Sphingosine‐1‐phosphate and sphingosylphosphorylcholine: two of a kind?

Article date: February 2006

By: Astrid E Alewijnse, Martin C Michel in Volume 147, Issue 4, pages 347-348

Sphingosine‐1‐phosphate and sphingosylphosphorylcholine are structurally related signalling molecules. Although they share some biological effects, it is debated whether this involves the same receptors. In this issue, Mathieson and Nixon report that these two lipids activate the same transcription factor but do so via distinct signalling pathways. Against this background, we discuss some of the potential pitfalls in studies comparing the effects of the two sphingolipids.

British Journal of Pharmacology (2006) 147, 347–348. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706602

DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706602

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