The Enigma of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Synthesis

The enigma of sphingosine 1-phosphate synthesis: a novel role for endothelial sphingosine kinases.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is well known as a key sphingolipid messenger molecule in the cardiovascular system, yet many fundamental features of its synthesis, transport, and action remain enigmatic. Indeed, the very name “sphingolipid” was coined to reflect the mysterious characteristics of this class of lipids. It is now well established (through the work of Timothy Hla and of many others ...

The Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor

Sphingosine-1-phosphate

Inflammatory bowel disease is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Colitis-associated cancer is a classical inflammation-driven cancer in which constitutive NFκB and STAT3 activation drive tumorigenesis. Recent findings published by Liang et al. in Cancer Cell demonstrate that sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1)-mediated upregulation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) drives a persist...

Sphingosine 1-phosphate signalling.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a lipid mediator formed by the metabolism of sphingomyelin. In vertebrates, S1P is secreted into the extracellular environment and signals via G protein-coupled S1P receptors to regulate cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion, and thereby influence cell migration, differentiation and survival. The expression and localization of S1P receptors is dynamically regulated...

Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Enhances Fc