Downregulation of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor 1 by dexamethasone inhibits S1P-induced mesangial cell migration.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is generated by sphingosine kinase (SK)-1 and -2 and acts mainly as an extracellular ligand at five specific receptors, denoted S1P1-5. After activation, S1P receptors regulate important processes in the progression of renal diseases, such as mesangial cell migration and survival. Previously, we showed that dexamethasone enhances SK-1 activity and S1P formation, which protected mesangial cells from stress-induced apoptosis. Here we demonstrate that dexamethasone treatment lowered S1P1 mRNA and protein expression levels in rat mesangial cells. This effect was abolished in the presence of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU-486. In addition, in vivo studies showed that dexamethasone downregulated S1P1 expression in glomeruli isolated from mice treated with dexamethasone (10 mg/kg body weight). Functionally, we identified S1P1 as a key player mediating S1P-induced mesangial cell migration. We show that dexamethasone treatment significantly lowered S1P-induced migration of mesangial cells, which was again reversed in the presence of RU-486. In summary, we suggest that dexamethasone inhibits S1P-induced mesangial cell migration via downregulation of S1P1. Overall, these results demonstrate that dexamethasone has functional important effects on sphingolipid metabolism and action in renal mesangial cells.

The cytoskeletal inhibitors latrunculin A and blebbistatin exert antitumorigenic properties in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells by interfering with intracellular HuR trafficking.

The impact of the RNA-binding protein HuR for the post-transcriptional deregulation of tumor-relevant genes is well established. Despite of elevations in HuR expression levels, an increase in cytoplasmic HuR abundance in many cases correlates with a high grade of malignancy. Here, we demonstrated that administration of the actin-depolymerizing macrolide latrunculin A, or blebbistatin, an inhibitor of myosin II ATPase activity, caused a dose- and time-dependent reduction in the high cytoplasmic HuR content of HepG2 and Huh7 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. Subcellular fractionation revealed that in addition, both inhibitors strongly attenuated cytoskeletal and membrane-bound HuR abundance and conversely increased the HuR amount in nuclear cell fractions. Concomitant with changes in intracellular HuR localization, both cytoskeletal inhibitors markedly decreased the half-lives of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), cyclin A and cyclin D1 encoding mRNAs resulting in a significant reduction in their expression levels in HepG2 cells. Importantly, a similar reduction in the expression of these HuR targets was achieved by a RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of either HuR or nonmuscle myoin IIA. Using polysomal fractionation, we further demonstrate that the decrease in cytoplasmic HuR by latrunculin A or blebbistatin is accompanied by a marked change in the allocation of HuR and its mRNA cargo from polysomes to ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particles. Functionally, the basal migration and prostaglandin E2 synthesis are similarly impaired in inhibitor-treated and stable HuR-knockdown HepG2 cells. Our data demonstrate that interfering with the actomyosin-dependent HuR trafficking may comprise a valid therapeutic option for antagonizing pathologic posttranscriptional gene expression by HuR and furthermore emphasize the potential benefit of HuR inhibitory strategies for treatment of HCC.

Pharmacology of the sphingosine-1-phosphate signalling system.

The recent success of FTY720 (Fingolimod, Gilenya(®)), which has been approved for the treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and is the first-in-class sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor modulating drug, has boosted the interest in further drug development in this area. Several selective S1P1 receptor-modulating drugs are being investigated in clinical trials for the treatment of diverse autoimmune disorders. Sphingosine kinase inhibitors are under development for the treatment of cancer, aberrant angiogenesis and inflammatory diseases; an inhibitor of SK2 with relatively low affinity is being analysed in patients with advanced solid tumours. While an indirect S1P lyase inhibitor has just failed the proof of concept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, S1P lyase is still a promising target for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Another approach is the development of S1P-scavenging or -clearing agents, including a monoclonal S1P antibody that has successfully passed phase I clinical trials and will be further developed for age-related macular degeneration.

Caspase-2 is an initiator caspase responsible for pore-forming toxin-mediated apoptosis.

Bacterial pathogens modulate host cell apoptosis to establish a successful infection. Pore-forming toxins (PFTs) secreted by pathogenic bacteria are major virulence factors and have been shown to induce various forms of cell death in infected cells. Here we demonstrate that the highly conserved caspase-2 is required for PFT-mediated apoptosis. Despite being the second mammalian caspase to be identified, the role of caspase-2 during apoptosis remains enigmatic. We show that caspase-2 functions as an initiator caspase during Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin- and Aeromonas aerolysin-mediated apoptosis in epithelial cells. Downregulation of caspase-2 leads to a strong inhibition of PFT-mediated apoptosis. Activation of caspase-2 is PIDDosome-independent, and endogenous caspase-2 is recruited to a high-molecular-weight complex in α-toxin-treated cells. Interestingly, prevention of PFT-induced potassium efflux inhibits the formation of caspase-2 complex, leading to its inactivation, thus resisting apoptosis. These results revealed a thus far unknown, obligatory role for caspase-2 as an initiator caspase during PFT-mediated apoptosis.

Enhanced Ca2+ storage in sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase-deficient fibroblasts.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) regulates cell growth and survival, migration and adhesion in many cell types. S1P is generated by sphingosine kinases (SphKs), and dephosphorylated by phosphatases or cleaved by S1P lyase. Extracellular S1P activates specific G protein-coupled receptors while intracellular S1P can mobilize Ca2+ from thapsigargin-sensitive stores. Here, we have studied Ca2+ signalling in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) deficient in S1P lyase. In these cells, S1P and sphingosine concentrations were elevated about 6-fold and 2-fold, respectively, as measured by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Measurements with fura-2-loaded cells in suspension revealed that resting [Ca2+]i was elevated and agonist-induced [Ca2+]i increases were augmented in S1P lyase-deficient MEFs both in the presence and absence of extracellular Ca2+. Importantly, [Ca2+]i increases and Ca2+ mobilization induced by the SERCA inhibitor, thapsigargin, were augmented, indicating enhanced Ca2+ storage in S1P lyase-deficient MEFs. Measurements with single cells expressing the calmodulin-based Ca2+ sensor, cameleon, revealed that at least two cell types could be distinguished in both MEF cell populations, one with a rapid and transient [Ca2+]i increase and the other with a slower and prolonged [Ca2+]i elevation upon stimulation with thapsigargin. The area under the time course of thapsigargin-induced [Ca2+]i increases, reflecting overall Ca2+ release, was significantly increased by more than 50% in both rapidly and slowly responding S1P lyase-deficient cells. It is concluded that elevated concentrations of S1P and/or sphingosine lead to enhanced Ca2+ storage and elevated basal [Ca2+]i. S1P metabolism thus plays a role not only in acute Ca2+ mobilization but also in long-term regulation of Ca2+ homeostasis.

Inhibition of Ca(2+) signalling by the sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor S1P(1).

The lysophospholipid, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), regulates a multitude of cellular functions by activating specific G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) (S1P(1-5), plus three newly identified S1P receptors). The G(i)-coupled S1P(1) receptor inhibits adenylyl cyclase, stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAP kinases) and cell migration, and is required for blood vessel maturation. Here, we report that S1P(1) inhibits Ca(2+) signalling in a number of cell types. In HEK-293 cells, which endogenously express S1P(1-3), overexpression of S1P(1) reduced intracellular free Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) increases induced by various receptor agonists as well as thapsigargin. The inhibitory Ca(2+) signalling of S1P(1) was blocked by pertussis toxin (PTX) and the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor, Gö6976, and imitated by phorbol ester and overexpression of classical PKC isoforms. Activation of S1P(1) stably expressed in RH7777 cells, which endogenously do not express S1P receptors, also inhibited Ca(2+) signalling, without mediating Ca(2+) mobilization on its own. It is concluded that the widely expressed S1P receptor S1P(1) inhibits Ca(2+) signalling, most likely via G(i) proteins and classical PKC isoforms. Co-expression of S1P(1) with S1P(3), but not S1P(2), reversed the inhibitory effect of S1P(1), furthermore suggesting a specific interplay of S1P receptor subtypes usually found within a single cell type.