The role of reactive oxygen species and autophagy in safingol-induced cell death

Safingol is a sphingolipid with promising anticancer potential, which is currently in phase I clinical trial. Yet, the underlying mechanisms of its action remain largely unknown. We reported here that safingol-induced primarily accidental necrotic cell death in MDA-MB-231 and HT-29 cells, as shown by the increase in the percentage of cells stained positive for 7-aminoactinomycin D, collapse of mitochondria membrane potential and depletion of intracellular ATP. Importantly, safingol treatment produced time-and concentration-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Autophagy was triggered following safingol treatment, as reflected by the formation of autophagosomes, acidic vacuoles, increased light chain 3-II and Atg biomarkers expression. Interestingly, scavenging ROS with N-acetyl-L-cysteine could prevent the autophagic features and reverse safingol-induced necrosis. Our data also suggested that autophagy was a cell repair mechanism, as suppression of autophagy by 3-methyladenine or bafilomycin A1 significantly augmented cell death on 2-5 mu M safingol treatment. In addition, Bcl-xL and Bax might be involved in the regulation of safingol-induced autophagy. Finally, glucose uptake was shown to be inhibited by safingol treatment, which was associated with an increase in p-AMPK expression. Taken together, our data suggested that ROS was the mediator of safingol-induced cancer cell death, and autophagy is likely to be a mechanism triggered to repair damages from ROS generation on safingol treatment. Cell Death and Disease (2011) 2, e129; doi: 10.1038/cddis.2011.12; published online 10 March 2011