Figures
- FIGURE 1
a) Schematic depiction of the three major pathways capable of producing ceramide with relevant enzymes (italics) and therapeutic inhibition points (arrows) indicated. b) Schematic representation of the three major reactions involving ceramide as substrate. Relevant enzymes are listed in italics, and options for so-called “sphingosine 1-phosphate rescue” are indicated by arrows. −: inhibitory actions; +: promoter actions.
- FIGURE 2
Competing sphingolipids with predominantly pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory properties, the net balance of which constitutes the “sphingolipid rheostat”.
- FIGURE 3
Schematic summary of sphingolipid actions implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with ceramide as the central mediator. C1P: ceramide 1-phosphate; S1P: sphingosine 1-phosphate; nSMase: neutral sphingomyelinase; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SOD: superoxide dismutase; TNF-α: tumour necrosis factor-α. +: pro-inflammatory effects of ceramide derivatives; −: anti-inflammatory.
