A novel function of sphingosine kinase 1 suppression of JNK activity in preventing inflammation and injury.

The mechanism underlying the protective effect of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1) in inflammatory injury is not clear. We demonstrated using SphK1-null mice (SphK1(-/-)) the crucial role of SphK1 in suppressing lipopolysaccharide-induced neutrophil oxidant production and sequestration in lungs and mitigating lung inflammatory injury. This effect of SphK1 was independent of the production of sphingosine 1-phosphate, the product of SphK1 activity. The anti-inflammatory effect of SphK1 in the lipopolysaccharide model was mediated through SphK1 interaction with JNK. SphK1 stabilization of JNK in turn inhibited JNK binding to the JNK-interacting protein 3 (JIP3) and thus abrogated the activation of NADPH oxidase and oxidant generation and resultant NF-kappaB activation. Therefore, SphK1-mediated down-regulation of JNK activity serves to dampen inflammation and tissue injury.