Monosialyl Ganglioside GM3 Decreases Apolipoprotein B-100 Secretion in Liver Cells.

Some sialic acid-containing glycolipids are known to regulate development of atherosclerosis with accumulated plasma apolipoprotein B-100 (Apo-B)-containing lipoproteins, because Apo-B as an atherogenic apolipoprotein is assembled mainly in VLDL and LDL. Previously, we have elucidated that disialyl GD3 promotes the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) gene expression and secretion of triglyceride (TG)-assembled ApoB, claiming the GD3 role in ApoB lipoprotein secretion in liver cells. In the synthetic pathway of gangliosides, GD3 is synthesized by addition of a sialic acid residue to GM3. Thus, there should be some regulatory links between GM3 and GD3. In this study, exogenous and endogenous monosialyl GM3 has been examined how GM3 plays a role in ApoB secretion in Chang liver cells in a view point of MTP and ApoB degradation in the same cells. The level of GM3 ganglioside in the GM3 synthase gene-transfected cells was increased in the cell extract, but not in the medium. In addition, GM3 synthase gene-transfected cells showed a diminished secretion of TG-enriched ApoB with a lower content of TG in the medium. Exogenous GM3 treatment for 24 h exerted a dose dependent inhibitory effect on ApoB secretion together with TG, while a liver-specific albumin was unchanged, indicating that GM3 effect is limited to ApoB secretion. GM3 decreased the mRNA level of MTP gene, too. ApoB protein assembly dysregulated by GM3 indicates the impaired ApoB secretion is caused by a proteasome-dependent pathway. Treatment with small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) decreased ApoB secretion, but GM3-specific antibody did not. These results indicate that plasma membrane associated GM3 inhibits ApoB secretion, lowers development of atherosclerosis by decreasing the secretion of TG-enriched ApoB containing lipoproteins, suggesting that GM3 is an inhibitor of ApoB and TG secretion in liver cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 2168-2181, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Membrane type sialidase inhibits the megakaryocytic differentiation of human leukemia K562 cells.

The membrane type sialidase (Neu3) has been suggested to participate in cell growth, migration and differentiation. To determine whether a Neu3 is able to modulate megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells, we studied the functional significance of human Neu3 induced by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Northern blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) indicated that the induction of hST3Gal V, which synthesizes ganglioside GM3 and reduction of Neu3 by PMA, are linked for the expression of differentiation marker protein, CD41b surface antigen. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the down-regulation of the CD41b surface antigen expression when Neu3 gene is expressed in PMA-treated cells, we characterized the Neu3-mediated signaling pathway. Neu3 overexpression inhibited the PMA-induced ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK phosphorylation in the K562 cells. Down-regulation of expression of CD41b surface antigen was dependent on expression of Neu3 gene. However, a Neu3 inhibitor Neu5Ac2en induced morphological changes, showing megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells, with expression of CD41b surface antigen, while a specific glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor PDMP inhibited megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells. The molecular mechanisms involved in Neu3-involved inhibition of CD41b surface antigen expression in K562 cells have been suggested: the Neu3 degrades membrane sialic acids and the resulting signaling pathway of the PKC/ERKs/p38 MAPK is down-regulated, causing a decrease in CD41b surface antigen expression and inhibition of megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells.