Very-long-chain fatty acids induce glial-derived sphingosine-1-phosphate synthesis, secretion, and neuroinflammation

Hyung lok Chung, Qi Ye, Ye Jin Park, Zhongyuan Zuo, Jung Wan Mok, Oguz Kanca, Sudhir Gopal Tattikota, Shenzhao Lu, Nobert Perrimon, Hyun Kyoung Lee, Hugo J. Bellen

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    16 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    VLCFAs (very-long-chain fatty acids) are the most abundant fatty acids in myelin. Hence, during demyelination or aging, glia are exposed to higher levels of VLCFA than normal. We report that glia convert these VLCFA into sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) via a glial-specific S1P pathway. Excess S1P causes neuroinflammation, NF-κB activation, and macrophage infiltration into the CNS. Suppressing the function of S1P in fly glia or neurons, or administration of Fingolimod, an S1P receptor antagonist, strongly attenuates the phenotypes caused by excess VLCFAs. In contrast, elevating the VLCFA levels in glia and immune cells exacerbates these phenotypes. Elevated VLCFA and S1P are also toxic in vertebrates based on a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Indeed, reducing VLCFA with bezafibrate ameliorates the phenotypes. Moreover, simultaneous use of bezafibrate and fingolimod synergizes to improve EAE, suggesting that lowering VLCFA and S1P is a treatment avenue for MS.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)855-874.e5
    JournalCell Metabolism
    Volume35
    Issue number5
    DOIs
    StatePublished - May 2 2023

    Keywords

    • fingolimod
    • lipid metabolism
    • multiple sclerosis
    • myelin lipid
    • neurodegeneration
    • neuroinflammation
    • NF-κB activation
    • sphingolipid
    • sphingosine 1-phosphate
    • VLCFA β-oxidation
    • Fatty Acids
    • Neuroinflammatory Diseases
    • Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental/drug therapy
    • Neuroglia/metabolism
    • Multiple Sclerosis
    • Animals
    • Bezafibrate
    • Fingolimod Hydrochloride/pharmacology
    • Mice
    • Immunosuppressive Agents/pharmacology
    • Propylene Glycols/pharmacology

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Molecular Biology
    • Physiology
    • Cell Biology

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