Av. Alessenko, The role of sphingomyelin cycle metabolites in transmission of signals of cell proliferation, differentiation and death, BIOL MEMB, 16(2), 1999, pp. 242-255
Metabolites of sphingomyelin cycle - ceramide, sphingosine and sphingosine-
1-phosphate play an important role in cell proliferation, differentiation,
reception, oncogenesis and apoptosis. Ceramide is intracellular second mess
enger for apoptosis activating proteases and specific phosphatases. Sphingo
sine is endogenous inhibitor of protein kinase C and influences as an inhib
itor at many cell functions depending on the activity of this enzyme. On th
e other hand, sphingosine can activate other kinases depending on the conce
ntration, the cell type and the nature of the stimulus and release Ca2+ fro
m intracellular stores thereby regulating cell proliferation. Sphingosine i
nduces apoptosis and its level is increased in cells as a result of action
of apoptotic inducers.
Phosphorylated product of sphingosine - sphingosine-1-phosphate mediates mi
togenic signal, induces Ca2+ mobilization and protects cells from apoptosis
resulting from elevations of ceramide: The quantitative levels of sphingom
yelin metabolites in cell determine the dynamic balance between apoptotic a
nd mitogenic signals.