Affiliation:
1. Centre for Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, India
Abstract
Acid ceramidase (AC), the key enzyme of the ceramide metabolic pathway, hydrolyzes
pro-apoptotic ceramide to sphingosine, which is metabolized to mitogenic sphingosine-1-phosphate
by the action of sphingosine-1-kinase. The intracellular level of AC determines ceramide/
sphingosine-1-phosphate rheostat, which in turn decides the cell fate. The upregulated AC
expression during cancerous condition acts as a “double-edged sword” by converting pro-apoptotic
ceramide to anti-apoptotic sphingosine-1-phosphate, wherein on one end, the level of ceramide is
decreased, and on the other end, the level of sphingosine-1-phosphate is increased, thus altogether
aggravating the cancer progression. In addition, cancer cells with upregulated AC expression exhibited
increased cell proliferation, metastasis, chemoresistance, radioresistance and numerous
strategies were developed in the past to effectively target the enzyme. Gene silencing and pharmacological
inhibition of AC sensitized the resistant cells to chemo/radiotherapy, thereby promoting
cell death. The core objective of this review is to explore AC mediated tumour progression and the
potential role of AC inhibitors in various cancer cell lines/models.
Funder
University Grant Commission
Publisher
Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Subject
Cancer Research,Drug Discovery,Pharmacology,Oncology