Ceramide: an endogenous regulator of apoptosis and growth suppression

The action of several cytokines is mediated via activation of the sphingomyelin cycle of signal transduction. Ceramide, the product of this pathway, is emerging as an intracellular messenger that mediates effects on terminal differentiation, apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest. Here, Marina Pushkareva, Lina Obeid and Yusuf Hannun discuss the regulation and mechanism of action of this stress-activated pathway.