The Role of Sphingolipids in Arachidonic Acid Metabolism

Journal of Pharmacological Sciences

Toshihiko Murayama¹  Hiroyuki Nakamura¹ 

[1] Laboratory of Chemical Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Japan

关键词: arachidonic acid cascade;    cytosolic phospholipase A2α;    cyclooxygenase;    sphingolipid;   

DOI  :  10.1254/jphs.13R18CP

学科分类：药学

来源: Nihon Yakuri Gakkai Henshuubu / Japanese Pharmacological Society

【 摘 要 】

References(30)Cited-By(9)The arachidonic acid (AA) cascade is regulated mainly by the actions of two rate-limiting enzymes, phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and inducible cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). PLA2 acts to generate AA, which serves as the precursor substrate for COX-2 in the metabolic pathway leading to prostaglandin production. Amongst more than 30 members of the PLA2 family, cytosolic PLA2α (cPLA2α, group IVA) plays a major role in releasing AA from cellular membranes. Sphingolipids are a novel class of bioactive lipids that play key roles in the regulation of several cellular processes including growth, differentiation, inflammatory responses, and apoptosis. Recent studies implicated a regulatory function of sphingolipids in prostaglandin production. Whereas ceramide-1-phosphate and lactosylceramide activate cPLA2α directly, sphingosine-1-phosphate induces COX-2 expression. Sphingomyelin has been shown to inhibit the activity of cPLA2α. In addition, several sphingolipid analogs including a therapeutic agent currently used clinically are also reported to be inhibitors of cPLA2α. This review explores the role of sphingolipids in the regulation of cPLA2α and COX-2.

【 授权许可】

Unknown