The activation of phospholipase D (PLD) produces phosphatidic acid (PA), whereas plant sphingosine kinase (SPHK) phosphorylates long-chain bases to generate long-chain base-1-phosphates such as phytosphingosine-1-phosphate (phyto-S1P). PA and phyto-S1P have been identified as lipid messengers. Recent studies have shown that PA interacts directly with SPHKs in Arabidopsis, and that the interacti...

Commentary: The sphingosine kinase 1/sphingosine-1-phosphate pathway in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive and irreversible lung disease that reduces survival. Importantly, the pulmonary arteries carry blood from the heart to the lungs; however, in PAH pulmonary vessels are remodeled causing abnormal constriction and a pressure change that pr...

Sphingosine-1-phosphate and its receptors have emerged as important modulators of the immune response. The sphingosine-1-phosphate prodrug 2-amino-2-(2-[4-octylphenyl]ethyl)-1,3-propanediol (FTY720) can alleviate experimental allergic airway inflammation. Nevertheless, the role of individual sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors in the regulation of allergic airway inflammation remains undefined. U...

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is a lipid mediator formed by the metabolism of sphingomyelin. In vertebrates, S1P is secreted into the extracellular environment and signals via G protein-coupled S1P receptors to regulate cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion, and thereby influence cell migration, differentiation and survival. The expression and localization of S1P receptors is dynamically regulated...