title: Neutral sphingomyelinase and breast cancer research.
abstract: Our understanding of the functions of neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) signaling has advanced over the past decade. In this review, we focus on the roles and regulation of N-SMase 1, N-SMase 2, N-SMase 3, an enzyme that generates the bioactive lipid ceramide through the hydrolysis of the membrane lipid sphingomyelin. A large body of work has now implicated N-SMase 2 in a diverse set of cellular functions, physiological processes, and disease pathologies. We focus on different aspects of this enzyme's regulation from transcriptional, post-translational, and biochemical. Furthermore, we expected N-SMase involvement in cellular processes including inflammatory signaling, cell growth, apoptosis, and tumor necrosis factor which in turn play important roles in pathologies such as cancer metastasis, variable disease, and other organ system disorders. Lastly, we examine avenues where targeted N-SMase inhibition may be clinically beneficial in disease scenarios.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interdisciplinary Program in Biomedical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Korea.
authors.forename: Sun-Yong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soonchunhyang University, College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Tae-Hee
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soonchunhyang University, College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea.
authors.forename: Hae-Hyeog
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Breast neoplasms; Sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha