Plasmodium falciparum growth is regulated by Sphingosine 1 phosphate produced by Host Erythrocyte Membrane Sphingosine kinase 1

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) a bioactive lipid is produced in its primary reservoir, erythrocytes by an enzyme Sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK-1). The activation of such kinases and the subsequent S1P generation and secretion in the blood serum represent a major regulator of many cellular signaling cascades. Orthologue of sphingosine kinases 1 and 2 (SphK-1 and 2) that catalyze the phosphorylation of sphingosine generating S1P are not present in malaria parasite. The malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is an intracellular obligatory organism that reside in the human erythrocyte during its blood stage life cycle and orchestrates many metabolic interactions with host for its survival. Given the regulatory role of S1P, we targeted host SphK-1 by a generic pharmacological inhibitor N,N-Dimethyl-sphingosine (DMS) and analyzed growth of intra-erythrocytic parasite. We found that reducing S1P levels by inhibiting host SphK-1 activity led to halted parasite growth and ultimately cell death. Reduced intracellular S1P levels were attributed to decreased glycolysis marked by the low uptake of glucose by parasite and by less production of lactate, a byproduct of glycolysis. Reduced glycolysis was mediated by decrease translocation of the glycolytic enzyme, Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) to the cytosol of infected erythrocytes and cell death. Knocking down of erythrocyte SphK-1 is not lethal to the host and being a host encoded enzyme, targeting it with safe and specific drugs will not lead to the problem of resistance; thus, SphK-1 represents a potent target for the development of therapeutics against intra-erythrocytic P. falciparum.\n\nAuthor SummaryErythrocytes membrane enzyme Sphingosine kinase-1 (SphK-1) produces Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) a bioactive lipid by phosphorylation of Sphingosine (Sph). S1P generated by activation of SphK is prosurvival signal and regulate cell growth. The malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, is an intracellular obligatory pathogen that reside in erythrocyte during its blood stage life cycle and orchestrates many metabolic interactions with its host erythrocytes for survival. Orthologue of SphK-1/ 2 are not present in malaria parasite, therefore treatment with SphK inhibitor targeted host SphK-1 and led to reduced S1P level. The reduction in host S1P led to halted parasite growth and cell death. Furthermore, reduced erythrocyte S1P levels led to decreased glycolysis marked by the low uptake of glucose by parasite and by less production of lactate. Erythrocyte SphK-1 being a host encoded enzyme, is resistance safe and represents a potent target for the development of therapeutics against intra-erythrocytic P. falciparum.