Assessment of the effect of sphingosine kinase inhibitors on apoptosis,unfolded protein response and autophagy of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells; indications for novel therapeutics

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Dong Jae Beak (Creator)

Alice Bertaina (Creator)

Bertaina (Creator)

Robert Bittman (Creator)

Francesca Chiarini (Creator)

Cecilia Evangelisti (Creator)

Camilla Evangelisti (Creator)

Mirella Falconi (Creator)

Franco Locatelli (Creator)

Alberto M. Martelli (Creator)

Fraia Melchionda (Creator)

Andrea Pession (Creator)

Nigel J. Pyne (Creator)

Susan Pyne (Creator)

Gabriella Teti (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: abstract published in JADA; Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid that is formed by the phosphorylation of sphingosine and catalysed by sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) or sphingosine kinase 2 (SK2). Sphingosine kinases play a fundamental role in many signaling pathways associated with cancer, suggesting that proteins belonging to this signaling network represent potential therapeutic targets. Over the last years, many improvements have been made in the treatment of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL); however, novel and less toxic therapies are still needed, especially for relapsing and chemo-resistant patients. Here, we analyzed the therapeutic potential of SKi and ROMe, a sphingosine kinase 1 and 2 inhibitor and SK2-selective inhibitor, respectively. While SKi induced apoptosis, ROMe initiated an autophagic cell death in our in vitro cell models. SKi treatment induced an increase in SK1 protein levels in Molt-4 cells, whereas it activated the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway in Jurkat and CEM-R cells as protective mechanisms in a sub-population of T-ALL cells. Interestingly, we observed a synergistic effect of SKi with the classical chemotherapeutic drug vincristine. In addition, we reported that SKi affected signaling cascades implicated in survival, proliferation and stress response of cells. These findings indicate that SK1 or SK2 represent potential targets for treating T-ALL.

Additional Information

Publication

Other

Oncotarget; 5:17 p. 7886-7901

Language: English

Date: 2014

Keywords

autophagy, T-cell acute lymphoblastis, apoptosis, leukemia, unfolded protein response, sphingosine kinase inhibitors

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