Globotriaosyl ceramide modulates interferon-alpha-induced growth inhibition and CD19 expression in Burkitt's lymphoma cells

Sphingolipids and Lymphomas: A Double-Edged Sword

Lymphomas are a highly heterogeneous group of hematological neoplasms. Given their ethiopathogenic complexity, their classification and management can become difficult tasks; therefore, new approaches are continuously being sought. Metabolic reprogramming at the lipid level is a hot topic in cancer research, and sphingolipidomics has gained particular focus in this area due to the bioactive nature of molecules such as sphingoid bases, sphingosine-1-phosphate, ceramides, sphingomyelin, cerebrosides, globosides, and gangliosides. Sphingolipid metabolism has become especially exciting because they are involved in virtually every cellular process through an extremely intricate metabolic web; in fact, no two sphingolipids share the same fate. Unsurprisingly, a disruption at this level is a recurrent mechanism in lymphomagenesis, dissemination, and chemoresistance, which means potential biomarkers and therapeutical targets might be hiding within these pathways. Many comprehensive reviews describing their role in cancer exist, but because most research has been conducted in solid malignancies, evidence in lymphomagenesis is somewhat limited. In this review, we summarize key aspects of sphingolipid biochemistry and discuss their known impact in cancer biology, with a particular focus on lymphomas and possible therapeutical strategies against them.

Molecular Biology of Escherichia Coli Shiga Toxins' Effects on Mammalian Cells

Shiga toxins (Stxs), syn. Vero(cyto)toxins, are potent bacterial exotoxins and the principal virulence factor of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), a subset of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). EHEC strains, e.g., strains of serovars O157:H7 and O104:H4, may cause individual cases as well as large outbreaks of life-threatening diseases in humans. Stxs primarily exert a ribotoxic activity in the eukaryotic target cells of the mammalian host resulting in rapid protein synthesis inhibition and cell death. Damage of endothelial cells in the kidneys and the central nervous system by Stxs is central in the pathogenesis of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans and edema disease in pigs. Probably even more important, the toxins also are capable of modulating a plethora of essential cellular functions, which eventually disturb intercellular communication. The review aims at providing a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge of the time course and the consecutive steps of Stx/cell interactions at the molecular level. Intervention measures deduced from an in-depth understanding of this molecular interplay may foster our basic understanding of cellular biology and microbial pathogenesis and pave the way to the creation of host-directed active compounds to mitigate the pathological conditions of STEC infections in the mammalian body.

Hsp70 interactions with membrane lipids regulate cellular functions in health and disease

Beyond guarding the cellular proteome the major stress inducible heat shock protein Hsp70 has been shown to interact with lipids. Non-cytosolic Hsp70 stabilizes membranes during stress challenges and, in pathophysiological states, facilitates endocytosis, counteracts apoptotic mechanisms, sustains survival pathways or represents a signal that can be recognized by the immune system. Disease-coupled lipid-associated functions of Hsp70 may be targeted via distinct subcellular localizations of Hsp70 itself or its specific interacting lipids. With a special focus on interacting lipids, here we discuss localization-dependent roles of the membrane-bound Hsp70 in the context of its therapeutic potential, particularly in cancer and neurodegenerative diseases.

Efficacy of a recombinant Intimin, EspB and Shiga toxin 2B vaccine in calves experimentally challenged with Escherichia coli O157:H7

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a zoonotic pathogen of global importance and the serotype of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC) most frequently associated with Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) in humans. The main STEC reservoir is cattle. Vaccination of calves with the carboxy-terminal fraction of Intimin γ (IntC280) and EspB can reduce E.coli O157:H7 fecal shedding after experimental challenge. Shiga toxin (Stx) exerts local immunosuppressive effects in the bovine intestine and Stx2B fused to Brucella lumazine synthase (BLS-Stx2B) induces Stx2-neutralizing antibodies. To determine if an immune response against Stx could improve a vaccine's effect on fecal shedding, groups of calves were immunized with EspB + IntC280, with EspB + IntC280 + BLS-Stx2B, or kept as controls. At 24 days post vaccination calves were challenged with E.coli O157:H7. Shedding of E.coli O157:H7 was assessed in recto-anal mucosal swabs by direct plating and enrichment followed by immunomagnetic separation and multiplex PCR. Calves were euthanized 15 days after the challenge and intestinal segments were obtained to assess mucosal antibodies. Vaccination induced a significant increase of IntC280 and EspB specific antibodies in serum and intestinal mucosa in both vaccinated groups. Antibodies against Stx2B were detected in serum and intestinal mucosa of animals vaccinated with 3 antigens. Sera and intestinal homogenates were able to neutralize Stx2 verocytotoxicity compared to the control and the 2-antigens vaccinated group. Both vaccines reduced E.coli O157:H7 shedding compared to the control group. The addition of Stx2B to the vaccine formulation did not result in a superior level of protection compared to the one conferred by IntC280 and EspB alone. It remains to be determined if the inclusion of Stx2B in the vaccine alters E.coli O157:H7 shedding patterns in the long term and after recurrent low dose exposure as occurring in cattle herds.

Overcoming rituximab drug-resistance by the genetically engineered anti-CD20-hIFN-α fusion protein: Direct cytotoxicity and synergy with chemotherapy

Treatment of patients with B-NHL with rituximab and CHOP has resulted in significant clinical responses. However, a subset of patients develops resistance to further treatments. The mechanism of unresponsiveness in vivo is not known. We have reported the development of rituximab-resistant clones derived from B-NHL cell lines as models to investigate the mechanism of resistance. The resistant clones exhibit hyper-activated survival/anti-apoptotic pathways and no longer respond to a combination of rituximab and drugs. Recent studies reported the therapeutic efficacy in mice bearing B-cell lymphoma xenografts following treatment with the anti-CD20-hIFNα fusion protein. We hypothesized that the fusion protein may bypass rituximab resistance and inhibit survival signaling pathways. Treatment of the rituximab-resistant clones with anti-CD20-hIFNα, but not with rituximab, IFNα, or rituximab+IFNα resulted in significant inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of cell death. Treatment with anti-CD20-hIFNα sensitized the cells to apoptosis by CDDP, doxorubicin and Treanda. Treatment with anti-CD20-hIFNα inhibited the NF-κB and p38 MAPK activities and induced the activation of PKC-δ and Stat-1. These effects were corroborated by the use of the inhibitors SB203580 (p38 MAPK) and Rottlerin (PKC-δ). Treatment with SB203580 enhanced the sensitization of the resistant clone by anti-CD20-hIFNα to CDDP apoptosis. In contrast, treatment with Rotterin inhibited significantly the sensitization induced by anti-CD20-hIFNα. Overall, the findings demonstrate that treatment with anti-CD20-hIFNα reverses resistance of B-NHL. These findings suggest the potential application of anti-CD20-hIFNα in combination with drugs in patients unresponsive to rituximab-containing regimens.

Evaluation of biological safety in vitro and immunogenicity in vivo of recombinant Escherichia coli Shiga toxoids as candidate vaccines in cattle

Cattle are the most important reservoir for enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), a subset of shigatoxigenic E. coli (STEC) capable of causing life-threatening infectious diseases in humans. In cattle, Shiga toxins (Stx) suppress the immune system thereby promoting long-term STEC shedding. First infections of animals at calves’ age coincide with the lack of Stx-specific antibodies. We hypothesize that vaccination of calves against Shiga toxins prior to STEC infection may help to prevent the establishment of a persistent type of infection. The objectives of this study were to generate recombinant Shiga toxoids (rStx1_mut & rStx2_mut) by site-directed mutagenesis and to assess their immunomodulatory, antigenic, and immunogenic properties. Cultures of bovine primary immune cells were used as test systems. In ileal intraepithelial lymphocytes both, recombinant wild type Stx1 (rStx1_WT) and rStx2_WT significantly induced transcription of IL-4 mRNA. rStx1_WT and rStx2_WT reduced the expression of Stx-receptor CD77 (syn. Globotriaosylceramide, Gb3) on B and T cells from peripheral blood and of CD14 on monocyte-derived macrophages. At the same concentrations, rStx1_mut and rStx2_mut exhibited neither of these effects. Antibodies in sera of cattle naturally infected with STEC recognized the rStx_mut toxoids equally well as the recombinant wild type toxins. Immunization of calves with rStx1_mut plus rStx2_mut led to induction of antibodies neutralizing Stx1 and Stx2. While keeping their antigenicity and immunogenicity recombinant Shiga toxoids are devoid of the immunosuppressive properties of the corresponding wild type toxins in cattle and candidate vaccines to mitigate long-term STEC shedding by the reservoir host.

Comparison of detection methods for cell surface globotriaosylceramide

The cell surface-expressed glycosphingolipid (GSL), globotriaosylceramide (Gb(3)), is becoming increasingly important and is widely studied in the areas of verotoxin (VT)-mediated cytotoxicity, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, immunology and cancer. However, despite its diverse roles and implications, an optimized detection method for cell surface Gb(3) has not been determined. GSLs are differentially organized in the plasma membrane which can affect their availability for protein binding. To examine various detection methods for cell surface Gb(3), we compared four reagents for use in flow cytometry analysis. A natural ligand (VT1B) and three different monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were optimized and tested on various human cell lines for Gb(3) detection. A differential detection pattern of cell surface Gb(3) expression, which was influenced by the choice of reagent, was observed. Two mAb were found to be suboptimal. However, two other methods were found to be useful as defined by their high percentage of positivity and mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) values. Rat IgM anti-Gb(3) mAb (clone 38-13) using phycoerythrin-conjugated secondary antibody was found to be the most specific detection method while the use of VT1B conjugated to Alexa488 fluorochrome was found to be the most sensitive; showing a rare crossreactivity only when Gb(4) expression was highly elevated. The findings of this study demonstrate the variability in detection of Gb(3) depending on the reagent and cell target used and emphasize the importance of selecting an optimal methodology in studies for the detection of cell surface expression of Gb(3).

On the structural diversity of Shiga toxin glycosphingolipid receptors in lymphoid and myeloid cells determined by nanoelectrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Shiga toxin (Stx, synonymous to verotoxin, VT) binds with high and low affinity to the globo-series neutral glycosphingolipids (GSLs), globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer or Galalpha4Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer, also known as CD77) and globotetraosylceramide (Gb4Cer or GalNAcbeta3Galalpha4Galbeta4Glcbeta1Cer), respectively, which represent the targets of Stxs on many different cell types. B-cell-derived Raji cells and THP-1 cells of monocytic origin are widely used for the investigation of Stx-mediated cellular response, because Stx is known to cause cell death in both cell lines. Despite their functional importance, the Stx receptors of Raji and THP-1 cells have so far not been investigated. This prompted us to explore the structures of their GSL receptors in detail by means of nanoelectrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (nanoESI-QTOF-MS) with collision-induced dissociation (CID) in conjunction with Stx1 as well as anti-Gb3Cer and anti-Gb4Cer antibodies. Using the combination of a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) overlay assay and MS(1) and MS(2) analysis we identified Gb3Cer (d18:1, C24:1/C24:0) as the prevalent Stx1-receptor accompanied by less abundant Gb3Cer (d18:1, C16:0) in the neutral GSL fraction of Raji cells. The same Gb3Cer species but with almost equal proportions of the C24:1/C24:0 and C16:0 variants were found in THP-1 cells. In addition, unusual hydroxylated Gb3Cer (d18:1, C24:1/C24:0) and Gb3Cer (d18:1, C26:1) could be identified in trace quantities in both cell lines. As the most obvious difference between Raji and THP-1 cells we observed the expression of Gb4Cer in THP-1 cells, whereas Raji cells failed to express this elongation product of Gb3Cer. Both short- and long-chain fatty acid carrying Gb4Cer (d18:1, C16:0) and Gb4Cer (d18:1, C24:1/C24:0), respectively, were the prevalent Gb4Cer variants. This first report on the differential expression of Gb3Cer and Gb4Cer and their structural diversity in lymphoid and myeloid cell lines supports the hypothesis that such heterogeneities might play a functional role in the molecular assembly of GSLs in membrane organization and cellular signaling of Stx-susceptible cells.

Tumor-specific Hsp70 plasma membrane localization is enabled by the glycosphingolipid Gb3

BACKGROUND

Human tumors differ from normal tissues in their capacity to present Hsp70, the major stress-inducible member of the HSP70 family, on their plasma membrane. Membrane Hsp70 has been found to serve as a prognostic indicator of overall patient survival in leukemia, lower rectal and non small cell lung carcinomas. Why tumors, but not normal cells, present Hsp70 on their cell surface and the impact of membrane Hsp70 on cancer progression remains to be elucidated.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Although Hsp70 has been reported to be associated with cholesterol rich microdomains (CRMs), the partner in the plasma membrane with which Hsp70 interacts has yet to be identified. Herein, global lipid profiling demonstrates that Hsp70 membrane-positive tumors differ from their membrane-negative counterparts by containing significantly higher amounts of globotriaoslyceramide (Gb3), but not of other lipids such as lactosylceramide (LacCer), dodecasaccharideceramide (DoCer), galactosylceramide (GalCer), ceramide (Cer), or the ganglioside GM1. Apart from germinal center B cells, normal tissues are Gb3 membrane-negative. Co-localization of Hsp70 and Gb3 was selectively determined in Gb3 membrane-positive tumor cells, and these cells were also shown to bind soluble Hsp70-FITC protein from outside in a concentration-dependent manner. Given that the latter interaction can be blocked by a Gb3-specific antibody, and that the depletion of globotriaosides from tumors reduces the amount of membrane-bound Hsp70, we propose that Gb3 is a binding partner for Hsp70. The in vitro finding that Hsp70 predominantly binds to artificial liposomes containing Gb3 (PC/SM/Chol/Gb3, 17/45/33/5) confirms that Gb3 is an interaction partner for Hsp70.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

These data indicate that the presence of Gb3 enables anchorage of Hsp70 in the plasma membrane of tumors and thus they might explain tumor-specific membrane localization of Hsp70.

Functionally different pools of Shiga toxin receptor, globotriaosyl ceramide, in HeLa cells

Many studies have investigated the intracellular trafficking of Shiga toxin, but very little is known about the underlying dynamics of its cellular receptor, the glycosphingolipid globotriaosyl ceramide. In this study, we show that globotriaosyl ceramide is required not only for Shiga toxin binding to cells, but also for its intracellular trafficking. Shiga toxin induces globotriaosyl ceramide recruitment to detergent-resistant membranes, and subsequent internalization of the lipid. The globotriaosyl ceramide pool at the plasma membrane is then replenished from internal stores. Whereas endocytosis is not affected in the recovery condition, retrograde transport of Shiga toxin to the Golgi apparatus and the endoplasmic reticulum is strongly inhibited. This effect is specific, as cholera toxin trafficking on GM(1) and protein biosynthesis are not impaired. The differential behavior of both toxins is also paralleled by the selective loss of Shiga toxin association with detergent-resistant membranes in the recovery condition, and comparison of the molecular species composition of plasma membrane globotriaosyl ceramide indicates subtle changes in favor of unsaturated fatty acids. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the dynamic behavior of globotriaosyl ceramide at the plasma membrane and suggests that globotriaosyl ceramide-specific determinants, possibly its molecular species composition, are selectively required for efficient retrograde sorting on endosomes, but not for endocytosis.