title: Sphingosine kinase 1 is up-regulated in colon carcinogenesis.
abstract: Sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) phosphorylates sphingosine to form sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), which has the ability to promote cell proliferation and survival and stimulate angiogenesis. The SK1/S1P pathway also plays a critical role in regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a well-established pathogenic factor in colon carcinogenesis. Therefore, we examined the expression of SK1 and COX-2 in rat colon tumors induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and the relationship of these two proteins in normal and malignant intestinal epithelial cells. Strongly positive SK1 staining was found in 21/28 (75%) of rat colon adenocarcinomas induced by AOM, whereas no positive SK1 staining was observed in normal mucosa. The increase in SK1 and COX-2 expression in AOM-induced rat colon adenocarcinoma was confirmed at the level of mRNA by real-time RT-PCR. In addition, it was found that 1) down-regulation of SK1 in HT-29 human colon cancer cells by small interfering RNA (siRNA) decreases COX-2 expression and PGE2 production; 2) overexpression of SK1 in RIE-1 rat intestinal epithelial cells induces COX-2 expression; and 3) S1P stimulates COX-2 expression and PGE2 production in HT-29 cells. These results suggest that the SK1/S1P pathway may play an important role in colon carcinogenesis, in part, by regulating COX-2 expression and PGE2 production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina 29425, USA. Kawamori@musc.edu
authors.forename: Toshihiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamori
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Osta
authors.forename: Korey R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Pettus
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bielawski
authors.forename: Takuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wargovich
authors.forename: Bandaru S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Reddy
authors.forename: Yusuf A
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Hannun
authors.forename: Lina M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Obeid
authors.forename: Daohong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001397:Azoxymethane / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003106:Colon / Q000378:metabolism; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000099157:Sphingosine Kinase
chemical_list: D001397:Azoxymethane; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D015232:Dinoprostone; D008246:Lysophospholipids; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); D013110:Sphingosine; D000099157:Sphingosine Kinase; C060506:sphingosine 1-phosphate