An update on sphingosine-1-phosphate and other sphingolipid mediators

H Fyrst, JD Saba - Nature chemical biology, 2010 - nature.com
H Fyrst, JD Saba
Nature chemical biology, 2010nature.com
Sphingolipids comprise a complex family of naturally occurring molecules that are enriched
in lipid rafts and contribute to their unique biochemical properties. Membrane sphingolipids
also serve as a reservoir for bioactive metabolites including sphingosine, ceramide,
sphingosine-1-phosphate and ceramide-1-phosphate. Among these, sphingosine-1-
phosphate has emerged as a central regulator of mammalian biology. Sphingosine-1-
phosphate is essential for mammalian brain and cardiac development and for maturation of …
Abstract
Sphingolipids comprise a complex family of naturally occurring molecules that are enriched in lipid rafts and contribute to their unique biochemical properties. Membrane sphingolipids also serve as a reservoir for bioactive metabolites including sphingosine, ceramide, sphingosine-1-phosphate and ceramide-1-phosphate. Among these, sphingosine-1-phosphate has emerged as a central regulator of mammalian biology. Sphingosine-1-phosphate is essential for mammalian brain and cardiac development and for maturation of the systemic circulatory system and lymphatics. In addition, sphingosine-1-phosphate contributes to trafficking and effector functions of lymphocytes and other hematopoietic cells and protects against various forms of tissue injury. However, sphingosine-1-phosphate is also an oncogenic lipid that promotes tumor growth and progression. Recent preclinical and clinical investigations using pharmacological agents that target sphingosine-1-phosphate, its receptors and the enzymes required for its biosynthesis and degradation demonstrate the promise and potential risks of modulating sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling in treatment strategies for autoimmunity, cancer, cardiovascular disease and other pathological conditions.
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