Significance of sphingosine kinase 1 expression in feline mammary tumors

Abstract Background Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) is an enzyme that converts pro-apoptotic ceramide and sphingosine into anti-apoptotic sphingosine-1-phosphate. There is growing evidence that SPHK1 activation promotes oncogenic transformation, tumor growth, chemotherapy resistance, and metastatic spr...

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Main Authors: Yi-Chih Chang, Hsiao-Li Chuang, Ji-Hang Yin, Jiunn-Wang Liao, Ter-Hsin Chen, Yu-Chih Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2019-05-01
Series:BMC Veterinary Research
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-019-1883-z
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author Yi-Chih Chang
Hsiao-Li Chuang
Ji-Hang Yin
Jiunn-Wang Liao
Ter-Hsin Chen
Yu-Chih Wang
author_facet Yi-Chih Chang
Hsiao-Li Chuang
Ji-Hang Yin
Jiunn-Wang Liao
Ter-Hsin Chen
Yu-Chih Wang
author_sort Yi-Chih Chang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) is an enzyme that converts pro-apoptotic ceramide and sphingosine into anti-apoptotic sphingosine-1-phosphate. There is growing evidence that SPHK1 activation promotes oncogenic transformation, tumor growth, chemotherapy resistance, and metastatic spread. High SPHK1 expression has been associated with a poor prognosis in several human cancers. Results In the present study, the expression level of SPHK1 was examined in feline mammary tumor (FMT) specimens, and the IHC expression level of SPHK1 was associated with the histological grade of FMTs. IHC analysis of 88 FMT cases revealed that the expression level of SPHK1 was upregulated in 53 tumor tissues (60.2%) compared to adjacent mammary tissues. SPHK1 expression in FMTs was significantly associated with histological grade, presence of lymphovascular invasion, and estrogen receptor negativity. Treatment of primary FMT cells with SPHK1 inhibitors reduced cell viability, indicating that SPHK1 acts to promote FMT cell survival. These results indicate that SPHK1 may play an important role in FMTs and may be a therapeutic target in cats with FMT. Conclusions SPHK1 over-expression in breast cancer tissues is associated with a poor prognosis in humans. SPHK1 over-expression in more aggressive FMTs provides support for a potential role of SPHK1 inhibitors for the treatment of FMTs. Targeting SPHK1 has potent cytotoxic effects in primary FMT cells. These findings suggest that further examination of the role SPHK1 plays in FMTs will pave the way for the investigation of SPHK1 inhibitors in future clinical applications.
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spelling doaj.art-8781cb7c538c4a70a27ee8d40bfa25972022-12-22T01:40:04ZengBMCBMC Veterinary Research1746-61482019-05-011511810.1186/s12917-019-1883-zSignificance of sphingosine kinase 1 expression in feline mammary tumorsYi-Chih Chang0Hsiao-Li Chuang1Ji-Hang Yin2Jiunn-Wang Liao3Ter-Hsin Chen4Yu-Chih Wang5Department of Biotechnology, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia UniversityNational Laboratory Animal Center, National Applied Research LaboratoriesGraduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, National Chung Hsing UniversityGraduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, National Chung Hsing UniversityGraduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, National Chung Hsing UniversityGraduate Institute of Veterinary Pathobiology, National Chung Hsing UniversityAbstract Background Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) is an enzyme that converts pro-apoptotic ceramide and sphingosine into anti-apoptotic sphingosine-1-phosphate. There is growing evidence that SPHK1 activation promotes oncogenic transformation, tumor growth, chemotherapy resistance, and metastatic spread. High SPHK1 expression has been associated with a poor prognosis in several human cancers. Results In the present study, the expression level of SPHK1 was examined in feline mammary tumor (FMT) specimens, and the IHC expression level of SPHK1 was associated with the histological grade of FMTs. IHC analysis of 88 FMT cases revealed that the expression level of SPHK1 was upregulated in 53 tumor tissues (60.2%) compared to adjacent mammary tissues. SPHK1 expression in FMTs was significantly associated with histological grade, presence of lymphovascular invasion, and estrogen receptor negativity. Treatment of primary FMT cells with SPHK1 inhibitors reduced cell viability, indicating that SPHK1 acts to promote FMT cell survival. These results indicate that SPHK1 may play an important role in FMTs and may be a therapeutic target in cats with FMT. Conclusions SPHK1 over-expression in breast cancer tissues is associated with a poor prognosis in humans. SPHK1 over-expression in more aggressive FMTs provides support for a potential role of SPHK1 inhibitors for the treatment of FMTs. Targeting SPHK1 has potent cytotoxic effects in primary FMT cells. These findings suggest that further examination of the role SPHK1 plays in FMTs will pave the way for the investigation of SPHK1 inhibitors in future clinical applications.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-019-1883-zFeline mammary tumorSPHK1 - comparative oncology
spellingShingle Yi-Chih Chang
Hsiao-Li Chuang
Ji-Hang Yin
Jiunn-Wang Liao
Ter-Hsin Chen
Yu-Chih Wang
Significance of sphingosine kinase 1 expression in feline mammary tumors
BMC Veterinary Research
Feline mammary tumor
SPHK1 - comparative oncology
title Significance of sphingosine kinase 1 expression in feline mammary tumors
title_full Significance of sphingosine kinase 1 expression in feline mammary tumors
title_fullStr Significance of sphingosine kinase 1 expression in feline mammary tumors
title_full_unstemmed Significance of sphingosine kinase 1 expression in feline mammary tumors
title_short Significance of sphingosine kinase 1 expression in feline mammary tumors
title_sort significance of sphingosine kinase 1 expression in feline mammary tumors
topic Feline mammary tumor
SPHK1 - comparative oncology
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-019-1883-z
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AT jiunnwangliao significanceofsphingosinekinase1expressioninfelinemammarytumors
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