1. Academic Validation
  2. The role of Sphingomyelin synthase 2 (SMS2) in platelet activation and its clinical significance

The role of Sphingomyelin synthase 2 (SMS2) in platelet activation and its clinical significance

  • Thromb J. 2021 Apr 28;19(1):27. doi: 10.1186/s12959-021-00282-x.
Yifan Guo  # 1 Lin Chang  # 2 Ge Zhang  # 2 Zhanyan Gao 3 Hao Lin 3 Yuting Zhang 3 Liang Hu 4 She Chen 2 Bing Fan 5 Si Zhang 6 Ruyi Xue 7
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
  • 2 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugates Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
  • 3 Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China.
  • 4 Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Cardiovascular Institute of Zhengzhou University, 450052, Zhengzhou, China.
  • 5 Department of Cardiology, Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China. [email protected].
  • 6 Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, NHC Key Laboratory of Glycoconjugates Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China. [email protected].
  • 7 Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Shanghai Institute of Liver Diseases, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, 200032, Shanghai, China. [email protected].
  • # Contributed equally.
Abstract

Background: Sphingomyelin (SM) is an essential component of biological lipid rafts, and it plays an indispensable role in maintaining plasma membrane stability and in mediating signal transduction. The ultimate biosynthesis of SM is catalyzed by two sphingomyelin synthases (SMSs) namely SMS1 and SMS2, which are selectively distributed in the trans-Golgi apparatus and the plasma membrane. It has been demonstrated that SMS2 acts as an irreplaceable molecule in the regulation of transmembrane signaling, and loss of SMS2 has been reported to worsen atherosclerosis and liver steatosis. However, the function of SMS2 in platelet activation and its association with the pathological process of thrombosis in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and portal hypertension (PH) remain unclear.

Methods: In this study, we tested the role of SMS2 in platelet activation and thrombosis using SMS2 knockout (SMS2 -/-) mice and SMS2-specific inhibitor, D609. Furthermore, we detected SMS2 expression in patients with ACS and PH.

Results: SMS2 -/- platelets showed significant reduction in platelet aggregation, spreading, clot retraction and in vivo thrombosis. Similar inhibitory effects on platelet activation were detected in D609-treated wild-type platelets. PLCγ/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was inhibited in SMS2 -/- platelets and D609-treated wild-type platelets. In addition, we discovered that platelet SMS2 expression was remarkably increased in patients with ACS and PH, compared with healthy subjects.

Conclusions: Our study indicates that SMS2 acts as a positive regulator of platelet activation and thrombosis, and provides a theoretical basis for the potential use of D609 in anti-thrombosis treatment.

Keywords

D609; Platelet; SMS2; Thrombosis.

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