Sphingolipid metabolism and its relationship with cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases

Fernando Hernández-Bello, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México; Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Tlalnepantla, Estado de México; México
Martha Franco, Departamento de Fisiopatología Cardio-Renal, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México, México
Óscar Pérez-Méndez, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México, Mexico
Luis Donis-Maturano, Unidad de de Investigación en Biomedicina, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, UNAM, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, México
Gabriela Zarco-Olvera, Departamento de Farmacología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México. México
Rocío Bautista-Pérez, Departamento de Biología Molecular, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez, Ciudad de México, México

Sphingolipids (sphingomyelin, glycolipids, gangliosides) are located in cell membranes, plasma, and lipoproteins. In patients with cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases, the profile of sphingolipids and their metabolites (ceramide, sphingosine, and sphingosine-1-phosphate) is modified, and these changes may explain the alterations in some cellular responses such as apoptosis. Furthermore, sphingosine and sphingosine-1-phosphate have been suggested to prevent COVID-19. This review also briefly mentions the techniques that allow us to study sphingolipids and their metabolites.

Keywords: Sphingolipids. Sphingomyelin. Ceramide. Sphingosine. Sphingosine 1-phosphate. Cardiovascular diseases.