Immunomodulatory lysophosphatidylserines are regulated by ABHD16A and ABHD12 interplay

Nat Chem Biol. 2015 Feb;11(2):164-71. doi: 10.1038/nchembio.1721. Epub 2015 Jan 12.

Abstract

Lysophosphatidylserines (lyso-PSs) are a class of signaling lipids that regulate immunological and neurological processes. The metabolism of lyso-PSs remains poorly understood in vivo. Recently, we determined that ABHD12 is a major brain lyso-PS lipase, implicating lyso-PSs in the neurological disease polyneuropathy, hearing loss, ataxia, retinitis pigmentosa and cataract (PHARC), which is caused by null mutations in the ABHD12 gene. Here, we couple activity-based profiling with pharmacological and genetic methods to annotate the poorly characterized enzyme ABHD16A as a phosphatidylserine (PS) lipase that generates lyso-PS in mammalian systems. We describe a small-molecule inhibitor of ABHD16A that depletes lyso-PSs from cells, including lymphoblasts derived from subjects with PHARC. In mouse macrophages, disruption of ABHD12 and ABHD16A respectively increases and decreases both lyso-PSs and lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine production. Finally, Abhd16a(-/-) mice have decreased brain lyso-PSs, which runs counter to the elevation in lyso-PS in Abhd12(-/-) mice. Our findings illuminate an ABHD16A-ABHD12 axis that dynamically regulates lyso-PS metabolism in vivo, designating these enzymes as potential targets for treating neuroimmunological disorders.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / enzymology
  • Brain / immunology
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / immunology
  • Immunologic Factors / metabolism*
  • Lysophospholipids / immunology
  • Lysophospholipids / metabolism*
  • Macrophages / enzymology
  • Macrophages / immunology
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases / genetics*
  • Mutation
  • Phospholipases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Phospholipases / genetics*

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Lysophospholipids
  • lysophosphatidylserine
  • Phospholipases
  • ABHD16A protein, mouse
  • Abhd12 protein, mouse
  • Monoacylglycerol Lipases