FTY720, an immune modulator, down-regulates sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors, enhances the activity of sphingosine transporter Abcb1 and leukotriene C4 transporter Abcc1, and inhibits cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity. Its efficacy relies on in vivo phosphorylation by sphingosine kinases, resulting in FTY720-phosphate which also down-regulates S1P receptors. NBD-FTY720, a fluorescently-labeled analog of FTY720, retains the hydroxy methyl side chain targeted for phosphorylation, suggesting potential phosphorylation in vivo.
ABO acts as an annexin A7 modulator, specifically binding to Thr286 to inhibit its phosphorylation on threonine (not on serine or tyrosine) residues within human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). This compound furthers the annexin A7 interaction with the EF-hand protein GCA, leading to reduced GCA phosphorylation, lowered intracellular calcium levels, and enhanced autophagy in COS-7 cells. Moreover, ABO lessens phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain (LC3) in HUVECs and impedes the upregulation of phosphatidylcholine-specific phospholipase C (PC-PLC) due to oxidized low-density lipoprotein in vascular endothelial cells (VECs). In animal models, specifically apoE-/- mice on a Western diet, administration of ABO (50 or 100 mg/kg per day) has been shown to decrease PC-PLC expression, promote autophagy, and reduce apoptosis, lipid accumulation, and the extent of atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic endothelium.
The group IVA phospholipase A2 (PLA2), known as calcium-dependent cytosolic PLA2 (cPLA2), selectively releases arachidonic acid (AA) from membrane phospholipids, playing a central role in initiating the synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) and leukotrienes (LTs). Pyrrophenone inhibits cPLA2α with an IC50 of 4.2 nM in enzyme assays and potently blocks the release of AA and the production of PGE2 and LTC4 in cells (IC50 = 24, 25, and 14 nM, respectively). Its action is reversible and selective, as pyrrophenone inhibits the secretory type IB and IIA PLA2s with more than a hundred-fold less potency. Pyrrophenone has also been shown to inhibit calcium ionophore (A23187)-stimulated AA release from monocytic cells, interleukin-1-induced PGE2 synthesis in mesangial cells, and the production of PGE2, LTs, and platelet-activating factor by human neutrophils, always with maximal inhibition at concentrations below 1 μM.
Phosphatidylethanolamines are important components of cell membranes and biochemical pathways of fatty acid synthesis. 1-Palmitoyl-2-linoleoyl PE (PLPE) is one of the many phosphatidylethanolamines that may be present in cellular membranes. It has been used in studies involving the biosynthesis of anandamide via the phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and lysoPLD pathways. PLPE can also be used as a specific substrate to assess the activity of sPLA2-IIA in the presence of other phospholipids.
C22 Glucosylceramide (d18:1 22:0) is an endogenous glucosylceramide. Glucosylceramides are major constituents of skin lipid membranes where they play a role in maintaining the water permeability barrier. They are precursors in the synthesis of lactosylceramide , as well as oligoglycolipids and gangliosides. Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) type XIIA knockdown increases C22 glucosylceramide (d18:1 22:0) expression in rat brain. It is also increased in the brain, but not the liver or spinal cord, of mice fed a methionine-restricted diet. In human athletes, plasma levels of C22 glucosylceramide (d18:1 22:0) increase during exercise and return to basal levels during recovery. This product contains C22 glucosylceramide (d18:1 22:0) isolated from bovine buttermilk.
The phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) phosphates represent a small percentage of total membrane phospholipids. However, they play a critical role in the generation and transmission of cellular signals. PtdIns-(1,2-dioctanoyl) is a synthetic analog of natural phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) containing C8:0 fatty acids at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions. The compound features the same inositol and diacyl glycerol (DAG) stereochemistry as that of the natural compound. The short fatty acid chains of this analog, compared to naturally-occurring PtdIns, gives it different physical properties including high solubility in aqueous media. PtdIns are phosphorylated to mono- (PtdIns-P; PIP), di- (PtdIns-P2; PIP2), and triphosphates (PtdIns-P3; PIP3). Hydrolysis of PtdIns-(4,5)-P2 by phosphoinositide (PI)-specific phospholipase C generates inositol triphosphate (IP3) and DAG which are key second messengers in an intricate biochemical signal transduction cascade.
FKGK 18 is an inhibitor of group VIA (GVIA) calcium-independent phospholipase A2 (iPLA2). It inhibits GVIA iPLA2 by 99.9% at 0.091 mole fraction in a mixed micelle activity assay and is selective for GVIA iPLA2 over GIVA cPLA2 and GV sPLA2 where it shows 80.8 and 36.8% inhibition, respectively. FKGK 18 inhibits iPLA2β activity in cytosolic extracts from INS-1 cells overexpressing iPLA2β (IC50 = ~50 nM) as well as iPLA2γ activity in mouse heart membrane fractions (IC50s = ~1-3 μM). It inhibits glucose-induced increases in prostaglandin E2 production and insulin secretion in human pancreatic islets when used at a concentration of 10 μM and inhibits thapsigargin-induced apoptosis in INS-1 cells overexpressing iPLA2β in a concentration-dependent manner. FKGK 18 (20 mg/kg, 3 times per week) reduces blood glucose levels in an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test, decreases the incidence of diabetes, and increases serum insulin levels in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice.
D-myo-Inositol-1,3-phosphate (Ins(1,3)P) is a member of the inositol phosphate (InsP) molecular family that play critical roles as small, soluble second messengers in the transmission of cellular signals. The most studied InsP, Ins(1,4,5)P3 is a second messenger produced in cells by phospholipase C (PLC)-mediated hydrolysis of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-biphosphate. Binding of Ins(1,4,5)P3 to its receptor on the endoplasmic reticulum results in opening of the calcium channels and an increase in intracellular calcium. Ins(1,3)P2 can be dephosphorylated to Ins(1)P by inositol polyphosphate 3-phosphatase and further dephosphorylated to inositol by inositol monophosphatase.
The phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) phosphates represent a small percentage of total membrane phospholipids. However, they play a critical role in the generation and transmission of cellular signals. PtdIns-(3,4,5)-P3, also known as PIP3, is resistant to cleavage by PI-specific phospholipase C (PLC). Thus, it is likely to function in signal transduction as a modulator in its own right, rather than as a source of inositol tetraphosphates. PIP3 can serve as an anchor for the binding of signal transduction proteins bearing pleckstrin homology (PH) domains. Protein binding to PIP3 is important for cytoskeletal rearrangement and membrane trafficking. PtdIns-(3,4,5)-P3 (1,2-dihexanoyl) is a synthetic analog of natural PIP3 with C6:0 fatty acids at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions. The compound features the same inositol and diacylglycerol (DAG) stereochemistry as that of the natural compound. The short fatty acid chains of this analog give it different physical properties from naturally-occurring PIP3, including higher solubility in aqueous media.
Phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-P2(1,2-dipalmitoyl), a synthetic analog of natural phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) with C16:0 fatty acids at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions, maintains the inositol and diacylglycerol (DAG) stereochemistry of its natural counterpart. Although phosphatidylinositol phosphates constitute a minor fraction of total membrane phospholipids, they are pivotal in initiating and propagating cellular signals. This compound mirrors the activity of the natural phosphatidylinositol produced by PtdIns-4-phosphate 5-kinase's action on PtdIns-(4)-P1. Its hydrolysis by phosphoinositide (PI)-specific phospholipase C yields inositol triphosphate (IP3) and DAG, crucial secondary messengers in a complex signal transduction pathway.