Loss of Acid Ceramidase in Myeloid Cells Protects from Chronic Colitis in IL10-Deficent Mice

ABSTRACT Background & Aims Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) exhibit elevated expression of acid ceramidase (AC), a sphingolipid metabolism enzyme. Recent studies have shown that myeloid cells contribute to the elevated expression of AC, such that the conditional loss of AC is protective in IBD. Methods Bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) and neutrophils (BMDNs) were utilized to assess the role of AC in immune cell mediated inflammation. We then crossed conditional ASAH1 LyzM CRE knockout mice with IL10 knockout mice to determine the role of AC in a model of spontaneous colitis. Colon tissues were analyzed for lipids, mRNA, and protein. We performed flow cytometry to determine the role of myeloid AC in recruiting effector T cells in disease. Results In this study, we found that loss of AC impaired secretory and migratory functions in BMDMs, but not BMDNs. Further, the conditional loss of AC protected from spontaneous, chronic colitis. Loss of AC reduced inflammatory markers, increased colon ceramides, and reduced the inflammatory metabolite sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Recruitment of immune cells into intestinal tissue was significantly impaired, namely neutrophils and effector Th1/Th17 T cells. Conclusions Loss of AC reduced inflammation and impaired immune cell recruitment in chronic colitis. Targeting AC may serve as a promising therapeutic potential for patients with IBD by modulating immune cell sphingolipid metabolism. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT Acid ceramidase expression is increased in immune cells in patients with inflammatory bowel disease, specifically in macrophages. NEW FINDINGS We determined that loss of acid ceramidase (AC) in macrophages, but not neutrophils, impairs inflammatory functions in vitro, and that loss of AC in myeloid cells partially protects from spontaneous colitis in vivo by reducing immune cell recruitment into intestinal tissue. LIMITATIONS The IL10 knockout model of colitis exhibits highly variable onset and severity of disease, which may be challenging to distinguish the extent of protection. CLINICAL RESEARCH RELEVENCE This study identifies AC as a promising therapeutic target for treating inflammatory bowel disease. BASIC RESEARCH RELEVENCE This study contributes to our understanding of the role that AC plays in inflammation within immune cells, specifically myeloid cells. Additionally, this study underscores the role of immune cell sphingolipid metabolism in inflammatory bowel disease. LAY SUMMARY Loss of acid ceramidase in myeloid cells protects from chronic colitis by decreasing inflammation, altering immune cell function, and impairing the recruitment of effector immune cells to the colon.