Ceramide-1-phosphate: a novel regulator of cell activation

Abstract 

Ceramide-1-phosphate (Cer-1-P) is emerging as a novel bioactive sphingolipid. It is formed by phosphorylation of ceramide catalyzed by ceramide kinase, and has been implicated in different cellular processes. Cer-1-P is mitogenic for fibroblasts, blocks apoptosis in macrophages, controls phagocytosis in neutrophils, and mediates inflammatory responses. Only recently have we started to uncover the signaling pathways that are affected by Cer-1-P. Recent work has demonstrated that cytosolic phospholipase A₂ and acid sphingomyelinase are direct intracellular targets of Cer-1-P, and that it may also induce phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase-2 and calcium mobilization. These actions of Cer-1-P seem to be cell type-specific.

Keywords:  Apoptosis, cell proliferation, Ceramide-1-phosphate, Sphingolipid, Sphingosine-1-phosphate, Sphingomyelinase

Abbreviations:  C₂-ceramide, N-acetylsphingosine, C₈-ceramide, N-octanoylsphingosine, Cer-1-P, ceramide-1-phosphate, ERK, extracellular signal-regulated kinase, MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase, PA, phosphatidate, PKC, protein kinase C, PLA₂, phospholipase A₂, PLD, phospholipase D, SM, sphingomyelin, Sph-1-P, sphingosine-1-phosphate