fumonisin-b1 and 3-chloroalanine

Sertoli cells from 19-day-old rats have two molecular species of sphingomyelin (SM1 and SM2) with different kinetic characteristics and fatty acid composition. Here, we have studied the incorporation of [14C]-choline and [14C]-palmitic acid into SM in presence or absence of fumonisin B1, an inhibitor of ceramide synthesis, and beta-chloroalanine, an inhibitor of sphinganine synthesis. The contributions of de novo synthesis and recycling pathways were estimated by analysis of the inhibition caused by these drugs. SM1 was synthesized more by sphingosine recycling, and SM2 was synthesized principally by ceramide recycling than SM1. De novo synthesis seems to be important for the two SM types, but our results showed that this pathway is more extensively utilized by SM2. In conclusion, using Sertoli cell cultures, we have shown for the first time that in the same cell different molecular species of SM are synthesized by different pathways.

Topics: Animals; beta-Alanine; Carbon Radioisotopes; Carboxylic Acids; Cells, Cultured; Choline; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fumonisins; Male; Models, Biological; Palmitic Acid; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sertoli Cells; Sphingomyelins

Fumonisin B1 stimulates apoptosis in a variety of cell types and tissues. We examined the role of sphingolipid changes in fumonisin B1-stimulated apoptosis. Sphinganine accumulated rapidly, sphingosine levels remained unchanged, and ceramides decreased during fumonisin B1 exposure. Increased DNA fragmentation, decreased viability, and apoptotic morphology were observed in cells exposed to fumonisin B1, sphinganine, or N-acetylsphingosine. Co-exposure to N-acetylsphingosine or beta-chloroalanine, which blocks sphinganine accumulation, partially protected cells from fumonisin B1-induced apoptosis. These results illustrate three sphingolipid-dependent mechanisms for inducing apoptosis: accumulation of excess ceramide, accumulation of excess sphinganine, and depletion of ceramide or complex sphingolipids derived from ceramide.

Topics: Apoptosis; beta-Alanine; Carboxylic Acids; Cell Survival; Cells, Cultured; Ceramides; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Colony-Forming Units Assay; DNA Fragmentation; Drug Interactions; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fumonisins; Humans; Keratinocytes; Sphingolipids; Sphingosine; Teratogens

Fumonisin B1 is an inhibitor of ceramide synthase, a key enzyme in de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis and reacylation of free sphingosine. The purpose of this study was to determine the contribution of increased intracellular free sphinganine and decreased complex sphingolipids on cell growth and cell death induced by fumonisin B1 in pig kidney LLC-PK1 cells. Fumonisin B1 caused an increase in intracellular free sphinganine which preceded depletion of complex sphingolipids, inhibition of cell growth, and cell death. The effects on cell growth and cell death were well correlated with the increase in free sphingoid bases and depletion of complex sphingolipids. Exogenously added sphinganine mimicked the effects of fumonisin, but beta-chloroalanine, an inhibitor of serine palmitoyltransferase which is the first enzyme in de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis, also inhibited cell growth and increased cell death. When added simultaneously, beta-chloroalanine reduced the fumonisin-induced sphinganine increase by approximately 90%; however, it exacerbated the decrease in more complex sphingolipids. The effects of fumonisin on cell growth and cell death were only partially prevented by beta-chloroalanine (approximately 50 to 60%). The results suggest that both the elevation of free sphingoid bases and the decrease in complex sphingolipids contribute to the decreased cell growth and cytolethality of fumonisin B1 in pig kidney LLC-PK1 cells.

Topics: Animals; beta-Alanine; Cell Death; Cell Division; Cells, Cultured; Epithelium; Fumonisins; Mycotoxins; Sphingolipids; Sphingosine; Swine