The immune modulator FTY720 targets sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors.
Immunosuppressant drugs such as cyclosporin have allowed widespread organ transplantation, but their utility remains limited by toxicities, and they are ineffective in chronic management of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis. In contrast, the immune modulating drug FTY720 is efficacious in a variety of transplant and autoimmune models without inducing a generalized immunosuppressed state and is effective in human kidney transplantation. FTY720 elicits a lymphopenia resulting from a reversible redistribution of lymphocytes from circulation to secondary lymphoid tissues by unknown mechanisms. Using FTY720 and several analogs, we show now that FTY720 is phosphorylated by sphingosine kinase; the phosphorylated compound is a potent agonist at four sphingosine 1-phosphate receptors and represents the therapeutic principle in a rodent model of multiple sclerosis. Our results suggest that FTY720, after phosphorylation, acts through sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling pathways to modulate chemotactic responses and lymphocyte trafficking.
Brinkmann
Volker
V
Department of Transplantation, Novartis Pharma AG, Lichtstrasse 35, CH-4002 Basel, Switzerland.
Davis
Michael D
MD
Heise
Christopher E
CE
Albert
Rainer
R
Cottens
Sylvain
S
Hof
Robert
R
Bruns
Christian
C
Prieschl
Eva
E
Baumruker
Thomas
T
Hiestand
Peter
P
Foster
Carolyn A
CA
Zollinger
Markus
M
Lynch
Kevin R
KR
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002633:Chemotaxis; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004681:Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate) / Q000378:metabolism; D007313:Insecta; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008231:Lymphopenia / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010766:Phosphorylation; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000378:metabolism; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000378:metabolism*; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D049312:Receptors, Lysophospholipid; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D000099157:Sphingosine Kinase
D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D016244:Guanosine 5'-O-(3-Thiotriphosphate); D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); D011409:Propylene Glycols; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D049312:Receptors, Lysophospholipid; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013110:Sphingosine; D000099157:Sphingosine Kinase