Sphingolipids and the orchestration of endothelium-derived vasoactive factors: When endothelial function demands greasing

• Published in: Molecules and cells Vol. 29; no. 2; pp. 105 - 111
• Main Authors: Spijkers, Leon J.A., Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Alewijnse, Astrid E., Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Peters, Stephan L.M., Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Springer Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology 01.02.2010; 한국분자세포생물학회
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry; Biological Factors - metabolism; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Cell Biology; EDCF; EDRF; endothelium; Endothelium, Vascular - physiology; Humans; Life Sciences; Minireview; Models, Biological; SFINGOLIPIDOS; SPHINGOLIPIDE; SPHINGOLIPIDS; Sphingolipids - metabolism; vascular tone; Vasomotor System - metabolism; 생물학; endothelium; EDCF; EDRF; vascular tone; sphingolipids
• ISSN: 1016-8478; 0219-1032
• DOI: 10.1007/s10059-010-0042-y

Vasomotor tone is regulated by a complex interplay of a variety of extrinsic neurohumoral and intrinsic factors. It is the endothelium that has a major influence on smooth muscle cell tone via the release of intrinsic vasoactive factors and is therefore an important regulator of vasomotor tone. Sphingolipids are an emerging class of lipid mediators with important physiological properties. In the last two decades it has not only become increasingly clear that sphingolipid signaling plays a pivotal role in immune function, but also its role in the vascular system is now becoming more recognized. In this mini-review we will highlight the possible cross-talk between sphingolipids and intrinsic vasoactive factors released by the endothelium. Via this cross-talk sphingolipids can orchestrate vasomotor tone and may therefore also be involved in the pathophysiology of disease states associated with endothelial dysfunction.