Abstract
A critical step in the mechanism of action of inflammatory cytokines is the stimulation of sphingolipid metabolism, including activation of sphingosine kinase (SK), which produces the mitogenic and proinflammatory lipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). We have developed orally bioavailable compounds that effectively inhibit SK activity in vitro in intact cells and in cancer models in vivo. In this study, we assessed the effects of these SK inhibitors on cellular responses to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and evaluated their efficacy in the dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) model of ulcerative colitis in mice. Using several cell systems, it was shown that the SK inhibitors block the ability of TNFα to activate nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB), induce expression of adhesion proteins, and promote production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In an acute model of DSS-induced ulcerative colitis, SK inhibitors were equivalent to or more effective than Dipentum in reducing disease progression, colon shortening, and neutrophil infiltration into the colon. The effects of SK inhibitors were associated with decreased colonic levels of inflammatory cytokines TNFα, interleukin (IL)-1β, interferon gamma (IFN)-γ, IL-6, and reduction of S1P levels. A similar reduction in disease progression was provided by SK inhibitors in a chronic model of ulcerative colitis in which the mice received 3-week-long cycles of DSS interspaced with week-long recovery periods. In the chronic model, immunohistochemistry for SK showed increased expression in DSS-treated mice (compared with water-treated controls) that was reduced by drug treatment. S1P levels were also elevated in the DSS group and significantly reduced by drug treatment. Together, these data indicate that SK is a critical component in inflammation and that inhibitors of this enzyme may be useful in treating inflammatory bowel diseases.
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Abbreviations
- IBD:
-
inflammatory bowel disease
- SK:
-
sphingosine kinase
- S1P:
-
sphingosine 1-phosphate
- TNFα:
-
tumor necrosis factor alpha
- PGE2 :
-
prostaglandin E2
- NFκB:
-
nuclear factor kappa B
- DSS:
-
dextran sulfate sodium
- IL:
-
interleukin
- IFNγ:
-
interferon gamma
- COX-2:
-
cyclooxygenase-2
- ICAM-1:
-
intracellular adhesion molecule-1
- VCAM-1:
-
vascular cell adhesion molecule-1
- PEG:
-
polyethylene glycol
- DAI:
-
Disease Activity Index
- MPO:
-
myeloperoxidase
- PBS:
-
phosphate-buffered saline
- LC-MS/MS:
-
liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy
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Acknowledgment
This work was supported by grant 1 R43 DK071395 from the National Institutes of Health.
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Maines, L.W., Fitzpatrick, L.R., French, K.J. et al. Suppression of Ulcerative Colitis in Mice by Orally Available Inhibitors of Sphingosine Kinase. Dig Dis Sci 53, 997–1012 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-007-0133-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10620-007-0133-6