Inhibition of sphingolipid metabolism enhances resveratrol chemotherapy in human gastric cancer cells

Targeting lipid metabolism with natural products: A novel strategy for gastrointestinal cancer therapy

Gastrointestinal cancer (GIC), including gastric cancer and colorectal cancer, is a common malignant tumor originating from gastrointestinal epithelial cells. Although the pathogenesis of GIC remains unclear, aberrant lipid metabolism has emerged as a hallmark of cancer. Several enzymes, proteins, and transcription factors are involved in lipid metabolism reprogramming in GIC, and their abnormal expression can promote lipid synthesis and accumulation of lipid droplets through numerous mechanisms, thereby affecting the growth, proliferation, and metastasis of GIC cells. Studies show that some natural compounds, including flavonoids, alkaloids, and saponins, can inhibit the de novo synthesis of lipids in GIC, reduce the level of lipid accumulation, and subsequently, inhibit the occurrence and development of GIC by regulating Sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1), adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt and the mammalian target of rapamycin PI3K/Akt/mTOR, amongst other targets and pathways. Therefore, targeting tumor lipid metabolism is the focus of anti-gastrointestinal tumor therapy. Although most natural products require further high-quality studies to firmly establish their clinical efficacy, we review the potential of natural products in the treatment of GIC and summarize the application prospect of lipid metabolism as a new target for the treatment of GIC, hoping to provide a reference for drug development for gastrointestinal tumors.

Advancements on the Multifaceted Roles of Sphingolipids in Hematological Malignancies

Dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism plays a complex role in hematological malignancies, beginning with the first historical link between sphingolipids and apoptosis discovered in HL-60 leukemic cells. Numerous manuscripts have reviewed the field including the early discoveries that jumpstarted the studies. Many studies discussed here support a role for sphingolipids, such as ceramide, in combinatorial therapeutic regimens to enhance anti-leukemic effects and reduce resistance to standard therapies. Additionally, inhibitors of specific nodes of the sphingolipid pathway, such as sphingosine kinase inhibitors, significantly reduce leukemic cell survival in various types of leukemias. Acid ceramidase inhibitors have also shown promising results in acute myeloid leukemia. As the field moves rapidly, here we aim to expand the body of literature discussed in previously published reviews by focusing on advances reported in the latter part of the last decade.

Resveratrol activates CD8+ T cells through IL-18 bystander activation in lung adenocarcinoma

Resveratrol, a natural product, has demonstrated anti-tumor effects in various kinds of tumor types, including colon, breast, and pancreatic cancers. Most research has focused on the inhibitory effects of resveratrol on tumor cells themselves rather than resveratrol’s effects on tumor immunology. In this study, we found that resveratrol inhibited the growth of lung adenocarcinoma in a subcutaneous tumor model by using the β-cyclodextrin-resveratrol inclusion complex. After resveratrol treatment, the proportion of M2-like tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) was reduced and tumor-infiltrating CD8T cells showed significantly increased activation. The results of co-culture and antibody neutralization experiments suggested that macrophage-derived IL-18 may be a key cytokine in the resveratrol anti-tumor effect of CD8T cell activation. The results of this study demonstrate a novel view of the mechanisms of resveratrol tumor suppression. This natural product could reprogram TAMs and CD8T effector cells for tumor treatment.

Applications of resveratrol in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancer

Natural product compounds have lately attracted interest in the scientific community as a possible treatment for gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, due to their anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. There are many preclinical, clinical, and epidemiological studies, suggesting that the consumption of polyphenol compounds, which are abundant in vegetables, grains, fruits, and pulses, may help to prevent various illnesses and disorders from developing, including several GI cancers. The development of GI malignancies follows a well-known path, in which normal gastrointestinal cells acquire abnormalities in their genetic composition, causing the cells to continuously proliferate, and metastasize to other sites, especially the brain and liver. Natural compounds with the ability to affect oncogenic pathways might be possible treatments for GI malignancies, and could easily be tested in clinical trials. Resveratrol is a non-flavonoid polyphenol and a natural stilbene, acting as a phytoestrogen with anti-cancer, cardioprotective, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. Resveratrol has been shown to overcome resistance mechanisms in cancer cells, and when combined with conventional anticancer drugs, could sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapy. Several new resveratrol analogs and nanostructured delivery vehicles with improved anti-GI cancer efficacy, absorption, and pharmacokinetic profiles have already been developed. This present review focuses on the in vitro and in vivo effects of resveratrol on GI cancers, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms of action.

Involvement of Sphingolipid Metabolism Enzymes in Resveratrol-Mediated Cytotoxicity in Philadelphia-Positive Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Targeting the key enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism including serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), sphingosine kinase (SK) and glucosylceramide synthase (GCS) has a therapeutic importance. However, sphingolipid metabolism-mediated anti-leukemic actions of resveratrol in Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Ph + ALL) remain unknown. Therefore, we explored potential mechanisms behind resveratrol-mediated cytotoxicity in SD1 and SUP-B15 Ph + ALL cells in the context of sphingolipid metabolism and apoptosis induction. The anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of resveratrol alone and in combination with SPT inhibitor (myriocin), SK inhibitor (SKI II), GCS inhibitor (PDMP) were determined by MTT cell proliferation assay and flow cytometry, respectively. The effects of resveratrol on PARP cleavage, SPT, SK and GCS protein levels were investigated by Western blot. Resveratrol inhibited proliferation and triggered apoptosis via PARP activation and externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS). Resveratrol increased the expression of SPT whereas it downregulated SK and GCS. Resveratrol's combinations with SKI II and PDMP intensified its anti-leukemic activity by increasing the relocalization of PS while its combination with myriocin suppressed apoptosis. Therefore, resveratrol inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis through modulating SK, GCS and SPT expression, which may be considered as novel biomarkers of resveratrol-induced cytotoxicity in Ph + ALL.

Resveratrol synergizes with cisplatin in antineoplastic effects against AGS gastric cancer cells by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress‑mediated apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common gastrointestinal malignancy, and cisplatin (DDP) is an important component of chemotherapeutic regimens for GC. However, the application of DDP is limited by its dose-dependent systemic toxicity. Resveratrol (RES) is a natural polyphenol compound that has chemopreventive and therapeutic effects against various cancers, including GC. However, whether RES can sensitize GC cells to DDP remains unknown. Following RES/DDP combination treatment, cell viability was determined by Cell Counting Kit-8 and colony-forming assays, and cell apoptosis and the cell cycle were detected by FITC-Annexin V/PI staining assay and PI staining assay, respectively, followed by flow cytometry. Moreover, western blotting was performed to evaluate the protein expression levels, and the intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration was determined by a Fluo-4 AM probe after cell cotreatment with RES and DDP. The present results demonstrated that RES/DDP combination treatment significantly inhibited cell viability, promoted cell apoptosis and induced G2/M phase arrest in AGS cells. In addition, it was determined that RES combined with DDP significantly increased the levels of Bax, cleaved poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP), glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), PRKR-like ER kinase (PERK), p-eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2α (p-eIF2α), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) and cleaved caspase-12, whereas Bcl-2 expression was downregulated following RES/DDP cotreatment. Moreover, RES/DDP cotreatment significantly upregulated phosphorylated cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (p-CDK1, Tyr15), p21^Waf1/Cip1 and p27^Kip1 protein levels and downregulated Cdc25C protein levels. In conclusion, RES and DDP synergistically inhibited the growth of the gastric adenocarcinoma cell line AGS by inducing endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis and G2/M phase arrest via activation of the PERK/eIF2α/activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4)/CHOP signaling pathway and caspase-12 and by inactivating the CDK1-cyclin B1 complex. These results indicated that RES is a promising adjuvant for DDP during GC chemotherapy.

Mechanisms of resveratrol in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer

Gastrointestinal (GI) cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. According to the Global Cancer Statistics, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality, closely followed by gastric cancer (GC). Environmental, dietary, and lifestyle factors including cigarette smoking, alcohol intake, and genetics are the most important risk factors for GI cancer. Furthermore, infections caused by Helicobacter pylori are a major cause of GC initiation. Despite improvements in conventional therapies, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the length or quality of life of patients with advanced GI cancer is still poor because of delayed diagnosis, recurrence and side effect. Resveratrol (3, 4, 5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene; Res), a natural polyphenolic compound, reportedly has various pharmacologic functions including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and cardioprotective functions. Many studies have demonstrated that Res also exerts a chemopreventive effect on GI cancer. Research investigating the anti-cancer mechanism of Res for the prevention and treatment of GI cancer has implicated multiple pathways including oxidative stress, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. Therefore, this paper provides a review of the function and molecular mechanisms of Res in the prevention and treatment of GI cancer.

Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase-1 Enzyme Inhibition by Grape Skin Extracts Affects Membrane Fluidity in Human Colon Cancer Cell Lines

The polyphenolic compounds present in grape extracts have chemopreventive and anticancer properties. Here, we studied the ability of two grape skin extracts (GSEs), Autumn Royal and Egnatia, to influence the cell motility and membrane fluidity regulated by the enzyme Stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD1) which increases with the cancer aggressiveness. Caco2 and SW480 human colon cancer cell lines were treated with increasing concentrations of GSEs to evaluate cell proliferation and motility. SCD1 levels were evaluated in both treated cell lines, by membrane lipidomic analysis conducted by gas chromatography. The expression levels of SCD1 and other factors involved in the reorganization of the cytoskeleton and focal adhesions were assessed by Real-time PCR, Western Blotting, and Immunofluorescence staining. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses were performed to determine the phenolic composition in the GSEs, finding them more expressed in Autumn Royal than in Egnatia. Both treatments reduced the levels of SCD1, phospho-Rac1/Cdc42/Rac1/Cdc42 ratio, Cofilin, Vimentin, and phospho-Paxillin especially in Caco2 compared to SW480, showing a different behavior of the two cell lines to these natural compounds. Our findings show that GSEs block the cell migration and membrane fluidity through a new mechanism of action involving structural cellular components.

Sphingosine kinase and sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor signaling pathway in inflammatory gastrointestinal disease and cancers: A novel therapeutic target

Inflammatory gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and malignancies are associated with growing morbidity and cancer-related mortality worldwide. GI tumor and inflammatory cells contain activated sphingolipid-metabolizing enzymes, including sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) and SphK2, that generate sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a highly bioactive compound. Many inflammatory responses, including lymphocyte trafficking, are directed by circulatory S1P, present in high concentrations in both the plasma and the lymph of cancer patients. High fat and sugar diet, disbalanced intestinal flora, and obesity have recently been linked to activation of inflammation and SphK/S1P/S1P receptor (S1PR) signaling in various GI pathologies, including cancer. SphK1 overexpression and activation facilitate and enhance the development and progression of esophageal, gastric, and colon cancers. SphK/S1P axis, a mediator of inflammation in the tumor microenvironment, has recently been defined as a target for the treatment of GI disease states, including inflammatory bowel disease and colitis. Several SphK1 inhibitors and S1PR antagonists have been developed as novel anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. In this review, we analyze the mechanisms of SphK/S1P signaling in GI tissues and critically appraise recent studies on the role of SphK/S1P/S1PR in inflammatory GI disorders and cancers. The potential role of SphK/S1PR inhibitors in the prevention and treatment of inflammation-mediated GI diseases, including GI cancer, is also evaluated.

Resveratrol Action on Lipid Metabolism in Cancer

Cancer diseases have the leading position in human mortality nowadays. The age of oncologic patients is still decreasing, and the entire scientific society is eager for new ways to fight against cancer. One of the most discussed issues is prevention by means of natural substances. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring plant polyphenol with proven antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Tumor cells display specific changes in the metabolism of various lipids. Resveratrol alters lipid metabolism in cancer, thereby affecting storage of energy, cell signaling, proliferation, progression, and invasiveness of cancer cells. At the whole organism level, it contributes to the optimal metabolism extent with respect to the demands of the organism. Thus, resveratrol could be used as a preventive and anticancer agent. In this review, we focus on some of the plethora of lipid pathways and signal molecules which are affected by resveratrol during carcinogenesis.

Cancer Prevention and Therapy with Polyphenols: Sphingolipid-Mediated Mechanisms

Polyphenols, chemically characterized by a polyhydroxylated phenolic structure, are well known for their widespread pharmacological properties: anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiseptic, antitumor, antiallergic, cardioprotective and others. Their distribution in food products is also extensive especially in plant foods such as vegetables, cereals, legumes, fruits, nuts and certain beverages. The latest scientific literature outlines a resilient interconnection between cancer modulation and dietary polyphenols by sphingolipid-mediated mechanisms, usually correlated with a modification of their metabolism. We aim to extensively survey this relationship to show how it could be advantageous in cancer treatment or prevention by nutrients. From this analysis it emerges that a combination of classical chemotherapy with nutrients and especially with polyphenols dietary sources may improve efficacy and decreases negative side effects of the antineoplastic drug. In this multifaceted scenario, sphingolipids play a pivotal role as bioactive molecules, emerging as the mediators of cell proliferation in cancer and modulator of chemotherapeutics.

Interdiction of Sphingolipid Metabolism Revisited: Focus on Prostate Cancer

Sphingolipid metabolism is known to play a role in cell death, survival, and therapy resistance in cancer. Sphingolipids, particularly dihydroceramide and ceramide, are associated with antiproliferative or cell death responses, respectively, and are central to effective cancer therapy. Within the last decade, strides have been made in elucidating many intricacies of sphingolipid metabolism. New information has emerged on the mechanisms by which sphingolipid metabolism is dysregulated during malignancy and how cancer cells survive and/or escape therapeutic interventions. This chapter focuses on three main themes: (1) sphingolipid enzymes that are dysregulated in cancer, particularly in prostate cancer; (2) inhibitors of sphingolipid metabolism that antagonize prosurvival responses; and (3) sphingolipid-driven escape mechanisms that allow cancer cells to evade therapies. We explore clinical and preclinical approaches to interdict sphingolipid metabolism and provide a rationale for combining strategies to drive the generation of antiproliferative ceramides with prevention of ceramide clearance.

Dihydroceramide desaturase inhibitors induce autophagy via dihydroceramide-dependent and independent mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Autophagy consists on the delivery of cytoplasmic material and organelles to lysosomes for degradation. Research on autophagy is a growing field because deciphering the basic mechanisms of autophagy is key to understanding its role in health and disease, and to paving the way to discovering novel therapeutic strategies. Studies with chemotherapeutic drugs and pharmacological tools support a role for dihydroceramides as mediators of autophagy. However, their effect on the autophagy outcome (cell survival or death) is more controversial.

METHODS

We have examined the capacity of structurally varied Des1 inhibitors to stimulate autophagy (LC3-II analysis), to increase dihydroceramides (mass spectrometry) and to reduce cell viability (SRB) in T98G and U87MG glioblastoma cells under different experimental conditions.

RESULTS

The compounds activity on autophagy induction took place concomitantly with accumulation of dihydroceramides, which occurred by both stimulation of ceramide synthesis de novo and reduction of Des1 activity. However, autophagy was also induced by the test compounds after preincubation with myriocin and in cells with a reduced capacity to produce dihydroceramides (U87DND). Autophagy inhibition with 3-methyladenine in the de novo dihydroceramide synthesis competent U87MG cells increased cytotoxicity, while genetic inhibition of autophagy in U87DND cells, poorly efficient at synthesizing dihydroceramides, augmented resistance to the test compounds.

CONCLUSION

Dihydroceramide desaturase 1 inhibitors activate autophagy via both dihydroceramide-dependent and independent pathways and the balance between the two pathways influences the final cell fate.

GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE

The cells capacity to biosynthesize dihydroceramides must be taken into account in proautophagic Des1 inhibitors-including therapies.

Resveratrol-induced transcriptional up-regulation of ASMase (SMPD1) of human leukemia and cancer cells

Resveratrol (RSV) is a plant-derived phytoalexin present in plants, whose pleiotropic effects for health benefits have been previously reported. Its anti-cancer activity is among the current topics for novel cancer treatment. Here, effects of RSV on cell proliferation and the sphingolipid metabolism of K562, a human leukemia cell line, were analyzed. Some experiments were also performed in HCT116, a human colon cancer cell line. RSV inhibited cell proliferation of both cell lines. Increased cellular ceramide and decreased sphingomyelin and S1P by RSV were observed in RSV-treated K562 cells. Further analysis revealed that acid sphingomyelinase mRNA and enzyme activity levels were increased by RSV. Desipramine, a functional ASMase inhibitor, prevented RSV-induced ceramide increase. RSV increased ATF3, EGR1, EGR3 proteins and phosphorylated c-Jun and FOXO3. However, co-transfection using these transcription factor expression vectors and ASMase promoter reporter vector revealed positive effects of EGR1 and EGR3 but not others. Electrophoresis mobility shift assay (EMSA) and Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay demonstrated the direct binding of EGR1/3 transcription factors with ASMase 5'-promoter. These results indicate that increased EGR1/3 and ASMase expression play an important role in cellular ceramide increase by RSV treatment.

Vitamin C Stimulates Epidermal Ceramide Production by Regulating Its Metabolic Enzymes

Ceramide is the most abundant lipid in the epidermis and plays a critical role in maintaining epidermal barrier function. Overall ceramide content in keratinocyte increases in parallel with differentiation, which is initiated by supplementation of calcium and/or vitamin C. However, the role of metabolic enzymes responsible for ceramide generation in response to vitamin C is still unclear. Here, we investigated whether vitamin C alters epidermal ceramide content by regulating the expression and/or activity of its metabolic enzymes. When human keratinocytes were grown in 1.2 mM calcium with vitamin C (50 μg/ml) for 11 days, bulk ceramide content significantly increased in conjunction with terminal differentiation of keratinocytes as compared to vehicle controls (1.2 mM calcium alone). Synthesis of the ceramide fractions was enhanced by increased de novo ceramide synthesis pathway via serine palmitoyltransferase and ceramide synthase activations. Moreover, sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) hydrolysis pathway by action of S1P phosphatase was also stimulated by vitamin C supplementation, contributing, in part, to enhanced ceramide production. However, activity of sphingomyelinase, a hydrolase enzyme that converts sphingomyelin to ceramide, remained unaltered. Taken together, we demonstrate that vitamin C stimulates ceramide production in keratinocytes by modulating ceramide metabolic-related enzymes, and as a result, could improve overall epidermal barrier function.

Resveratrol: A potential challenger against gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world. Late diagnosis and classical therapeutic approaches such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy make this disease a still threatening tumor. Genetic asset, environmental stress, dietary habit and infections caused by Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) are the major causes concurring to GC initiation. A common mechanism is induction of radicals resulting in gastric mucosal injury. A regular food intake of antioxidant and radical scavenging agents has been proposed to exert protection against tumorigenesis. Resveratrol belongs to the polyphenol flavonoids class of antioxidants produced by a restricted number of plants. Resveratrol exerts bactericidal activity against H. pylori and is a powerful antioxidant, thus acting as a tumor preventive agent. Resveratrol intracellular signaling results in growth arrest and apoptosis, so that it can be directed against tumor progression. Resveratrol therapeutic potential against GC initiation and progression are reviewed here.

Inhibitors of dihydroceramide desaturase 1: Therapeutic agents and pharmacological tools to decipher the role of dihydroceramides in cell biology

Dihydroceramide desaturase (Des1) is the last enzyme in the de novo synthesis of ceramides (Cer). It catalyzes the insertion of a double bond into dihydroceramides (dhCer) to convert them to Cer, both of which are further metabolized to more complex (dihydro) sphingolipids. For many years dhCer have received poor attention, mainly due to their supposed lack of biological activity. It was not until about ten years ago that the concept that dhCer might have regulatory roles in biology emerged for the first time. Since then, multiple publications have established that dhCer are implicated in a wide spectrum of biological processes. Physiological and pathophysiological functions of dhCer have been recently reviewed. In this review we will focus on the biochemical features of Des1 and on its inhibition by different compounds with presumably different modes of action.

Δ10(E)-Sphingolipid Desaturase Involved in Fusaruside Mycosynthesis and Stress Adaptation in Fusarium graminearum

Sphingolipids are biologically important and structurally distinct cell membrane components. Fusaruside (1) is a 10,11-unsaturated immunosuppressive fungal sphingolipid with medical potentials for treating liver injury and colitis, but its poor natural abundance bottlenecks its druggability. Here, fusaruside is clarified biosynthetically, and its efficacy-related 10,11-double bond can be generated under the regioselective catalysis of an unprecedented Δ10(E)-sphingolipid desaturase (Δ10(E)-SD). Δ10(E)-SD shares 17.7% amino acid sequence similarity with a C9-unmethylated Δ10-sphingolipid desaturase derived from a marine diatom, and 55.7% with Δ8(E)-SD from Fusarium graminearum. Heterologous expression of Δ10(E)-SD in Pichia pastoris has been established to facilitate a reliable generation of 1 through the Δ10(E)-SD catalyzed desaturation of cerebroside B (2), an abundant fungal sphingolipid. Site directed mutageneses show that the conserved histidines of Δ10(E)-SD are essential for the 10,11-desaturation catalysis, which is also preconditioned by the C9-methylation of the substrate. Moreover, Δ10(E)-SD confers improved survival and faster growth to fungal strains at low temperature and high salinity, in parallel with to higher contents of 1 in the mycelia. Collectively, the investigation describes a new Δ10(E)-sphingolipid desaturase with its heterologous expression fundamentalizing a biotechnological supply of 1, and eases the follow-up clarification of the immunosuppression and stress-tolerance mechanism.

PDE5 inhibitors enhance celecoxib killing in multiple tumor types

The present studies determined whether clinically relevant phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors interacted with a clinically relevant NSAID, celecoxib, to kill tumor cells. Celecoxib and PDE5 inhibitors interacted in a greater than additive fashion to kill multiple tumor cell types. Celecoxib and sildenafil killed ex vivo primary human glioma cells as well as their associated activated microglia. Knock down of PDE5 recapitulated the effects of PDE5 inhibitor treatment; the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME suppressed drug combination toxicity. The effects of celecoxib were COX2 independent. Over-expression of c-FLIP-s or knock down of CD95/FADD significantly reduced killing by the drug combination. CD95 activation was dependent on nitric oxide and ceramide signaling. CD95 signaling activated the JNK pathway and inhibition of JNK suppressed cell killing. The drug combination inactivated mTOR and increased the levels of autophagy and knock down of Beclin1 or ATG5 strongly suppressed killing by the drug combination. The drug combination caused an ER stress response; knock down of IRE1α/XBP1 enhanced killing whereas knock down of eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP suppressed killing. Sildenafil and celecoxib treatment suppressed the growth of mammary tumors in vivo. Collectively our data demonstrate that clinically achievable concentrations of celecoxib and sildenafil have the potential to be a new therapeutic approach for cancer.

Resveratrol and its oligomers: modulation of sphingolipid metabolism and signaling in disease

Resveratrol, a natural compound endowed with multiple health-promoting effects, has received much attention given its potential for the treatment of cardiovascular, inflammatory, neurodegenerative, metabolic and age-related diseases. However, the translational potential of resveratrol has been limited by its specificity, poor bioavailability and uncertain toxicity. In recent years, there has been an accumulation of evidence demonstrating that resveratrol modulates sphingolipid metabolism. Moreover, resveratrol forms higher order oligomers that exhibit better selectivity and potency in modulating sphingolipid metabolism. This review evaluates the evidence supporting the modulation of sphingolipid metabolism and signaling as a mechanism of action underlying the therapeutic efficacy of resveratrol and oligomers in diseases, such as cancer.