Sphingoid mediators in brain function and dysfunction.

Over the past decade, ceramide and sphingosine-1-phosphate have emerged as crucial mediators in many cells including those from the nervous system. In brain cells various stimuli, ranging from growth factors and differentiating agents, to oxidative stress and cytotoxic drugs, regulate one or more of the enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism. This results in the variation of cell sphingoids, which in turn act as mediators in regulating growth, differentiation and fate. Emerging data also indicate that sphingosine-1-phosphate can be released from brain cells and acts as intercellular mediator, after interaction with specific EDG receptors. The importance of sphingoid mediators in brain has been reinforced by recent findings implicating them in physiological processes as well as in the pathogenesis of brain diseases, including degenerative disorders and cancers. Evidence is accumulating that the manipulation of sphingolipid metabolism in brain cells will offer novel potential targets for therapeutic intervention in brain dysfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]