title: Ceramide: a common pathway for atherosclerosis?
abstract: Plasma sphingomyelin concentration is correlated with the development of atherosclerosis. It has been found to exist in significantly higher concentrations in aortic plaque. This appears to have clinical relevance as well as it has been shown to be an independent predictor of coronary artery disease. Ceramide, the backbone of sphingolipids, is the key component which affects atherosclerotic changes through its important second-messenger role. This paper sheds light on some of the current literature supporting the significance of ceramide with respect to its interactions with lipids, inflammatory cytokines, homocysteine and matrix metalloproteinases. Furthermore, the potential therapeutic implications of modulating ceramide concentrations are also discussed.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Surgeon Research Center, Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bismuth
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Qizhi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Changyi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D002518:Ceramides / Q000097:blood*; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / Q000502:physiology; D013109:Sphingomyelins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002518:Ceramides; D005229:Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013109:Sphingomyelins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D006710:Homocysteine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; C001996:thermozymocidin