Sphingolipid signaling pathway
A pathway with sphingolipids as signal molecules, core signal molecules include ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), whose metabolic balance is strictly regulated by sphingolipid synthases and degrading enzymes. Different sphingolipid molecules have distinct functions: ceramide promotes cell apoptosis and stress responses by activating the Caspase pathway and inhibiting Akt activity; S1P binds to S1PR1-5 receptors on the cell membrane, activating MAPK and PI3K-Akt pathways to promote cell survival, proliferation, and migration; sphingosine inhibits cell proliferation. Core functions include regulating metabolic balance (lipid metabolism, glucose metabolism), stress-induced apoptosis, inflammatory responses, and immune cell migration. Pathway imbalance is associated with various diseases: ceramide accumulation is related to diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases; abnormal S1P signaling is associated with tumor metastasis and autoimmune diseases (e.g., multiple sclerosis), and S1PR antagonists have been used in clinical treatment of multiple sclerosis.
Core function: Use sphingolipids (e.g., ceramide, sphingosine-1-phosphate) as signal molecules to regulate metabolic balance, stress-induced apoptosis, and inflammatory responses.
Key regulatory molecules: Ceramide, S1P, SPHK1/2, S1PR1-5, Caspases.