Blood lymphocyte numbers, essential for the development of efficient immune responses, are maintained by recirculation through secondary lymphoid organs. We show that lymphocyte trafficking is altered by the lysophospholipid sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and by a phosphoryl metabolite of the immunosuppressive agent FTY720. Both species were high-affinity agonists of at least four of the five S1P receptors. These agonists produce lymphopenia in blood and thoracic duct lymph by sequestration of lymphocytes in lymph nodes, but not spleen. S1P receptor agonists induced emptying of lymphoid sinuses by retention of lymphocytes on the abluminal side of sinus-lining endothelium and inhibition of egress into lymph. Inhibition of lymphocyte recirculation by activation of S1P receptors may result in therapeutically useful immunosuppression.

ELO2 and ELO3 were identified from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome data base as homologues of ELO1, a gene involved in the elongation of the fatty acid 14:0 to 16:0. Mutations in these genes have previously been shown to produce pleiotropic effects involving a number of membrane functions. The simultaneous disruption of ELO2 and ELO3 has also been shown to produce synthetic lethality, indicating that they have related and/or overlapping functions. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy analyses reveal that null mutations of ELO2 and ELO3 produce defects in the formation of very long chain fatty acids. Analysis of the null mutants indicates that these genes encode components of the membrane-bound fatty acid elongation systems that produce the 26-carbon very long chain fatty acids that are precursors for ceramide and sphingolipids. Elo2p appears to be involved in the elongation of fatty acids up to 24 carbons. It appears to have the highest affinity for substrates with chain lengths less than 22 carbons. Elo3p apparently has a broader substrate specificity and is essential for the conversion of 24-carbon acids to 26-carbon species. Disruption of either gene reduces cellular sphingolipid levels and results in the accumulation of the long chain base, phytosphingosine. Null mutations in ELO3 result in accumulation of labeled precursors into inositol phosphoceramide, with little labeling in the more complex mannosylated sphingolipids, whereas disruption of ELO2 results in reduced levels of all sphingolipids.In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sphingolipids comprise approximately 10% of the total membrane lipid species (1). The hydrophobic moiety of these lipids is ceramide, which consists of a long chain base coupled to a very long chain fatty acid that is almost exclusively 26:0 1 or hydroxy 26:0 (2). Although sphingolipids are relatively minor membrane lipid species, they are highly concentrated on the plasma membrane and appear to be essential for a number of critical membrane and cellular functions (3-5). Inhibition of sphingolipid biosynthesis results in growth inhibition and cell death (6, 7). Ceramide has also been implicated as a component of an essential cell signaling pathways in Saccharomyces (8).In wild type cells, most fatty acids are 12-18-carbon species that are found in glycerolipids. Those species appear to be formed de novo by the well characterized soluble cytoplasmic fatty acid synthase complex. The very long chain (20ϩ carbon) fatty acids found in sphingolipids, however, are formed by membrane-bound fatty acid elongation systems that are not well characterized. These enzyme systems extend 14 -18-carbon fatty acids by 2-carbon units by a sequence of reactions similar to those catalyzed by fatty acid synthases, with the exception of one reduction step, which in mammalian cells appears to be mediated by cytochrome b 5 (9).We recently identified a gene (ELO1) that encodes a membrane protein involved in the elongation of 14:0 to 16:0 (10). Comparison of the amino acid sequen...

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a lipid signaling molecule that regulates many cellular functions, is synthesized from sphingosine and ATP by the action of sphingosine kinase. Two such kinases have been identified, SPHK1 and SPHK2. To begin to investigate the physiological functions of sphingosine kinase and S1P signaling, we generated mice deficient in SPHK1. Sphk1 null mice were viable, fertile, and without any obvious abnormalities. Total SPHK activity in most Sphk1؊/؊ tissues was substantially, but not completely, reduced indicating the presence of multiple sphingosine kinases. S1P levels in most tissues from the Sphk1؊/؊ mice were not markedly decreased. In serum, however, there was a significant decrease in the S1P level. Although S1P signaling regulates lymphocyte trafficking, lymphocyte distribution was unaffected in lymphoid organs of Sphk1؊/؊ mice. The immunosuppressant FTY720 was phosphorylated and elicited lymphopenia in the Sphk1 null mice showing that SPHK1 is not required for the functional activation of this sphingosine analogue prodrug. The results with these Sphk1 null mice reveal that some key physiologic processes that require S1P receptor signaling, such as vascular development and proper lymphocyte distribution, can occur in the absence of SPHK1.Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) 1 is a signaling molecule that influences cellular functions including proliferation, survival, migration, adhesion molecule expression, and morphogenesis (1-4). S1P binds to members of the S1P receptor family (also known as EDG receptors) and, via G proteins, triggers multiple signaling pathways (5, 6). S1P has also been shown to function intracellularly mediating calcium homeostasis, cell growth, and suppression of apoptosis (7,8). In mammals, vascular development and lymphocyte trafficking are dependent on S1P receptor signaling (9 -13).Sphingosine kinase (SPHK) catalyzes the synthesis of S1P via the phosphorylation of sphingosine. SPHK activity is elevated by several stimuli, including platelet-derived growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, tumor necrosis factor-␣, and phorbol ester, which trigger an increase in cellular S1P levels (14). Sphk genes have been identified in mammals (15-18), insects (19), plants (20), yeast (21), worm (22), and slime mold (23, 24). Mammals carry two known SphK genes, which in mice are encoded by Sphk1 and Sphk2. The two enzymes contain five highly conserved regions (C1-C5) and an ATP binding site within a conserved lipid kinase catalytic domain (15, 16). SPHK1 has a predominantly cytoplasm localization but can be induced to localize to the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. Interestingly in endothelial cells SPHK1 is secreted and is capable of producing S1P extracellularly (25). Sphk1 shows a tissue distribution and developmental expression pattern different from Sphk2, although both enzymes are widely expressed (16,26).The importance of S1P receptor signaling in lymphocyte trafficking was first illuminated by the activities of FTY720, a potent immunosuppressive agent. FT...

S1P 1 is a widely distributed G protein-coupled receptor whose ligand, sphingosine 1-phosphate, is present in high concentrations in the blood. The sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor-signaling pathway is believed to have potent effects on cell trafficking in the immune system. To determine the precise role of the S1P 1 receptor on T-cells, we established a T-cell-specific S1P 1 knock-out mouse. The mutant mice showed a block in the egress of mature T-cells into the periphery. The expression of the S1P 1 receptor was up-regulated in mature thymocytes, and its deletion altered the chemotactic responses of thymocytes to sphingosine 1-phosphate. The results indicated that the expression of the S1P 1 receptor on T-cells controls their exit from the thymus and entry into the blood and, thus, has a central role in regulating the numbers of peripheral T-cells.Sphingolipids are important signaling molecules in a variety of biologic contexts (1-3). Sphingosine 1-phosphate, in one paradigm, binds to members of a family of G protein-coupled receptors (S1P 1-15 ) triggering diverse effects including proliferation, survival, migration, morphogenesis, adhesion molecule expression, and cytoskeletal changes (4 -8).S1P 1 /Edg 1 , the first of these receptors described (9, 10), couples to a G i pathway. During embryonic development, the S1P 1 receptor is highly expressed in the vascular system. Gene disruption in mice has demonstrated an essential function of the S1P 1 receptor in endothelial cells for the formation of a stable vascular network (11,12).The S1P 1 receptor is widely expressed in the adult, in particular in endothelial cells, the brain, and the heart, and also in the cells of the immune system (13, 14). S1P 1 and S1P 4 receptors have been detected in T-lymphocytes (15-17). Stimulation of receptor signaling has been found to mediate and regulate cell migration and suppress proliferation and cytokine production (17, 18). Recently, S1P 1 receptors have also been implicated in lymphocyte trafficking and homing as the result of studies using FTY720, a potent immunosuppressive agent. FTY720, a sphingosine analogue, is phosphorylated by sphingosine kinase type I and more efficiently by sphingosine kinase type II (19 -21) and functions as an agonist ligand for S1P 1 , S1P 3 , S1P 4 , and S1P 5 receptors (19,22). FTY720 causes lymphopenia through sequestration of circulating lymphocytes within lymph nodes and Peyer's patches (19,(22)(23)(24) and also blocks the egress of T-cells from the thymus (25, 26). However, it is not known at which S1P receptor and cell type FTY720 exerts its effects.To begin to address the physiologic function of the S1P 1 receptor and sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling in T-cells, we have generated a T-cell-specific mouse knock-out of the S1P 1 receptor using the Cre/loxP system. Our results with these mice reveal a crucial role for the S1P 1 receptor in the egress of mature T-cells from the thymus into the circulation. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURESGeneration of the S1P 1 loxP/loxP Lck-Cre Mice-We previously g...

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lysolipid with pleiotropic functions mediated through a family of G proteincoupled receptors, S1P 1,2,3,4,5 . Physiological effects of S1P receptor agonists include regulation of cardiovascular function and immunosuppression via redistribution of lymphocytes from blood to secondary lymphoid organs. The phosphorylated metabolite of the immunosuppressant agent FTY720 (2-amino-2-(2-[4-octylphenyl]ethyl)-1,3-propanediol) and other phosphonate analogs with differential receptor selectivity were investigated. No significant species differences in compound potency or rank order of activity on receptors cloned from human, murine, and rat sources were observed. All synthetic analogs were high-affinity agonists on S1P 1 , with IC 50 values for ligand binding between 0.3 and 14 nM. The correlation between S1P 1 receptor activation and the ED 50 for lymphocyte reduction was highly significant (p Ͻ 0.001) and lower for the other receptors. In contrast to S1P 1 -mediated effects on lymphocyte recirculation, three lines of evidence link S1P 3 receptor activity with acute toxicity and cardiovascular regulation: compound potency on S1P 3 correlated with toxicity and bradycardia; the shift in potency of phosphorylated-FTY720 for inducing lymphopenia versus bradycardia and hypertension was consistent with affinity for S1P 1 relative to S1P 3 ; and toxicity, bradycardia, and hypertension were absent in S1P 3 Ϫ/Ϫ mice. Blood pressure effects of agonists in anesthetized rats were complex, whereas hypertension was the predominant effect in conscious rats and mice. Immunolocalization of S1P 3 in rodent heart revealed abundant expression on myocytes and perivascular smooth muscle cells consistent with regulation of bradycardia and hypertension, whereas S1P 1 expression was restricted to the vascular endothelium.