Sphingosine 1-Phosphate–Related Metabolism in the Blood Vessel

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is an important intercellular lipid mediator, especially in vascular biology. Blood platelets store S1P abundantly and release this bioactive lysophospholipid extracellularly upon stimulation. Vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells respond dramatically to this platelet-derived lipid. Regulating S1P biological activities may be valuable to treat vascular disorders, and, as such, requires a better understanding of those mechanisms that mediated vascular S1P. Various factors may mediate the level and function of plasma S1P in vivo, these include S1P release from platelets and S1P distribution between albumin and lipoproteins as well as S1P receptor (S1P) expression and lipid phosphate phosphatase activity on vascular cells. In atherosclerotic diseases, where the plasma levels of lipids and lipoproteins or endothelial cell functions are altered, modulating effects of S1P may be of pathophysiological importance.