Targeting acid ceramidase enhances antitumor immune response in colorectal cancer

Introduction: Acid ceramidase (hereafter referred as ASAH1) is an enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism that converts pro-survival ceramide into sphingosine. ASAH1 has been shown to be overexpressed in certain cancers. However, the role of ASAH1 in colorectal cancer still remain elusive. Objective: The...

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Main Authors: Yadu Vijayan, Shirley James, Arun Viswanathan, Jayasekharan S Aparna, Anu Bindu, Narayanan N Namitha, Devasena Anantharaman, Manendra Babu Lankadasari, Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2024-11-01
Series:Journal of Advanced Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123223004034
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author Yadu Vijayan
Shirley James
Arun Viswanathan
Jayasekharan S Aparna
Anu Bindu
Narayanan N Namitha
Devasena Anantharaman
Manendra Babu Lankadasari
Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar
author_facet Yadu Vijayan
Shirley James
Arun Viswanathan
Jayasekharan S Aparna
Anu Bindu
Narayanan N Namitha
Devasena Anantharaman
Manendra Babu Lankadasari
Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar
author_sort Yadu Vijayan
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Acid ceramidase (hereafter referred as ASAH1) is an enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism that converts pro-survival ceramide into sphingosine. ASAH1 has been shown to be overexpressed in certain cancers. However, the role of ASAH1 in colorectal cancer still remain elusive. Objective: The present study is aimed to understand how ASAH1 regulates colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and resistance to checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Methods: Both pharmacological and genetic silencing of ASAH1 was used in the study. In vitro experiments were done on human and mouse CRC cell lines. The in vivo studies were conducted in NOD-SCID and BALB/c mice models. The combination of ASAH1 inhibitor and checkpoint inhibitor was tested using a syngeneic tumor model of CRC. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were done to understand the effect of ASAH1 silencing. Results: ASAH1 is overexpressed in human CRC cases, and silencing the expression resulted in the induction of immunological cell death (ICD) and mitochondrial stress. The ASAH1 inhibitor (LCL-521), either as monotherapy or in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody, resulted in reduction of tumors and, through induction of type I and II interferon response, activation of M1 macrophages and T cells, leading to enhanced infiltration of cytotoxic T cells. Our findings supported that the combination of LCL-521 and ICIs, which enhances the antitumor responses, and ASAH1 can be a druggable target in CRC.
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spelling doaj-art-0274c0ff37994f16b9fa25e23243d6ff2025-08-20T01:48:03ZengElsevierJournal of Advanced Research2090-12322024-11-0165738710.1016/j.jare.2023.12.013Targeting acid ceramidase enhances antitumor immune response in colorectal cancerYadu Vijayan0Shirley James1Arun Viswanathan2Jayasekharan S Aparna3Anu Bindu4Narayanan N Namitha5Devasena Anantharaman6Manendra Babu Lankadasari7Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar8Cancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, 576104, IndiaCancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, IndiaCancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India; Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal, 576104, IndiaCancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, IndiaCancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, IndiaCancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, IndiaCancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, IndiaCancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, IndiaCancer Research Program, Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology (RGCB), Thiruvananthapuram, 695014, India; Corresponding author.Introduction: Acid ceramidase (hereafter referred as ASAH1) is an enzyme in sphingolipid metabolism that converts pro-survival ceramide into sphingosine. ASAH1 has been shown to be overexpressed in certain cancers. However, the role of ASAH1 in colorectal cancer still remain elusive. Objective: The present study is aimed to understand how ASAH1 regulates colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and resistance to checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Methods: Both pharmacological and genetic silencing of ASAH1 was used in the study. In vitro experiments were done on human and mouse CRC cell lines. The in vivo studies were conducted in NOD-SCID and BALB/c mice models. The combination of ASAH1 inhibitor and checkpoint inhibitor was tested using a syngeneic tumor model of CRC. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were done to understand the effect of ASAH1 silencing. Results: ASAH1 is overexpressed in human CRC cases, and silencing the expression resulted in the induction of immunological cell death (ICD) and mitochondrial stress. The ASAH1 inhibitor (LCL-521), either as monotherapy or in combination with an anti-PD-1 antibody, resulted in reduction of tumors and, through induction of type I and II interferon response, activation of M1 macrophages and T cells, leading to enhanced infiltration of cytotoxic T cells. Our findings supported that the combination of LCL-521 and ICIs, which enhances the antitumor responses, and ASAH1 can be a druggable target in CRC.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123223004034Colorectal cancerAcid ceramidaseLCL-521Checkpoint inhibitorImmunological cell deathT cells
spellingShingle Yadu Vijayan
Shirley James
Arun Viswanathan
Jayasekharan S Aparna
Anu Bindu
Narayanan N Namitha
Devasena Anantharaman
Manendra Babu Lankadasari
Kuzhuvelil B Harikumar
Targeting acid ceramidase enhances antitumor immune response in colorectal cancer
Journal of Advanced Research
Colorectal cancer
Acid ceramidase
LCL-521
Checkpoint inhibitor
Immunological cell death
T cells
title Targeting acid ceramidase enhances antitumor immune response in colorectal cancer
title_full Targeting acid ceramidase enhances antitumor immune response in colorectal cancer
title_fullStr Targeting acid ceramidase enhances antitumor immune response in colorectal cancer
title_full_unstemmed Targeting acid ceramidase enhances antitumor immune response in colorectal cancer
title_short Targeting acid ceramidase enhances antitumor immune response in colorectal cancer
title_sort targeting acid ceramidase enhances antitumor immune response in colorectal cancer
topic Colorectal cancer
Acid ceramidase
LCL-521
Checkpoint inhibitor
Immunological cell death
T cells
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2090123223004034
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