Role of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P) Receptor 1 in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis —II

Therapeutic administration of fingolimod hydrochloride (FTY720), the functional antagonist at sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor 1 (S1P1) shows a marked improving effect on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) induced by myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) in C57BL/6 mice. However, this treatment showed an only partial inhibition of Th1/Th17 cell infiltration into the central nervous system (CNS), suggesting that down-regulation of lymphocytic S1P1 is insufficient to explain the therapeutic effect of FTY720 on EAE. On the other hand, the therapeutic administration of FTY720 reduced the mRNA expressions of IL-6, CCL2, and glial fibrillary acidic protein, an activation marker of astrocytes, in the CNS of EAE mice. In human astrocytic glyoma, U373MG cells, mRNA expression of S1P1 was higher as compared with those of the other S1P receptor subtypes and phosphorylation of Akt was induced by S1P, FTY720-phosphate (FTY720-P), or an S1P1-selective agonist, SEW2871. FTY720-P appeared to induce down-regulation of S1P1 in U373MG cells, implying a functional antagonism at S1P1 on astrocytes. S1P but not FTY720-P induced production of IL-6, IL-8, and CCL2 significantly and treatment with FTY720-P or SEW2871 inhibited production of these pro-inflammatory cytokines from U373MG cells stimulated with S1P. These results suggest that S1P-S1P1 axis induces production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by astrocytes. Consequently, it is highly probable that the therapeutic effects of FTY720 on EAE are caused by inhibiting not only egress of myelin-specific Th cells from the draining lymph nodes but also activation of astrocytes in the CNS.

Role of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P) Receptor 1 in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis —I

Infiltration of myelin-specific helper T (Th) cells into the central nervous system (CNS) plays a key role in pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). In this study, we investigated the involvement of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P)-S1P receptor 1 (S1P1) axis in lymphocytes for EAE development when C57BL/6 mice were immunized with myelin oliogodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG). The expression of S1P1 mRNA and S1P responsiveness of lymphocytes in draining lymph nodes (DLN) were down-regulated markedly after MOG immunization until onset of EAE. Accompanying with reacquisition of down-regulated S1P1 transcript and S1P responsiveness in DLN lymphocytes, MOG-immunized mice developed EAE symptoms with significant infiltration of Th1 and Th17 cells into the CNS and a marked elevation of IFN-γ, T-bet, IL-17, and RORγt mRNA expressions. Prophylactic administration of an S1P1 functional antagonist, fingolimod hydrochloride (FTY720, 0.3 mg/kg, orally) significantly inhibited EAE development and almost completely prevented infiltration of Th1 and Th17 cells into the CNS with a marked reduction of IFN-γ, T-bet, IL-17, and RORγt mRNA expressions. Similar results were obtained by treatment with an S1P1-selective agonist, SEW2871 or an S1P lyase inhibitor, 2-acetyl-4-tetrahydroxybutylimidazole. Moreover, FTY720-phosphate and SEW2871 inhibited in vitro migration of Th1 and Th17 cells toward S1P but did not affect cytokine production or generation of Th1 or Th17 cells. These results suggest that reacquisition of S1P1 expression in DLN lymphocytes plays a major role in trafficking of myelin antigen-specific Th1/Th17 cells from DLN to the CNS in EAE and that prophylactic effect of FTY720 on EAE is predominantly caused by functional antagonism via lymphocytic S1P1.

Role of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor Type 1 in Lymphocyte Egress from Secondary Lymphoid Tissues and Thymus

Circulation of mature lymphocytes between blood and secondary lymphoid tissues plays a central role in the immune system. Homing of lymphocytes from blood into secondary lymphoid tissues beyond high endothelial venules is highly dependent on the interaction between the chemokines CCL19, CCL21, CXCL12, and CXCL13, and their receptors CCR7, CXCR4 and CXCR5. However, the molecular mechanism（s） of lymphocyte egress from secondary lymphoid tissues to lymph remained unclear. We have found a new class of immunomodulator, FTY720 by chemical modification of vegetative wasp-derived natural product, ISP-I （myriocin）. FTY720 has been shown to be highly effective in experimental allograft and autoimmune disease models. A striking feature of FTY720 is the induction of a marked decrease in peripheral blood lymphocytes at doses that show immunomodulating activity in these models. The reduction of circulating lymphocytes by FTY720 is caused by sequestration of lymphocytes into secondary lymphoid tissues and thymus. FTY720 is rapidly converted to （S）-enantiomer of FTY720-phosphate [（S）-FTY720-P] by sphingosine kinase 2 in vivo. （S）-FTY720-P acting as a potent agonist of S1P receptor type 1 （S1P1）, induces long-term down-regulation of S1P1 on lymphocytes, and thereby inhibits the migration of lymphocytes toward S1P. Thus, it is presumed that FTY720-induced lymphocyte sequestration is due to the inhibition of S1P/S1P1-dependent lymphocyte egress from secondary lymphoid tissues and thymus by its active metabolite （S）-FTY720-P. Throughout the analysis of the mechanism of action of FTY720, it is clarified that S1P/S1P1 interaction plays an important role for lymphocyte egress from secondary lymphoid tissues and thymus.

FTY720,Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor Modulator,Ameliorates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis by Inhibition of T Cell Infiltration

FTY720, a sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor modulator, induces a marked decrease in the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes and exerts immunomodulating activity in various experimental allograft and autoimmune disease models. In this study, we evaluated the effect of FTY720 and its active metabolite, （S）-enantiomer of FTY720-phosphate [（S）-FTY720-P] on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis （EAE） in rats and mice. Prophylactic administration of FTY720 at 0.1 to 1 mg/kg almost completely prevented the development of EAE, and therapeutic treatment with FTY720 significantly inhibited the progression of EAE and EAE-associated histological change in the spinal cords of LEW rats induced by immunization with myelin basic protein. Consistent with rat EAE, the development of proteolipid protein-induced EAE in SJL/J mice was almost completely prevented and infiltration of CD4^＋ T cells into spinal cord was decreased by prophylactic treatment with FTY720 and （S）-FTY720-P. When FTY720 or （S）-FTY720-P was given after establishment of EAE in SJL/J mice, the relapse of EAE was markedly inhibited as compared with interferon-β, and the area of demyelination and the infiltration of CD4^＋ T cells were decreased in spinal cords of EAE mice. Similar therapeutic effect by FTY720 was obtained in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein-induced EAE in C57BL/6 mice. These results indicate that FTY720 exhibits not only a prophylactic but also a therapeutic effect on EAE in rats and mice, and that the effect of FTY720 on EAE appears to be due to a reduction of the infiltration of myelin antigen-specific CD4^＋ T cells into the inflammation site. Cellular ＆ Molecular Immunology. 2005;2（6）：439-448.

Involvement of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate (S1P) Receptor Type 1 and Type 4 in Migratory Response of Mouse T Cells toward S1P

Sphingosine 1-phosphate （S1P）, a pleiotropic lysophospholipid, regulates signal transduction pathway via Gprotein-coupled receptors termed S1P1-5 in several types of the cells including lymphocytes. Higher levels of S1P4 mRNA as well as S1P1 mRNA are expressed in lymphoid tissues such as the spleen, thymus, lymph nodes, and Payer＇s patches. In contrast to S1P1 that plays an essential role in lymphocyte egress, little is known about the role of S1P4 in immune system. In this study, we found that S1P at 10 to 100 nM significantly induced the cell migration and the significant levels of S1P1 and S1P4 mRNA were expressed in mouse CD4 T cells, D10.G4.1 mouse Th2 cells, and EL-4.IL-2 mouse thymoma cells. In D10.G4.1 and EL-4.IL-2 cells, S1P-induced migration was almost completely inhibited by pretreatment with pertussis toxin, Clostoridium difficile toxin B, and （S）-enantiomer of FTY720-phosphate, a potent agonist at S1P1 and S1P4. The members of the Rho family small GTPase, Cdc42 and Rac were activated by S1P stimulation in these cells. The transfection with dominant negative or constitutively active forms of Cdc42 and Rac revealed that the activation of both Cdc42 and Rac is essential for S1P-induced migration of these cells. The immunoprecipitation assays using CHO cells co-expressing both S1P4 and S1P1 receptors indicated that S1P4 and S1P1 are associated on the cell surface. These results suggest that the association of S1P4 and S1PI plays an important role in migratory response of mouse T cells toward S1P.