title: The immunosuppressant drug FTY720 inhibits cytosolic phospholipase A2 independently of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
abstract: FTY720 is a potent immunomodulator drug that inhibits the egress of lymphocytes from secondary lymphoid tissues and thymus. FTY720 is phosphorylated in vivo by sphingosine kinase 2 to FTY720-phosphate, which acts as a potent sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptor agonist. However, in contrast to S1P, FTY720 has no effect on mast-cell degranulation, yet significantly reduces antigen-induced secretion of PGD2 and cysteinyl-leukotriene. Unexpectedly, this effect of FTY720 was independent of its phosphorylation and S1P receptor functions. The rate-limiting step in the biosynthesis of all eicosanoids is the phospholipase A2 (PLA2)-mediated release of arachidonic acid from glycerol phospholipids. Although FTY720 also reduced arachidonic acid release in response to antigen, it had no effect on translocation of cPLA2 or ERK1/2 activation, suggesting that it does not interfere with FcepsilonRI-mediated events leading to cPLA2 activation. Remarkably, however, FTY720 drastically inhibited recombinant cPLA2alpha activity, whereas FTY720-phosphate, sphingosine, or S1P had no effect. This study has uncovered a unique action of FTY720 as an inhibitor of cPLA2alpha and hence on production of all eicosanoids. Our results have important implications for the potential therapeutic mechanism of action of FTY720 in eicosanoid-driven inflammatory disorders such as asthma and multiple sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA 23298-0614, USA.
authors.forename: Shawn G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Payne
authors.forename: Carole A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Oskeritzian
authors.forename: Rachael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Griffiths
authors.forename: Preeti
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.forename: Suzanne E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Barbour
authors.forename: Charles E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Chalfant
authors.forename: Sheldon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Milstien
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spiegel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003545:Cysteine / Q000378:metabolism; D003600:Cytosol; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015289:Leukotrienes / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells; D010741:Phospholipases A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D011409:Propylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015230:Prostaglandin D2 / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D049349:Receptors, Lysosphingolipid / Q000819:agonists; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D015777:Eicosanoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D015289:Leukotrienes; D011409:Propylene Glycols; D049349:Receptors, Lysosphingolipid; C112381:cysteinyl-leukotriene; D010741:Phospholipases A; D054467:Phospholipases A2; D000068876:Fingolimod Hydrochloride; D003545:Cysteine; D013110:Sphingosine; D015230:Prostaglandin D2