Sphingolipids: their role in intracellular signaling and renal growth

Glycerophospholipids have long been recognized as substrates for the formation of important intracellular second messengers. Recently, another class of membrane-associated lipids, sphingolipids, has been identified as potentially important in cell-signaling events. Ceramides, long-chain bases, and sphingosine derivatives may be mediators of cellular growth, differentiation, and programmed death responses. These lipids have been proposed to act through the regulation of cell kinases, phosphatases, and gene transcription. Observations of sphingolipid abnormalities in two examples of aberrant renal growth, diabetes mellitus and autosomal recessive kidney disease, suggest that sphingolipids may play a role in the pathophysiology of common renal disorders.