title: Activation of acid sphingomyelinase and its inhibition by the nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate pathway: key events in Escherichia coli-elicited apoptosis of dendritic cells.
abstract: Depletion of dendritic cells (DCs) via apoptosis contributes to sepsis-induced immune suppression. The mechanisms leading to DC apoptosis during sepsis are not known. In this study we report that immature DCs undergo apoptosis when treated with high numbers of Escherichia coli. This effect was mimicked by high concentrations of LPS. Apoptosis was accompanied by generation of ceramide through activation of acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase), was prevented by inhibitors of this enzyme, and was restored by exogenous ceramide. Compared with immature DCs, mature DCs expressed significantly reduced levels of A-SMase, did not generate ceramide in response to E. coli or LPS, and were insensitive to E. coli- and LPS-triggered apoptosis. However, sensitivity to apoptosis was restored by addition of exogenous A-SMase or ceramide. Furthermore, inhibition of A-SMase activation and ceramide generation was found to be the mechanism through which the immune-modulating messenger NO protects immature DCs from the apoptogenic effects of E. coli and LPS. NO acted through formation of cGMP and stimulation of the cGMP-dependent protein kinase. The relevance of A-SMase and its inhibition by NO/cGMP were confirmed in a mouse model of LPS-induced sepsis. DC apoptosis was significantly higher in inducible NO synthase-deficient mice than in wild-type animals and was significantly reduced by treatment ex vivo with NO, cGMP, or the A-SMase inhibitor imipramine. Thus, A-SMase plays a central role in E. coli/LPS-induced DC apoptosis and its inhibition by NO, and it might be a target of new therapeutic approaches to sepsis.
authors.affiliation: Vita-Salute University and Stem Cell Research Institute, San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Sestina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Falcone
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Perrotta
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Palma
authors.forename: Addolorata
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pisconti
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sciorati
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Capobianco
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rovere-Querini
authors.forename: Angelo A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Manfredi
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clementi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002518:Ceramides / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000502:physiology*; D003713:Dendritic Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D004306:Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000235:genetics; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D018805:Sepsis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase; D006152:Cyclic GMP