Targeting the sphingosine kinase/sphingosine 1-phosphate pathway in disease: review of sphingosine kinase inhibitors.
Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is an important bioactive sphingolipid metabolite that has been implicated in numerous physiological and cellular processes. Not only does S1P play a structural role in cells by defining the components of the plasma membrane, but in the last 20 years it has been implicated in various significant cell signaling pathways and physiological processes: for example, cell migration, survival and proliferation, cellular architecture, cell-cell contacts and adhesions, vascular development, atherosclerosis, acute pulmonary injury and respiratory distress, inflammation and immunity, and tumorogenesis and metastasis [1,2]. Given the wide variety of cellular and physiological processes in which S1P is involved, it is immediately obvious why the mechanisms governing S1P synthesis and degradation, and the manner in which these processes are regulated, are necessary to understand. In gaining more knowledge about regulation of the sphingosine kinase (SK)/S1P pathway, many potential therapeutic targets may be revealed. This review explores the roles of the SK/S1P pathway in disease, summarizes available SK enzyme inhibitors and examines their potential as therapeutic agents. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Advances in Lysophospholipid Research.
The Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC 29425, USA.
K Alexa
KA
Orr Gandy
Lina M
LM
Obeid
D000818:Animals; D004194:Disease; D006801:Humans; D008246:Lysophospholipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor) / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism*; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D013110:Sphingosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism; D000099157:Sphingosine Kinase
D008246:Lysophospholipids; D017853:Phosphotransferases (Alcohol Group Acceptor); D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D013110:Sphingosine; D000099157:Sphingosine Kinase; C060506:sphingosine 1-phosphate