Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

A Pipeline to Investigate the Structures and Signaling Pathways of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptors
12:27

A Pipeline to Investigate the Structures and Signaling Pathways of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptors

Published on: June 8, 2022

Relevance of sphingolipids in the pleiotropic protective effects of high-density lipoproteins

Markus Tölle1, Mirjam Schuchardt, Markus van der Giet

  • 1Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Medizinische Klinik mit Schwerpunkt Nephrologie, Hindenburgdamm 30, D-12203 Berlin, Germany. markus.toelle@charite.de

Current Pharmaceutical Design
|March 4, 2010
PubMed

Insights

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) sphingolipids, particularly sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), mediate protective cardiovascular effects. This review explores their therapeutic potential in atherosclerosis.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Lipid Metabolism
  • Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease, driven by pro-atherogenic factors.
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL) possesses protective cardiovascular properties beyond cholesterol transport.
  • Sphingolipids, especially HDL-associated sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), are increasingly recognized for their biological functions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the role of HDL-associated sphingolipids in mediating HDL's protective effects.
  • To explore the therapeutic relevance of these sphingolipids in cardiovascular disease.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review focusing on HDL composition, sphingolipid metabolism, and S1P receptor signaling.
  • Analysis of studies investigating the pleiotropic functions of HDL and its lipid components.

Main Results:

  • HDL-associated S1P contributes significantly to HDL's atheroprotective functions.
  • S1P exerts its effects through specific sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors.
  • These sphingolipids modulate various cellular processes relevant to cardiovascular health.

Conclusions:

  • HDL-associated sphingolipids are key mediators of HDL's beneficial cardiovascular actions.
  • Targeting HDL-sphingolipid pathways, particularly S1P, represents a promising therapeutic strategy for atherosclerosis.

More Related Videos

Isolation and Analysis of Plasma Lipoproteins by Ultracentrifugation06:47

Isolation and Analysis of Plasma Lipoproteins by Ultracentrifugation

Published on: January 28, 2021

Cell-free Biochemical Fluorometric Enzymatic Assay for High-throughput Measurement of Lipid Peroxidation in High Density Lipoprotein07:29

Cell-free Biochemical Fluorometric Enzymatic Assay for High-throughput Measurement of Lipid Peroxidation in High Density Lipoprotein

Published on: October 12, 2017

Related Concept Videos

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile01:25

Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System III: Serum Lipid Profile

Understanding serum lipids is crucial for maintaining cardiovascular health and preventing heart disease and stroke.
Serum lipids are fats and fatty substances in the blood and are crucial for various bodily functions, including energy storage, cellular structure, and hormone production. Serum lipids consist of cholesterol, triglycerides, and phospholipids.
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in all body cells. It is crucial for producing hormones, vitamin D, and substances that aid...
Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body01:31

Lipid-derived Compounds in the Human Body

Fats and lipids are crucial components in the human body. Some lipid-derived compounds, such as fat-soluble vitamins, eicosanoids, lipoproteins, and glycolipids, also play unique roles to support various  biological processes .
Fat-soluble Vitamins
Fat-soluble vitamins, including vitamins A, D, E, and K, are required in minimal quantities, but their deficiencies can lead to severely abnormal physiological conditions. For example, vitamin A deficiency can cause night blindness, dry skin, delayed...
Membrane Lipids01:32

Membrane Lipids

Lipids are an essential component of all biological membranes. The average lipid content in mammalian membranes is 50%, though it can be as low as 20% in the inner mitochondrial membrane or as high as 80% in the myelin sheath present around the nerve cells.
Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, and sphingomyelin are the most common phospholipids present in mammalian membranes. At physiological pH, phosphatidylserine is negatively charged, while the other three...
Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer01:35

Asymmetric Lipid Bilayer

Biological membranes show uneven distribution of different types of lipids in the inner and outer layers, resulting in transverse asymmetric membranes. The treatment of the erythrocyte membrane with the enzyme phospholipase confirmed the asymmetric nature of the lipid bilayer. The enzyme hydrolyzes lipids into fatty acids and hydrophilic groups. The phospholipase acts only on the outer layer of the membrane, while the inner layer remains intact. The phospholipase treatment resulted in 80%...
Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation01:29

Cholesterol: Significance and Regulation

Although not a source of energy, cholesterol plays a significant role as a foundational structure for bile salts, steroid hormones, and vitamin D, as well as being a crucial component of plasma membranes. Approximately 15% of blood cholesterol is derived from our diet, with the remainder synthesized from acetyl CoA by the liver and intestines. Cholesterol is eliminated from the body through its conversion into bile salts, which are eventually discarded in the feces.
Considering cholesterol and...
Biosynthesis of Lipids01:29

Biosynthesis of Lipids

Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis pathway, which...