Ceramide: does it matter for T cells?
Ceramide and its derivatives have been implicated in cellular activation, differentiation, survival and death. Although the main biological function of ceramide appears to be linked to its potency to induce cell death, its actual relevance as a regulator of cell death has been the subject of controversial discussions. Here, we discuss the significance of ceramide in T-cell biology, with special emphasis on the regulation of T-cell receptor expression, growth arrest, costimulation and death.
Adam
Dieter
D
Institut für Immunologie, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Michaelisstr. 5, 24105, Kiel, Germany. dadam@email.uni-kiel.de
Heinrich
Michael
M
Kabelitz
Dieter
D
Schütze
Stefan
S
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002518:Ceramides / Q000502:physiology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000378:metabolism
D002518:Ceramides; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D019014:fas Receptor