title: Up-regulating sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor-2 signaling impairs chemotactic, wound-healing, and morphogenetic responses in senescent endothelial cells.
abstract: Vascular endothelial cells (ECs) have a finite lifespan when cultured in vitro and eventually enter an irreversible growth arrest state called "cellular senescence." It has been shown that sphingolipids may be involved in senescence; however, the molecular links involved are poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the signaling and functions of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a serum-borne bioactive sphingolipid, in ECs of different in vitro ages. We observed that S1P-regulated responses are significantly inhibited and the S1P(1-3) receptor subtypes are markedly increased in senescent ECs. Increased expression of S1P(1) and S1P(2) was also observed in the lesion regions of atherosclerotic endothelium, where senescent ECs have been identified in vivo. S1P-induced Akt and ERK1/2 activation were comparable between ECs of different in vitro ages; however, PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) activity was significantly elevated and Rac activation was inhibited in senescent ECs. Rac activation and senescent-associated impairments were restored in senescent ECs by the expression of dominant-negative PTEN and by knocking down S1P(2) receptors. Furthermore, the senescent-associated impairments were induced in young ECs by the expression of S1P(2) to a level similar to that of in vitro senescence. These results indicate that the impairment of function in senescent ECs in culture is mediated by an increase in S1P signaling through S1P(2)-mediated activation of the lipid phosphatase PTEN.
authors.affiliation: Gheens Center on Aging, University of Louisville Health Sciences Center, Louisville, Kentucky 40202, USA.
authors.forename: Rosendo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Estrada
authors.forename: Qun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Harshini
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sarojini
authors.forename: Jen-Fu
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mathis
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Kontos
authors.forename: Chen-Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hla
authors.forename: Bodduluri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Haribabu
authors.forename: Menq-Jer
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Lee