocation, indicating that this proteolytic cleavage precedes the translocation. Modulation of protein kinase C activity shows that it plays a central role in regulating CerS1 translocation. Analysis of the C-terminus of the CerS1 protein shows that several KxKxx motifs are not involved in regulating stress induced translocation. The study suggests that diverse stresses initiate responses through different signaling pathways, which ultimately converge to regulate CerS1 localization. The data provide an increasingly detailed understanding of the regulation of this important enzyme in normal and stressed cells and support the idea that it is uniquely regulated with respect to the other CerS enzymes.
Assuntos
Dano ao DNA/fisiologia , Retículo Endoplasmático/metabolismo , Complexo de Golgi/metabolismo , Proteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Complexo de Endopeptidases do Proteassoma/metabolismo , Transporte Proteico/fisiologia , Resposta a Proteínas não Dobradas/fisiologia , Substituição de Aminoácidos/fisiologia , Linhagem Celular , Cisplatino/farmacologia , Inibidores de Cisteína Proteinase/farmacologia , Dano ao DNA/efeitos dos fármacos , Dano ao DNA/efeitos da radiação , Ditiotreitol/farmacologia , Doxorrubicina/farmacologia , Hemaglutininas/genética , Leupeptinas/farmacologia , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Oligopeptídeos , Peptídeos/genética , Inibidores de Proteassoma , Proteína Quinase C/antagonistas & inibidores , Proteína Quinase C/metabolismo , Estrutura Terciária de Proteína/fisiologia , Transporte Proteico/efeitos dos fármacos , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/metabolismo , Esfingosina N-Aciltransferase/genética , Esfingosina N-Aciltransferase/metabolismo , Transfecção , Raios Ultravioleta , Resposta a Proteínas não Dobradas/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
Ceramide is an important bioactive lipid, intimately involved in many cellular functions, including the regulation of cell death, and in cancer and chemotherapy. Ceramide is synthesized de novo from sphinganine and acyl CoA via a family of 6 ceramide synthase enzymes, each having a unique preference for different fatty acyl CoA substrates and a unique tissue distribution. However, little is known regarding the regulation of these important enzymes. In this study we focus on ceramide synthase 1 (CerS1) which is the most structurally and functionally distinct of the enzymes, and describe a regulatory mechanism that specifically controls the level of CerS1 via ubiquitination and proteasome dependent protein turnover. We show that both endogenous and ectopically expressed CerS1 have rapid basal turnover and that diverse stresses including chemotherapeutic drugs, UV light and DTT can induce CerS1 turnover. The turnover requires CerS1 activity and is regulated by the opposing actions of p38 MAP kinase and protein kinase C (PKC). p38 MAP kinase is a positive regulator of turnover, while PKC is a negative regulator of turnover. CerS1 is phosphorylated in vivo and activation of PKC increases the phosphorylation of the protein. This study reveals a novel and highly specific mechanism by which CerS1 protein levels are regulated and which directly impacts ceramide homeostasis.
Assuntos
Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica , Oxirredutases/metabolismo , Complexo de Endopeptidases do Proteassoma/metabolismo , Proteína Quinase C/metabolismo , Ubiquitina/metabolismo , Proteínas Quinases p38 Ativadas por Mitógeno/metabolismo , Células Cultivadas , Humanos , Immunoblotting , Imunoprecipitação , Rim/citologia , Rim/enzimologia , Fosforilação , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In contrast to patient-related risk factors, which are difficult to influence, factors relating to surgery and anesthesia that can be influenced have hardly been investigated. This study aimed to identify such risk factors. METHODS: Pre- and intraoperative surgical and anesthesiologic factors of 388 colonic and 112 rectal procedures performed by a single surgeon within 50 months were recorded and analyzed for correlations with postoperative complications requiring treatment. RESULTS: Higher American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) emergency interventions and intraoperative factors (bleeding, long operating time) had an elevated risk for general complications. Furthermore, patients benefited from the clinical experience of the anesthesiologist, especially in terms of emergency procedures, hemorrhagic complications, and a longer operating time. CONCLUSIONS: Standardization of the surgical technique, "bloodless" surgery, standardization of intraoperative monitoring, and the use of board-certified anesthesiologists for high-risk cases, emergency procedures, and patients with high ASA stages are able to reduce postoperative morbidity.
Assuntos
Anestesia por Inalação/métodos , Doenças do Colo/cirurgia , Cardiopatias/prevenção & controle , Laparoscopia/métodos , Pneumopatias/prevenção & controle , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/prevenção & controle , Doenças Retais/cirurgia , Gestão de Riscos , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Anestesia por Inalação/efeitos adversos , Anestesiologia/normas , Competência Clínica , Emergências , Feminino , Cardiopatias/etiologia , Humanos , Cuidados Intraoperatórios/métodos , Cuidados Intraoperatórios/normas , Pneumopatias/etiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/etiologia , Cuidados Pré-Operatórios/métodos , Cuidados Pré-Operatórios/normas , Estudos Prospectivos , Fatores de Risco , Índice de Gravidade de Doença , Conselhos de Especialidade Profissional , Adulto JovemRESUMO
BACKGROUND: This paper discusses, whether neoadjuvant chemotherapy has an impact on the rate of postoperative complications after primary resection of liver metastases from colorectal carcinoma. METHODS: Of 183 patients 64 were studied. The patients were subdivided into two matched groups of 32 patients each-prior neoadjuvant chemotherapy (CT-group) vs. (control-group, primary resection). RESULTS: There were no postoperative complications in 24 patients of the control group (75%) and 26 patients of the CT-group (81%). Following prior chemotherapy, no major complications such as liver failure were observed, even after extended resections. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy prior to surgical resection of colorectal liver metastases does not result in an increase of postoperative morbidity and mortality.
Assuntos
Colectomia , Neoplasias Colorretais/terapia , Hepatectomia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/secundário , Neoplasias Hepáticas/terapia , Terapia Neoadjuvante , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/epidemiologia , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/etiologia , Adulto , Idoso , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Colectomia/efeitos adversos , Neoplasias Colorretais/epidemiologia , Tratamento Farmacológico , Feminino , Alemanha , Hepatectomia/efeitos adversos , Humanos , Tempo de Internação , Neoplasias Hepáticas/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Complicações Pós-Operatórias/diagnóstico por imagem , Tomografia Computadorizada por Raios X , Resultado do TratamentoRESUMO
The authors report a case of an iatrogenic carotid-cavernous fistula (CCF) associated with intracranial angioplasty. Angioplasty was performed using a 3 x 10-mm Open Sail coronary balloon in a patient with high-grade stenosis of the left cavernous internal carotid artery (ICA). After angioplasty, a perforation developed in the cavernous ICA, resulting in a CCF. A 3.5 x 9-mm S670 coronary stent was used to treat the fistula. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported case in which a CCF developed after angioplasty was performed using a coronary balloon. Long-term angiographic and clinical evaluation is needed to test the suitability and durability of intracranial angioplasty and stent placement in the treatment of symptomatic intracranial stenosis.
Assuntos
Angioplastia com Balão/efeitos adversos , Estenose das Carótidas/terapia , Fístula Carótido-Cavernosa/terapia , Stents , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Artéria Carótida Interna/diagnóstico por imagem , Estenose das Carótidas/diagnóstico por imagem , Fístula Carótido-Cavernosa/diagnóstico por imagem , Angiografia Cerebral , Humanos , Doença Iatrogênica , MasculinoRESUMO
SCOPE: Fumonisins are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species. The predominant derivative, fumonisin B1 (FB1), occurs in food and feed and is of health concern due to its hepatotoxic and carcinogenic effects. However, the role of FB1 metabolites on the mechanism of the toxicity, the inhibition of the ceramide synthesis, is unknown. The aim of this study was to identify new fumonisin metabolites and to evaluate their cytotoxic potential. METHODS AND RESULTS: MS, molecular biology, and in vitro enzyme assays were used to investigate fumonisin metabolism in mammalian cells overexpressing human ceramide synthase (CerS) genes. N-acyl-FB1 derivatives were detected as new metabolites in cultured cells at levels of up to 10 pmol/mg of protein. The N-acylation of FB1 and hydrolyzed FB1 was analyzed in several cell lines, including cells overexpressing CerS. The acyl-chain length of the N-acyl fumonisins depends on the CerS isoform acylating them. The N-acyl fumonisins are more cytotoxic than the parent fumonisin B1. CONCLUSION: The identification of N-acyl fumonisins with various acyl chain lengths together with the observed cytotoxicity of these compounds is a new aspect of fumonisin-related toxicity. Therefore, these new metabolites might play an important role in the mode of action of fumonisins.
Assuntos
Fumonisinas/metabolismo , Fumonisinas/toxicidade , Acilação , Células Cultivadas , Fumonisinas/química , Fumonisinas/isolamento & purificação , Fusarium/química , Humanos , Hidroliases/metabolismo , Oxirredutases/genética , Oxirredutases/metabolismoRESUMO
Increases in ceramide levels have been implicated in the pathogenesis of both acute or chronic lung injury models. However, the role of individual ceramide species, or of the enzymes that are responsible for their synthesis, in lung health and disease has not been clarified. We now show that C24- and C16-ceramides are the most abundant lung ceramide species, paralleled by high expression of their synthetic enzymes, ceramide synthase 2 (CerS2) and CerS5, respectively. Furthermore, the ceramide species synthesis in the lung is homeostatically regulated, since mice lacking very long acyl chain C24-ceramides due to genetic deficiency of CerS2 displayed a ten-fold increase in C16-ceramides and C16-dihydroceramides along with elevation of acid sphingomyelinase and CerS5 activities. Despite relatively preserved total lung ceramide levels, inhibition of de novo sphingolipid synthesis at the level of CerS2 was associated with significant airflow obstruction, airway inflammation, and increased lung volumes. Our results suggest that ceramide species homeostasis is crucial for lung health and that CerS2 dysfunction may predispose to inflammatory airway and airspace diseases.
Assuntos
Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica , Pulmão/citologia , Pulmão/enzimologia , Proteínas de Membrana/genética , Esfingosina N-Aciltransferase/genética , Proteínas Supressoras de Tumor/genética , Animais , Linhagem Celular , Ceramidas/metabolismo , Feminino , Homeostase , Humanos , Pulmão/metabolismo , Pulmão/fisiologia , Masculino , Proteínas de Membrana/deficiência , Camundongos , Alvéolos Pulmonares/citologia , Alvéolos Pulmonares/enzimologia , Alvéolos Pulmonares/metabolismo , Alvéolos Pulmonares/fisiologia , Esfingosina N-Aciltransferase/deficiência , Proteínas Supressoras de Tumor/deficiênciaAssuntos
Arteriosclerose Intracraniana/patologia , Arteriosclerose Intracraniana/cirurgia , Idoso , Angioplastia com Balão/métodos , Estenose das Carótidas/tratamento farmacológico , Estenose das Carótidas/patologia , Estenose das Carótidas/cirurgia , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Feminino , Fibrinolíticos/uso terapêutico , Humanos , Infarto da Artéria Cerebral Média/patologia , Infarto da Artéria Cerebral Média/cirurgia , Arteriosclerose Intracraniana/tratamento farmacológico , Angiografia por Ressonância Magnética , Procedimentos Neurocirúrgicos/métodos , Recidiva , StentsRESUMO
FTY720, a sphingosine analog, is in clinical trials as an immunomodulator. The biological effects of FTY720 are believed to occur after its metabolism to FTY720 phosphate. However, very little is known about whether FTY720 can interact with and modulate the activity of other enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism. We examined the ability of FTY720 to modulate de novo ceramide synthesis. In mammals, ceramide is synthesized by a family of six ceramide synthases, each of which utilizes a restricted subset of acyl-CoAs. We show that FTY720 inhibits ceramide synthase activity in vitro by noncompetitive inhibition toward acyl-CoA and uncompetitive inhibition toward sphinganine; surprisingly, the efficacy of inhibition depends on the acyl-CoA chain length. In cultured cells, FTY720 has a more complex effect, with ceramide synthesis inhibited at high (500 nM to 5 microM) but not low (<200 nM) sphinganine concentrations, consistent with FTY720 acting as an uncompetitive inhibitor toward sphinganine. Finally, electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry demonstrated, unexpectedly, elevated levels of ceramide, sphingomyelin, and hexosylceramides after incubation with FTY720. Our data suggest a novel mechanism by which FTY720 might mediate some of its biological effects, which may be of mechanistic significance for understanding its mode of action.
Assuntos
Acil Coenzima A/metabolismo , Ceramidas/biossíntese , Imunossupressores/farmacologia , Oxirredutases/antagonistas & inibidores , Propilenoglicóis/farmacologia , Esfingosina/análogos & derivados , Ligação Competitiva/efeitos dos fármacos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Inibidores Enzimáticos/química , Inibidores Enzimáticos/farmacologia , Cloridrato de Fingolimode , Humanos , Imunossupressores/química , Rim/citologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Mastócitos/citologia , Oxirredutases/metabolismo , Propilenoglicóis/química , Esfingosina/química , Esfingosina/farmacologia , TrítioRESUMO
Ceramide is an important lipid signaling molecule and a key intermediate in sphingolipid biosynthesis. Recent studies have implied a previously unappreciated role for the ceramide N-acyl chain length, inasmuch as ceramides containing specific fatty acids appear to play defined roles in cell physiology. The discovery of a family of mammalian ceramide synthases (CerS), each of which utilizes a restricted subset of acyl-CoAs for ceramide synthesis, strengthens this notion. We now report the characterization of mammalian CerS2. qPCR analysis reveals that CerS2 mRNA is found at the highest level of all CerS and has the broadest tissue distribution. CerS2 has a remarkable acyl-CoA specificity, showing no activity using C16:0-CoA and very low activity using C18:0, rather utilizing longer acyl-chain CoAs (C20-C26) for ceramide synthesis. There is a good correlation between CerS2 mRNA levels and levels of ceramide and sphingomyelin containing long acyl chains, at least in tissues where CerS2 mRNA is expressed at high levels. Interestingly, the activity of CerS2 can be regulated by another bioactive sphingolipid, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), via interaction of S1P with two residues that are part of an S1P receptor-like motif found only in CerS2. These findings provide insight into the biochemical basis for the ceramide N-acyl chain composition of cells, and also reveal a novel and potentially important interplay between two bioactive sphingolipids that could be relevant to the regulation of sphingolipid metabolism and the opposing functions that these lipids play in signaling pathways.
Assuntos
Regulação Enzimológica da Expressão Gênica/fisiologia , Metabolismo dos Lipídeos/fisiologia , Lisofosfolipídeos/metabolismo , Oxirredutases/antagonistas & inibidores , Oxirredutases/biossíntese , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia , Esfingosina/análogos & derivados , Animais , Linhagem Celular , Ceramidas/genética , Ceramidas/metabolismo , Humanos , Lisofosfolipídeos/genética , Camundongos , Especificidade de Órgãos/fisiologia , Oxirredutases/genética , RNA Mensageiro/biossíntese , RNA Mensageiro/genética , Esfingolipídeos/genética , Esfingolipídeos/metabolismo , Esfingosina/genética , Esfingosina/metabolismo , Especificidade por Substrato/fisiologiaRESUMO
Ceramide is synthesized in mammals by a family of ceramide synthases (CerS) each of which uses a relatively restricted set of fatty acyl-CoAs for N-acylation of the sphingoid long chain base (Pewzner-Jung, Y., Ben-Dor, S., and Futerman, A. H. (2006) J. Biol. Chem. 281, 25001-25005). CerS are characterized by two functional domains, the Tram-Lag-CLN8 (TLC) domain and the homeobox (Hox) domain, which is found in all mammalian CerS except CerS1. We now demonstrate that the majority of the Hox domain is not required for CerS activity since its deletion in CerS5 does not affect activity. Subsequently, we define a highly conserved new motif of 12 amino acid residues that flanks the Hox and TLC domains but is not part of the TLC domain, which is essential for CerS5 and CerS6 activity. Two positively charged residues in this domain, one of which is conserved in all putative CerS in all organisms, are essential for activity since site-directed mutagenesis of either (Lys-134 and Lys-140 in CerS5) results in an approximately 50% loss of activity, whereas mutation of both leads to a complete loss of activity. Because this region is conserved across species, we propose that it plays a previously unidentified and essential role in CerS activity and can be used as a new motif to define Hox domain-containing CerS.