Background

Though sphingolipids are ubiquitously present in eukaryotic cells, but until the last decade, they were merely considered as a structural component of the plasma membrane with limited function. However, over the last decade, numerous functions have been ascribed to sphingolipids after the seminal discoveries on the bioactivities of several sphingolipids.

Scope of review

Sphingolipids are now well-recognized signals for fundamental cellular processes. Here we discussed about the advent of several sphingolipids components as potential therapeutic target for both human and plants.

Major conclusions

Sphingolipid contents and/or sphingolipid-metabolizing enzyme expression/activity often get impaired during pathophysiological conditions, and hence manipulation of this signaling pathway may be beneficial in disease diagnosis, and the plasma concentrations can serve as an important prognostic and diagnostic marker for the disease.

General significance

Sphingolipids are emerging as a goldmine for new therapeutic drug targets with promising new applications (cosmeceutical and nutraceutical), thereby opening new avenues for pharmaceuticals and nutraceutical industries.

中文翻译：

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膜鞘脂作为潜在治疗靶点的出现

背景

虽然鞘脂普遍存在于真核细胞中，但是直到最近十年，它们仅被认为是质膜的结构成分，功能有限。然而，在过去的十年中，在对几种鞘脂的生物活性进行开创性发现之后，许多功能都归因于鞘脂。

审查范围

鞘脂现在是基本细胞过程公认的信号。在这里，我们讨论了几种鞘脂成分的出现作为人类和植物的潜在治疗靶标。

主要结论

鞘脂含量和/或鞘脂代谢酶的表达/活性通常在病理生理状况期间受损，因此对该信号传导途径的操纵可能对疾病诊断是有益的，并且血浆浓度可以作为该疾病的重要预后和诊断标志物。

一般意义

鞘脂正在作为具有新用途（药妆品和营养品）的新治疗药物靶标的金矿涌现，从而为制药和营养品行业开辟了新途径。