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Published on: December 26, 2016
Expression Profile of Sphingosine Kinase 1 Isoforms in Human Cancer Tissues and Cells: Importance and Clinical
Hongjie Chen1, Nahal Haddadi2, Xiaofeng Zhu3
1Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China.
Background:
Overexpression of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) is casually associated with many types of cancer, and inhibitors of SphK1 sensitize tumors to chemotherapy. SphK1 is expressed as two major isoforms, SphK1a and SphK1b. To date, no information has been reported on the SphK1 isoform expression profile and its clinical relevance.
Objective:
The objective is to examine the expression profile of the SphK1a and SPhK1b isoforms in human cancer and noncancer tissues and cell lines and explore their clinical relevance.
Methods:
We used PCR to qualitatively examine the expression profile of these two isoforms in breast, liver, and prostate cancer tissues plus paired adjacent tissues and in 11 cancer and normal cell lines (breast, cervical, bone, prostate, colon, brain, mesothelioma tumor and benign, and human kidney cells).
Results:
We found that SphK1a was ubiquitously expressed in all cancer cells and tissues tested; in contrast, SphK1b was only expressed in selective cell types in breast, prostate, and lung cancer.
Conclusions:
Our data suggest that SphK1a is important for generic SphK1/S1P functions, and SphK1b mediates specialized and/or unique pathways in a specific type of tissue and could be a biomarker for cancer. This discovery is important for future SphK1-related cancer research and may have clinical implications in drug development associated with SphK1-directed cancer treatment.
Insights
Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) has two isoforms, SphK1a and SphK1b. SphK1a is found in all cancers, while SphK1b is specific to certain cancers, suggesting it may be a cancer biomarker.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Oncology
Background:
- Sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) overexpression is linked to various cancers.
- SphK1 inhibitors can enhance chemotherapy efficacy.
- SphK1 exists as two main isoforms: SphK1a and SphK1b, with limited data on their expression and clinical significance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the expression patterns of SphK1a and SphK1b isoforms in human cancer and normal tissues.
- To explore the clinical relevance of SphK1 isoform expression in cancer.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for qualitative analysis.
- Examined expression in breast, liver, and prostate cancer tissues and adjacent non-cancerous tissues.
- Analyzed 11 cancer and normal cell lines, including breast, cervical, bone, prostate, colon, brain, mesothelioma, and kidney.
Main Results:
- SphK1a was ubiquitously expressed across all tested cancer cells and tissues.
- SphK1b expression was restricted to specific cell types in breast, prostate, and lung cancers.
Conclusions:
- SphK1a likely supports general SphK1/S1P functions.
- SphK1b may mediate specialized pathways and serve as a potential cancer biomarker.
- Findings have implications for future SphK1-targeted cancer research and therapeutic development.
