Authors: Sawai, Hirofumi; Domae, Naochika; Okazaki, Toshiro

Source: Current Pharmaceutical Design, Volume 11, Number 19, July 2005 , pp. 2479-2487(9)

Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers

Abstract:

Ceramide is not only structurally but also functionally a key molecule in diverse kinds of sphingolipids. In the past decade, ceramide has been shown to be of crucial significance in several cell functions including apoptosis, cell growth, senescence, and cell cycle control. Among them, the role of ceramide in apoptosis induction has extensively been studied, and ceramide-targeting molecular medicine for apoptosis-based diseases such as malignant tumors, atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative disorders appears to come out to the clinical field. We here describe the recent advances in research of ceramide-mediated apoptosis signaling. We also show the relation of ceramide level through regulation of ceramide-related enzymes (sphingomyelinase, ceramidase, sphingomyelin synthase and glucosylceramide synthase) with diseases such as cancer, leukemia, bacterial infections, AIDS, Alzheimer's disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus and atopic dermatitis. The strategies to construct the ceramide-targeting medicine for intractable diseases such as cancer and leukemia are discussed.

Keywords: ceramide; sphingomyelin; sphingomyelinase; ceramidase; sphingosine-1-phosphate; glucosylceramide; apoptosis; anticancer drug

Document Type: Review article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1381612054367463

Affiliations: 1: Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Dental University, 8-1 Kuzuhahanazonocho, Hirakata, Osaka 573- 1121, Japan.

Publication date: 2005-07-01

More about this publication?

• Current Pharmaceutical Design publishes timely in-depth reviews covering all aspects of current research in rational drug design. Each issue is devoted to a single major therapeutic area. A Guest Editor who is an acknowledged authority in a therapeutic field has solicits for each issue comprehensive and timely reviews from leading researchers in the pharmaceutical industry and academia.
  
  Each thematic issue of Current Pharmaceutical Design covers all subject areas of major importance to modern drug design, including: medicinal chemistry, pharmacology, drug targets and disease mechanism.

Related content

• In this: publication
• By this: publisher
• In this Subject: Pharmacology
• By this author: Sawai, Hirofumi ;  Domae, Naochika ;  Okazaki, Toshiro

Website © Publishing Technology. Article copyright remains with the publisher, society or author(s) as specified within the article.

• Terms and conditions
• Privacy policy
• Information for advertisers