Abstract
Simple bioactive sphingolipids include ceramide, sphingosine and their phosphorylated forms sphingosine 1-phosphate and ceramide 1-phosphate. These molecules are crucial regulators of cell functions. In particular, they play important roles in the regulation of angiogenesis, apoptosis, cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and inflammation. Decoding the mechanisms by which these cellular functions are regulated requires detailed understanding of the signaling pathways that are implicated in these processes. Most importantly, the development of inhibitors of the enzymes involved in their metabolism may be crucial for establishing new therapeutic strategies for treatment of disease.
Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Ceramidases / antagonists & inhibitors
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Ceramidases / metabolism
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Ceramides / chemistry
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Ceramides / metabolism
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Disease*
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Humans
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Inflammation
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Isoenzymes / metabolism
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Lysophospholipids / chemistry
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Lysophospholipids / metabolism
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Macrophages / metabolism
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Molecular Structure
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Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / antagonists & inhibitors
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Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / metabolism
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Signal Transduction / physiology*
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Sphingolipids / chemistry
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Sphingolipids / metabolism*
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Sphingosine / analogs & derivatives
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Sphingosine / chemistry
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Sphingosine / metabolism
Substances
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Ceramides
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Isoenzymes
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Lysophospholipids
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Sphingolipids
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ceramide 1-phosphate
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sphingosine 1-phosphate
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Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)
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sphingosine kinase
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Ceramidases
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Sphingosine