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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Lipid Vesicle-mediated Affinity Chromatography using Magnetic Activated Cell Sorting (LIMACS): a Novel Method to Analyze Protein-lipid Interaction
Published on: April 26, 2011
Current status and perspectives in ceramide-targeting molecular medicine
Hirofumi Sawai1, Naochika Domae, Toshiro Okazaki
1Department of Internal Medicine, Osaka Dental University, 8-1 Kuzuhahanazonocho, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1121, Japan. sawai@cc.osaka-dent.ac.jp
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.
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