Ceramide kinase: a potential anti-inflammatory target?

Abstract

Ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P) possesses emerging and diversified roles in the regulation of various physiological and pathological processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis and inflammation. Data have established a proinflammatory role for C1P and have also produced information on the structure, function, substrate specificity and regulatory mechanisms of its synthesizing enzyme, ceramide kinase (CERK). This review focuses on the rationale for designing specific inhibitors of CERK and provides evidence for the potential of CERK inhibition as a promising anti-inflammatory therapy.

• Authors: Shweta Saxena, Manish Banerjee, Raj K Shirumalla, Abhijit Ray
• Journal: Current opinion in investigational drugs (London, England : 2000) (Curr Opin Investig Drugs) Vol. 9 Issue 5 Pg. 455-62 (May 2008) ISSN: 1472-4472 [Print] England
• PMID: 18465654 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Inflammatory Agents
• Ceramides
• ceramide 1-phosphate
• Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor)
• ceramide kinase

Topics

• Animals
• Anti-Inflammatory Agents (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Ceramides (metabolism)
• Drug Delivery Systems
• Drug Design
• Inflammation (enzymology)
• Phosphorylation
• Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism)