A Sphingosine-type cerebroside in Clavicorona pyxidata induce fruit body formation.

Clavicorona pyxidata is a wild edible and medicinal mushroom that is rich in bioactive natural products and has thus been extensively used as traditional medicine in China. The present study has determined that the organic crude extract prepared from a fermented culture of C. pyxidata imparted auto-inhibitory effects on mycelial growth and then induced the formation of fruiting bodies. By monitoring bioactivity, one compound was isolated via successive chromatography over silica gel, Sephadex LH-20, and Cl8-reversed phase silica gel and was identified as a known sphingosine-type cerebroside by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and physicochemical data, namely, (4E, 8E)-N-D-2'-hydroxypalmitoyl-1-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-9-methyl-4,8-sphingadienine. The application of this cerebroside at a concentration of 200 µg/disc paper resulted in the inhibition of aerial hyphal growth of C. pyxidata. The findings of the present study indicated that this C. pyxidata cerebroside is a fruiting body-inducing substance (FIS).

New Immunosuppressive Sphingoid Base and Ceramide Analogues in Wild Cordyceps.

A comprehensive identification of sphingoid bases and ceramides in wild Cordyceps was performed by integrating a sequential chromatographic enrichment procedure and an UHPLC-ultrahigh definition-Q-TOF-MS based sphingolipidomic approach. A total of 43 sphingoid bases and 303 ceramides were identified from wild Cordyceps, including 12 new sphingoid base analogues and 159 new ceramide analogues based on high-resolution MS and MS/MS data, isotope distribution, matching with the comprehensive personal sphingolipid database, confirmation by sphingolipid standards and chromatographic retention time rule. The immunosuppressive bioassay results demonstrated that Cordyceps sphingoid base fraction exhibits more potent immunosuppressive activity than ceramide fraction, elucidating the immunosuppressive ingredients of wild Cordyceps. This study represented the most comprehensive identification of sphingoid bases and ceramides from a natural source. The findings of this study provided an insight into therapeutic application of wild Cordyceps.

Mechanistic studies on the intramolecular cyclization of O-tosyl phytosphingosines to jaspines.

A theoretical study to elucidate the mechanistic aspects involved in the tosylation-cyclization reaction of diastereomeric phytosphingosines 1a-1d to jaspines 4a-4d is presented. The stereochemistry of the starting stereoisomers is crucial for the development of weak interactions, both in the reactants and in the transition states. The analysis of the energy barriers of each elementary reaction is consistent with the observed reluctance of tosylate 2d to undergo cyclization. In addition, the initial tosylation can be identified as the limiting step in cyclizations from la and 1b.

Biophysical implications of sphingosine accumulation in membrane properties at neutral and acidic pH.

Sphingosine (Sph) is a simple lipid involved in the regulation of several biological processes. When accumulated in the late endosomal/lysosomal compartments, Sph causes changes in ion signaling and membrane trafficking, leading to the development of Niemann-Pick disease type C. Little is known about Sph interaction with other lipids in biological membranes; however, understanding the effect of Sph in the physical state of membranes might provide insights into its mode of action. Using complementary established fluorescence approaches, we show that Sph accumulation leads to the formation of Sph-enriched gel domains in 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (POPC) and POPC/sphingomyelin (SM)/cholesterol (Chol) model membranes. These domains are more easily formed in membrane models mimicking the neutral pH plasma membrane environment (PM) as compared to the acidic lysosomal membrane environment (LM), where higher Sph concentrations (or lower temperatures) are required. Electrophoretic light scattering measurements further revealed that in PM-raft models (POPC/SM/Chol), Sph is mainly neutral, whereas in LM models, the positive charge of Sph leads to electrostatic repulsion, reducing the Sph ability to form gel domains. Thus, formation of Sph-enriched domains in cellular membranes might be strongly regulated by Sph charge.

C22:0- and C24:0-dihydroceramides confer mixed cytotoxicity in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines.

We previously reported that fenretinide (4-HPR) was cytotoxic to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell lines in vitro in association with increased levels of de novo synthesized dihydroceramides, the immediate precursors of ceramides. However, the cytotoxic potentials of native dihydroceramides have not been defined. Therefore, we determined the cytotoxic effects of increasing dihydroceramide levels via de novo synthesis in T-cell ALL cell lines and whether such cytotoxicity was dependent on an absolute increase in total dihydroceramide mass versus an increase of certain specific dihydroceramides. A novel method employing supplementation of individual fatty acids, sphinganine, and the dihydroceramide desaturase-1 (DES) inhibitor, GT-11, was used to increase de novo dihydroceramide synthesis and absolute levels of specific dihydroceramides and ceramides. Sphingolipidomic analyses of four T-cell ALL cell lines revealed strong positive correlations between cytotoxicity and levels of C22:0-dihydroceramide (ρ = 0.74-0.81, P ≤ 0.04) and C24:0-dihydroceramide (ρ = 0.84-0.90, P ≤ 0.004), but not between total or other individual dihydroceramides, ceramides, or sphingoid bases or phosphorylated derivatives. Selective increase of C22:0- and C24:0-dihydroceramide increased level and flux of autophagy marker, LC3B-II, and increased DNA fragmentation (TUNEL assay) in the absence of an increase of reactive oxygen species; pan-caspase inhibition blocked DNA fragmentation but not cell death. C22:0-fatty acid supplemented to 4-HPR treated cells further increased C22:0-dihydroceramide levels (P ≤ 0.001) and cytotoxicity (P ≤ 0.001). These data demonstrate that increases of specific dihydroceramides are cytotoxic to T-cell ALL cells by a caspase-independent, mixed cell death mechanism associated with increased autophagy and suggest that dihydroceramides may contribute to 4-HPR-induced cytotoxicity. The targeted increase of specific acyl chain dihydroceramides may constitute a novel anticancer approach.

[Basic mechanisms of action of fingolimod in relation to multiple sclerosis]. / Mecanismos basicos de accion del fingolimod en relacion con la esclerosis multiple.

INTRODUCTION: Fingolimod has recently been approved for the therapy of relapsing multiple sclerosis. This drug binds to different sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors. AIM: To analyze basic mechanisms of action that can account for the efficacy of this drug in multiple sclerosis. DEVELOPMENT: Fingolimod acts as an inverse agonist on sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors, inducing degradation of receptors. On lymphoid circulation, this effect causes retention in lymph nodes of naive and central memory T cells, including Th17 T lymphocytes, bearing CCR7 and CD62L receptors. As a result, the level of circulating T cells is markedly decreased. B ell circulation is impaired and complex effects on other immune cells are also induced. Fingolimod enters the central nervous system and binds to receptors on glial cells and neurons. In experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, the therapeutic efficacy of fingolimod is not only associated with a reduced entry of inflammatory cells into the nervous system, but also with a direct effect mostly on astroglial cells. CONCLUSIONS: In multiple sclerosis patients, the available evidence indicates that fingolimod efficacy is directly associated with impairment of circulation of several T cell subsets and possibly B cells. Animal studies raise the possibility that an additional effect on glial cells might also contribute to the clinical efficacy.

Identification and evaluation of neutral sphingomyelinase 2 inhibitors.

Sphingomyelinase catalyzes the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to generate ceramide, an important molecule involved in the regulation of various cellular responses. In this study, we partially purified the neutral sphingomyelinase2 (nSMase2) and identified the inhibitors, D-lyxophytosphingosine and D-arabino-phytosphingosine, which have an inhibitory effect on nSMase2 in a concentration-dependent manner. A Dixon plot of each phytosphingosines revealed their probable inhibitory pattern, i.e., apparent competitive inhibition. These compounds did not inhibit the Mg(2+)-independent neutral SMase activity, although the known nSMase2 inhibitor, GW4869, showed inhibitory effects on Mg(2+)-independent neutral SMase activity. Further, the two phytosphingosines specifically inhibited the ceramide generation regulated by nSMase2.

New antinociceptive agents related to dihydrosphingosine.

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive activity of three ethylenediamine derivatives and three ß-aminoethanol lipidic derivatives structurally related to dihydrosphingosine. These derivatives were selected on the basis of previous results from in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory studies. For all of the assayed compounds, an intraperitoneal dose of 3 mg/kg caused pronounced pain inhibition as measured by the acetic acid-induced writhing model in mice. Compounds 3 and 6 demonstrated strong antinociceptive activity at doses as low as 1 mg/kg and proved to be considerably more potent than the common nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and acetaminophen (ACE). We further analyzed these compounds using the capsaicin- and glutamate-induced pain tests. Compounds 3 and 6 also exhibited considerable antinociceptive effects under these conditions, but their inhibitory effects in the formalin test were less pronounced. The exact mechanism of action for these compounds has yet to be established. However, based the results from a hot-plate test, it can be stated that these new drugs do not interact with the opioid system.

The effect of a phytosphingosine-like substance isolated from Asterina pectinifera on involucrin expression in mite antigen-stimulated HaCaT cells.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of phytosphingosine (PS) on mite antigen-induced terminal differentiation abnormalities in HaCaT cells. For this purpose, a PS-like substance was isolated from Asterina pectinifera (starfish PS) using high-performance liquid chromatography and was partially characterized through 1H NMR analysis. The level of involucrin expression in HaCaT cell was measured by immunoblotting assay. Our results showed that PS treatments remarkably up-regulated the involucrin expression, which is known as a terminal differentiation marker in the epidermal mite antigen-treated HaCaT cells. This indicates that starfish PS could regulate mite antigen-induced terminal differentiation fluctuation in the epidermis. Taken together, the results suggest that starfish PS might be a useful therapeutic agent for atopic dermatitis.

Saturated ceramides from the sponge Dysidea robusta.

Chemical investigation of the crude extract of a marine sponge Dysidea robusta led to the isolation of an inseparable mixture of saturated ceramides. These were identified from spectroscopic data as well as by hydrolysis followed by LC-MS analysis of the sphingosine moieties.

Synthesis and evaluation of arylalkoxy- and biarylalkoxy-phenylamide and phenylimidazoles as potent and selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor subtype-1 agonists.

In pursuit of potent and selective sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonists, we have utilized previously reported phenylamide and phenylimidazole scaffolds to explore extensive side-chain modifications to generate new molecular entities. A number of designed molecules demonstrate good selectivity and excellent in vitro and in vivo potency in both mouse and rat models. Oral administration of the lead molecule 11c (PPI-4667) demonstrated potent and dose-responsive lymphopenia.

Effects of synthetic sphingosine-1-phosphate analogs on cytosolic phospholipase A2alpha-independent release of arachidonic acid and cell toxicity in L929 fibrosarcoma cells: the structure-activity relationship.

Sphingolipid metabolites including ceramide, sphingosine, and their phosphorylated products [sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide-1-phosphate] regulate cell functions including arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism and cell death. The development of analogs of S1P may be useful for regulating these mediator-induced cellular responses. We synthesized new analogs of S1P and examined their effects on the release of AA and cell death in L929 mouse fibrosarcoma cells. Among the analogs tested, several compounds including DMB-mC11S [dimethyl (2S,3R)-2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3-hydroxy-3-(3'-undecyl)phenylpropyl phosphate] and DMB-mC9S [dimethyl (2S,3R)-2-tert-butoxycarbonylamino-3-hydroxy-3-(3'-nonyl)phenylpropyl phosphate] released AA within 1 h and caused cell death 6 h after treatment. The release of AA was observed in C12 cells [a L929 variant lacking a type alpha cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)alpha)] and L929-cPLAalpha-siRNA cells (L929 cells treated with small interference RNA for cPLA(2)alpha). Treatment with pharmacological inhibitors of secretory and Ca(2+)-independent PLA(2)s decreased the DMB-mC11S-induced release of AA. The effect of the S1P analogs tested on the release of AA was comparable to that on cell death in L929 cells, and a high correlation coefficient was observed. Two analogs lacking a butoxycarbonyl moiety [DMAc-mC11S (dimethyl (2S,3R)-2-acetamino-3-hydroxy-3-(3'-undecyl)phenylpropyl phosphate] and DMAm-mC11S [dimethyl (2S,3R)-2-amino-3-hydroxy-3-(3'-undecyl)phenylpropyl phosphate)] had inhibitory effects on the release of AA and cell toxicity induced by DMB-mC11S. Synthetic phosphorylated lipid analogs may be useful for studying PLA(2) activity and its toxicity in cells. [Supplementary Fig. 1: available only at http://dx.doi.org/10.1254/jphs.08284FP].

Maternal fumonisin exposure and risk for neural tube defects: mechanisms in an in vivo mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin produced by the fungus Fusarium verticillioides, a common contaminant of corn worldwide. FB1 disrupts sphingolipid biosynthesis by inhibiting the enzyme ceramide synthase, resulting in an elevation of free sphingoid bases and depletion of downstream glycosphingolipids. A relationship between maternal ingestion of FB1-contaminated corn during early pregnancy and increased risk for neural tube defects (NTDs) has recently been proposed in human populations around the world where corn is a dietary staple. The current studies provide an in vivo mouse model of FB1 teratogenicity. METHODS: Pregnant LM/Bc mice were injected with increasing doses of FB1 on GD 7.5 and 8.5, and exposed fetuses were examined for malformations. Sphingolipid profiles and (3)H-folate concentrations were measured in maternal and fetal tissues. Immunohistochemical expression of the GPI-anchored folate receptor (Folbp1) and its association with the lipid raft component, ganglioside GM1, were characterized. Rescue experiments were performed with maternal folate supplementation or administration of gangliosides. RESULTS: Maternal FB1 administration (20 mg/kg of body weight) during early gestation resulted in 79% NTDs in exposed fetuses. Sphingolipid profiles were significantly altered in maternal and embryonic tissues following exposure, and (3)H-folate levels and immunohistochemical expression of Folbp1 were reduced. Maternal folate supplementation partially rescued the NTD phenotype, whereas GM1 significantly restored folate concentrations and afforded almost complete protection against FB1-induced NTDs. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal FB1 exposure altered sphingolipid metabolism and folate concentrations in LM/Bc mice, resulting in a dose-dependent increase in NTDs that could be prevented when adequate folate levels were maintained.

S1P1-selective in vivo-active agonists from high-throughput screening: off-the-shelf chemical probes of receptor interactions, signaling, and fate.

The essential role of the sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor S1P(1) in regulating lymphocyte trafficking was demonstrated with the S1P(1)-selective nanomolar agonist, SEW2871. Despite its lack of charged headgroup, the tetraaromatic compound SEW2871 binds and activates S1P(1) through a combination of hydrophobic and ion-dipole interactions. Both S1P and SEW2871 activated ERK, Akt, and Rac signaling pathways and induced S1P(1) internalization and recycling, unlike FTY720-phosphate, which induces receptor degradation. Agonism with receptor recycling is sufficient for alteration of lymphocyte trafficking by S1P and SEW2871. S1P(1) modeling and mutagenesis studies revealed that residues binding the S1P headgroup are required for kinase activation by both S1P and SEW2871. Therefore, SEW2871 recapitulates the action of S1P in all the signaling pathways examined and overlaps in interactions with key headgroup binding receptor residues, presumably replacing salt-bridge interactions with ion-dipole interactions.

Inhibition of autotaxin by lysophosphatidic acid and sphingosine 1-phosphate.

Autotaxin (ATX) or nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase 2 (NPP2) is an NPP family member that promotes tumor cell motility, experimental metastasis, and angiogenesis. ATX primarily functions as a lysophospholipase D, generating the lipid mediator lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) from lysophosphatidylcholine. ATX uses a single catalytic site for the hydrolysis of both lipid and non-lipid phosphodiesters, but its regulation is not well understood. Using a new fluorescence resonance energy transfer-based phosphodiesterase sensor that reports ATX activity with high sensitivity, we show here that ATX is potently and specifically inhibited by LPA and sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) in a mixed-type manner (Ki approximately 10(-7) M). The homologous ecto-phosphodiesterase NPP1, which lacks lysophospholipase D activity, is insensitive to LPA and S1P. Our results suggest that, by repressing ATX activity, LPA can regulate its own biosynthesis in the extracellular environment, and they reveal a novel role for S1P as an inhibitor of ATX, in addition to its well established role as a receptor ligand.

Fingolimod. Mitsubishi Pharma/Novartis.

Mitsubishi Pharma Corp and Novartis AG are developing fingolimod, an orally active immunosuppressant affecting lymphocyte re-circulation, for the potential prevention of transplant rejection and the treatment of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis. Fingolimodis a synthetic sphingosine analog that becomes phosphorylated in vivo and acts as a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor agonist.

Genetic, biochemical, and transcriptional responses of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to the novel immunomodulator FTY720 largely mimic those of the natural sphingolipid phytosphingosine.

Sphingolipids are signaling molecules that influence diverse cellular functions from control of the cell cycle to degradation of plasma membrane proteins. The synthetic sphingolipid-like compound FTY720 is an immunomodulating agent in clinical trials for transplant graft maintenance. In this report, we compare the effects of the natural yeast sphingolipid phytosphingosine with FTY720 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We show that the multicopy suppressor genes that induce growth resistance to FTY720 also confer resistance to growth-inhibitory concentrations of phytosphingosine. In addition, mutants for ubiquitination pathway proteins are shown to be resistant to the growth-inhibiting effect of both FTY720 and phytosphingosine. We observe fewer similarities between sphingosine and FTY720 than between FTY720 and phytosphingosine as revealed by genetic studies. Yeast cells lacking the specific sphingosine kinase LCB4 are sensitive to phytosphingosine and FTY720 but resistant to sphingosine, suggesting that FTY720 and phytosphingosine have a more related mechanism of action. Gene expression profile comparisons of sensitive and resistant yeast cells exposed to FTY720 and phytosphingosine highlight a number of similarities. In response to treatment with these compounds, approximately 77% of the genes that are regulated >2-fold by FTY720 also respond to phytosphingosine in the same direction in the parent strain. In addition, a close inspection of TAT1 and TAT2 transporters following exposure to phytosphingosine indicates that TAT1 protein is degraded in a similar fashion upon treatment with FTY720 and phytosphingosine. There were differences, however, with respect to the TAT2 protein level and the expression profiles of a subset of genes. The genetic, transcriptional, and biochemical data together indicate that FTY720 and phytosphingosine influence similar pathways in yeast cells. These findings offer further insights into the physiological pathways influenced by these compounds in all eukaryotic cells and help us to understand the therapeutic consequences of FTY720 in humans.

Beta 1,4-galactosyltransferase (beta 4GalT)-IV is specific for GlcNAc 6-O-sulfate. Beta 4GalT-IV acts on keratan sulfate-related glycans and a precursor glycan of 6-sulfosialyl-Lewis X.

The Galbeta1-->4(SO(3)(-)-->6)GlcNAc moiety is present in various N-linked and O-linked glycans including keratan sulfate and 6-sulfosialyl-Lewis X, an L-selectin ligand. We previously found beta1,4-galactosyltransferase (beta4GalT) activity in human colonic mucosa, which prefers GlcNAc 6-O-sulfate (6SGN) as an acceptor to non-substituted GlcNAc (Seko, A., Hara-Kuge, S., Nagata, K., Yonezawa, S., and Yamashita, K. (1998) FEBS Lett. 440, 307-310). To identify the gene for this enzyme, we purified the enzyme from porcine colonic mucosa. The purified enzyme had the characteristic requirement of basic lipids for catalytic activity. Analysis of the partial amino acid sequence of the enzyme revealed that the purified beta4GalT has a similar sequence to human beta4GalT-IV. To confirm this result, we prepared cDNA for each of the seven beta4GalTs cloned to date and examined substrate specificities using the membrane fractions derived from beta4GalT-transfected COS-7 cells. When using several N-linked and O-linked glycans with or without 6SGN residues as acceptor substrates, only beta4GalT-IV efficiently recognized 6SGN, keratan sulfate-related oligosaccharides, and Galbeta1-->3(SO(3)(-)-->6GlcNAcbeta1-->6) GalNAcalpha1-O-pNP, a precursor for 6-sulfosialyl-Lewis X. These results suggested that beta4GalT-IV is a 6SGN-specific beta4GalT and may be involved in the biosynthesis of various glycoproteins carrying a 6-O-sulfated N-acetyllactosamine moiety.

Glycoinositolphosphosphingolipids (basidiolipids) of higher mushrooms.

The basidiolipids of six mushroom species, i.e. the basidiomycetes Amanita virosa (engl., death cup), Calvatia exipuliformis (engl., puffball), Cantharellus cibarius (engl., chanterelle), Leccinum scabrum (engl., red birch boletus), Lentinus edodes (jap., Shiitake), and Pleurotus ostreatus (engl., oystermushroom), were isolated, and their chemical structures investigated. All glycolipids are structurally related to those of the Agaricales (engl., field mushroom). They are glycoinositolphosphosphingolipids, their ceramide moiety consisting of t18:0-trihydroxysphinganine and an alpha-hydroxy long-chain fatty acid. In contrast to a previous study [Jennemann, R., Bauer, B.L., Bertalanffy, H., Geyer, R., Gschwind, R.M., Selmer, T. & Wiegandt, H. (1999) Eur. J. Biochem. 259, 331--338], the glycoside anomery of the hexose (mannose) connected to the inositol of all investigated basidiomycete glycolipids, including the basidiolipids of Agaricus bisporus, was determined unequivocally to be alpha. Therefore, the root structure of all basidiolipids consists of alpha-DManp-2Ins1-[PO(4)]-Cer. In addition, for some mushroom species, the occurrence of an inositol substitution position variant, alpha-Manp-4Ins1-[PO(40]-Cer, is shown. The carbohydrate of chanterelle basidiolipids consists solely of mannose, i.e. Cc1, Man alpha-3 or -6Man alpha; Cc2, Man alpha-3(Man alpha-6)Man alpha-. All other species investigated show extension of the alpha-mannoside in the 6-position by beta-galactoside, which, in some instances, is alpha-fucosylated in 2-position (Fuc alpha-2)Gal beta-6Man alpha-. Further sugar chain elongation at the beta-galactoside may be in 3- and/or 6-position by alpha-galactoside, e.g. Ce4, Po2, Gal alpha-3-(Gal alpha-6)(Fuc alpha-2)Gal beta-6Man alpha-, whereas A. virosa, Av-3, has a more complex, highly alpha-fucosylated terminus, Gal alpha-3 (Fuc alpha-2)(Fuc alpha-6)Gal alpha-2(Gal alpha-3)Gal beta-6Man alpha-. L. edodes basidiolipids show further elongation by alpha-mannoside, e.g. Le3, Man alpha-2Man alpha-6Gal alpha-3(Fuc alpha-2)Gal beta-6Man alpha-, C. exipuliformis glycolipid by alpha-glucoside, i.e. Ce3, Glc alpha-6Gal beta-6Man alpha-. Basidiolipid Ls1 from L. scabrum, notably, has a 3-alpha-mannosylated alpha-fucose, i.e. Gal alpha-6(Man alpha-3Fuc alpha-2)Gal alpha-6Gal beta-6Man alpha-. In conclusion, basidiolipids, though identical in their ceramide constitution, display wide and systematic mushroom species dependent variabilities of their chemical structures.