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Cancer-induced inflammation and inflammation-induced cancer in colon: a role for S1P lyase

Abstract

A role of sphingolipids for inflammatory bowel disease and cancer is evident. However, the relative and separate contribution of sphingolipid deterioration in inflammation versus carcinogenesis for the pathophysiology of colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC) was unknown and therefore examined in this study. We performed isogenic bone marrow transplantation of inducible sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) lyase knockout mice to specifically modulate sphingolipids and associated genes and proteins in a compartment-specific way in a DSS/AOM mediated CAC model. 3D organoid cultures were used in vitro. S1P lyase (SGPL1) knockout in either immune cells or tissue, caused local sphingolipid accumulation leading to a dichotomic development of CAC: Immune cell SGPL1 knockout (I-SGPL−/−) augmented massive immune cell infiltration initiating colitis with lesions and calprotectin increase. Pathological crypt remodeling plus extracellular S1P-signaling caused delayed tumor formation characterized by S1P receptor 1, STAT3 mRNA increase, as well as programmed cell death ligand 1 expression, accompanied by a putatively counter regulatory STAT1S727 phosphorylation. In contrast, tissue SGPL1 knockout (T-SGPL−/−) provoked immediate occurrence of epithelial-driven tumors with upregulated sphingosine kinase 1, S1P receptor 2 and epidermal growth factor receptor. Here, progressing carcinogenesis was accompanied by an IL-12 to IL-23 shift with a consecutive development of a Th2/GATA3-driven, tumor-favoring microenvironment. Moreover, the knockout models showed distinct lymphopenia and neutrophilia, different from the full SGPL1 knockout. This study shows that depending on the initiating cellular S1P source, the pathophysiology of inflammation-induced cancer versus cancer-induced inflammation develops through separate, discernible molecular steps.

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Fig. 1: Compartment-specific SGPL knockout is decisive for S1P distribution.
Fig. 2: Compartment-specific SGPL knockout is decisive for disease severity in CAC.
Fig. 3: Prominent tumor development in T-SGPL–/–.
Fig. 4: Prominent immune cell infiltration in I-SGPL–/– but less in T-SGPL–/–.
Fig. 5: Tumor microenvironment and immune cell sequestration is dependent on compartment-specific SGPL.
Fig. 6: Western Blot and Organoid culture confirm different regulation of genes in I-SGPL–/– or T-SGPL–/–.
Fig. 7: Graphical summary of compartment-specific SGPL knockout effects in the development of cancer-induced inflammation and inflammation-induced cancer.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (grant number: SFB1039) to (HHR, AS, KGS, DT, EE, AW, KS, GG, JMP). We also acknowledge the support of the Else-Kröner-Fresenius-Graduiertenkolleg for (FO), the Translational Research Innovation Pharma graduate school for (KGS) funded by the Else-Kröner-Fresenius Foundation both awarded to (HHR), and the LOEWE Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt faculty (grant number: III L 4 518/17.004) for EW, awarded to HB.

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AS and HHR designed the study and wrote the manuscript. AS performed experiments, data acquisition and evaluation. MH was substantially involved in animal experiments, performed bright field immunostainings and co-wrote the manuscript. KGS helped with sample preparation, endoscopy scoring. HHR and AS, supported by MH and KGS, revised the manuscript for re-submission. EW and HB helped with transplantations and cytokine arrays. MA evaluated histological samples. EE and AW performed immunofluorescence stainings and discussed data. KS performed MELC studies. FO helped with sample preparation and endoscopy scoring. DT and GG conducted LC-MS/MS analysis. JMP provided basic lab equipment and discussed data. All authors reviewed the relevant intellectual content and approved the final manuscript. The authors thank C. Dreis and K. Zych for technical support, H. Vienken for spiritual support, Novartis for providing the inducible knockout mice, and J. Collins (iCCC Rhein-Main, Frankfurt) for correcting and proofreading the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Anja Schwiebs or Heinfried H. Radeke.

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Schwiebs, A., Herrero San Juan, M., Schmidt, K.G. et al. Cancer-induced inflammation and inflammation-induced cancer in colon: a role for S1P lyase. Oncogene 38, 4788–4803 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41388-019-0758-x

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