Bisphosphonate inhibitors of squalene synthase protect cells against cholesterol-dependent cytolysins

Pospiech, Mateusz, Owens, Siân E., Miller, David J., Austin-Muttitt, Karl, Mullins, Jonathan G. L., Cronin, James G., Allemann, Rudolf K. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1323-8830 and Sheldon, I. Martin 2021. Bisphosphonate inhibitors of squalene synthase protect cells against cholesterol-dependent cytolysins. FASEB Journal 35 (6) , e21640. 10.1096/fj.202100164R

Preview

PDF - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial. Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract

Certain species of pathogenic bacteria damage tissues by secreting cholesterol-dependent cytolysins, which form pores in the plasma membranes of animal cells. However, reducing cholesterol protects cells against these cytolysins. As the first committed step of cholesterol biosynthesis is catalyzed by squalene synthase, we explored whether inhibiting this enzyme protected cells against cholesterol-dependent cytolysins. We first synthesized 22 different nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate molecules that were designed to inhibit squalene synthase. Squalene synthase inhibition was quantified using a cell-free enzyme assay, and validated by computer modeling of bisphosphonate molecules binding to squalene synthase. The bisphosphonates were then screened for their ability to protect HeLa cells against the damage caused by the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin, pyolysin. The most effective bisphosphonate reduced pyolysin-induced leakage of lactate dehydrogenase into cell supernatants by >80%, and reduced pyolysin-induced cytolysis from >75% to <25%. In addition, this bisphosphonate reduced pyolysin-induced leakage of potassium from cells, limited changes in the cytoskeleton, prevented mitogen-activated protein kinases cell stress responses, and reduced cellular cholesterol. The bisphosphonate also protected cells against another cholesterol-dependent cytolysin, streptolysin O, and protected lung epithelial cells and primary dermal fibroblasts against cytolysis. Our findings imply that treatment with bisphosphonates that inhibit squalene synthase might help protect tissues against pathogenic bacteria that secrete cholesterol-dependent cytolysins.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Chemistry
Publisher:	Federation of American Society of Experimental Biology (FASEB)
ISSN:	0892-6638
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	14 June 2021
Date of Acceptance:	19 April 2021
Last Modified:	05 May 2023 16:49
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/141887

Citation Data

Cited 2 times in Scopus. View in Scopus. Powered By Scopus® Data

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item