FTY720P Upregulates the Na+/K+ ATPase in HepG2 Cells by Activating S1PR3 and Inducing PGE2 Release.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Liver regeneration is induced by S1P and accompanied with an increase in hepatic Na/K ATPase activity, suggesting a potential modulatory role of the sphingolipid on the ATPase activity. The ability of S1P to alter the ATPase activity was confirmed in a previous work which showed a time dependent effect, with an inhibition appearing at 15min and a stimulation at two hours. The aim of this work was to investigate if FTY720-P, an analogue of S1P used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis, exerts a similar effect at 2 hours.

METHODS

HepG2 cells were treated with FTY720-P for two hours and the activity of the Na/K ATPase was assayed by measuring the amount of inorganic phosphate liberated in presence and absence of ouabain. The involvement of NF-κB in the pathway was investigated by determining changes in the protein expression of IκB.

RESULTS

FTY720-P induced a 2.5-fold increase in the activity of the Na/K ATPase which was maintained in the presence of JTE-013, a specific blocker of S1PR2, but disappeared completely in presence of CAY 10444, a specific S1PR3 antagonist. The involvement of S1PR3 was supported by the stimulation observed with Cym5541, a S1PR3 agonist. FTY720-P increased the expression of COX2, and reduced that of IκB. Its effect was not manifested in presence of indomethacin, a COX inhibitor, or in presence of an NF-κB inhibitor. Exogenous PGE2 induced a significant stimulatory effect. Inhibiting PKC and ERK with respectively calphostin C and PD98059 abolished the effect of FTY720-P on the ATPase and on IκB, but not that of exogenous PGE2 indicating that the two kinases are upstream of NF-κB and PGE2. The PKC activator PMA increased the activity of the Na/K ATPase as well as the expression of phopho-ERK, inferring that PKC is upstream of ERK.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that FTY720-P stimulates the Na/K ATPase via PGE2 by activating sequentially S1PR3, PKC, ERK, NF-κB. The latter enhances COX-2 expression leading to PGE2 release.