@article{SchneiderSchauliesSchumacherWiggeretal.2021,
  author    = {Schneider-Schaulies, Sibylle and Schumacher, Fabian and Wigger, Dominik and Sch{\"o}l, Marie and Waghmare, Trushnal and Schlegel, Jan and Seibel, J{\"u}rgen and Kleuser, Burkhard},
  title     = {Sphingolipids: effectors and Achilles heals in viral infections?},
  series = {Cells},
  volume    = {10},
  journal   = {Cells},
  number    = {9},
  issn      = {2073-4409},
  doi       = {10.3390/cells10092175},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-245151},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {As viruses are obligatory intracellular parasites, any step during their life cycle strictly depends on successful interaction with their particular host cells. In particular, their interaction with cellular membranes is of crucial importance for most steps in the viral replication cycle. Such interactions are initiated by uptake of viral particles and subsequent trafficking to intracellular compartments to access their replication compartments which provide a spatially confined environment concentrating viral and cellular components, and subsequently, employ cellular membranes for assembly and exit of viral progeny. The ability of viruses to actively modulate lipid composition such as sphingolipids (SLs) is essential for successful completion of the viral life cycle. In addition to their structural and biophysical properties of cellular membranes, some sphingolipid (SL) species are bioactive and as such, take part in cellular signaling processes involved in regulating viral replication. It is especially due to the progress made in tools to study accumulation and dynamics of SLs, which visualize their compartmentalization and identify interaction partners at a cellular level, as well as the availability of genetic knockout systems, that the role of particular SL species in the viral replication process can be analyzed and, most importantly, be explored as targets for therapeutic intervention.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{MaGulbinsEdwardsetal.2017,
  author    = {Ma, Jie and Gulbins, Erich and Edwards, Michael J. and Caldwell, Charles C. and Fraunholz, Martin and Becker, Katrin Anne},
  title     = {Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin induces inflammatory cytokines via lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase and ceramides},
  series = {Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry},
  volume    = {43},
  journal   = {Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry},
  number    = {6},
  doi       = {10.1159/000484296},
  url       = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-181481},
  pages     = {2170-2184},
  year      = {2017},
  abstract  = {Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infections are a major clinical problem and range from mild skin and soft-tissue infections to severe and even lethal infections such as pneumonia, endocarditis, sepsis, osteomyelitis, and toxic shock syndrome. Toxins that are released from S. aureus mediate many of these effects. Here, we aimed to identify molecular mechanisms how α-toxin, a major S. aureus toxin, induces inflammation. Methods: Macrophages were isolated from the bone marrow of wildtype and acid sphingomyelinase-deficient mice, stimulated with S. aureus α-toxin and activation of the acid sphingomyelinase was quantified. The subcellular formation of ceramides was determined by confocal microscopy. Release of cathepsins from lysosomes, activation of inflammasome proteins and formation of Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) were analyzed by western blotting, confocal microscopy and ELISA. Results: We demonstrate that S. aureus α-toxin activates the acid sphingomyelinase in ex vivo macrophages and triggers a release of ceramides. Ceramides induced by S. aureus α-toxin localize to lysosomes and mediate a release of cathepsin B and D from lysosomes into the cytoplasm. Cytosolic cathepsin B forms a complex with Nlrc4. Treatment of macrophages with α-toxin induces the formation of IL-1β and TNF-α. These events are reduced or abrogated, respectively, in cells lacking the acid sphingomyelinase and upon treatment of macrophages with amitriptyline, a functional inhibitor of acid sphingomyelinase. Pharmacological inhibition of cathepsin B prevented activation of the inflammasome measured as release of IL-1β, while the formation of TNF-α was independent of cathepsin B. Conclusion: We demonstrate a novel mechanism how bacterial toxins activate the inflammasome and mediate the formation and release of cytokines: S. aureus α-toxin triggers an activation of the acid sphingomyelinase and a release of ceramides resulting in the release of lysosomal cathepsin B and formation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.},
  language  = {en}
}