Sphingosine kinase and sphingosine 1-phosphate in asthma.

Abstract	Sphingolipids are amphiphatic molecules ubiquitously expressed in all eukaryotic cell membranes. Initially characterized as structural components of cell membranes, sphingolipids have emerged as sources of important signalling molecules over the past decade. Sphingolipid metabolites, such as ceramide and S1P (sphingosine 1-phosphate), have been demonstrated to have roles as potent bioactive messengers involved in cell differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis, migration and angiogenesis. The importance of SphK (sphingosine kinase) and S1P in inflammation has been demonstrated extensively. The prevalence of asthma is increasing in many developed nations. Consequently, there is an urgent need for the development of new agents for the treatment of asthma, especially for patients who respond poorly to conventional therapy. Recent studies have demonstrated the important role of SphK and S1P in the development of asthma by regulating pro-inflammatory responses. These novel pathways represent exciting potential therapeutic targets in the treatment of asthma and are described in the present review.
Authors	Wen-Qi Lai, W S Fred Wong, Bernard P Leung
Journal	Bioscience reports (Biosci Rep) Vol. 31 Issue 2 Pg. 145-50 (Apr 2011) ISSN: 1573-4935 [Electronic] England
PMID	21091442 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
Chemical References	Anti-Asthmatic Agents Cytokines Lysophospholipids Propylene Glycols Receptors, Lysosphingolipid Sphingolipids sphingosine 1-phosphate Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) sphingosine kinase Fingolimod Hydrochloride Sphingosine
Topics	Animals Anti-Asthmatic Agents (therapeutic use) Asthma (drug therapy, immunology, metabolism) Cytokines (immunology, metabolism) Disease Models, Animal Epithelial Cells (metabolism) Fingolimod Hydrochloride Humans Inflammation Lung (cytology, metabolism) Lysophospholipids (metabolism) Mast Cells (metabolism) Mice Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) (antagonists & inhibitors, metabolism) Propylene Glycols (therapeutic use) Receptors, Lysosphingolipid (metabolism) Signal Transduction Sphingolipids (metabolism) Sphingosine (analogs & derivatives, metabolism, therapeutic use)

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