Sphingosine 1-phosphate and sphingosine kinases in health and disease: Recent advances

Sphingosine kinases (isoforms SK1 and SK2) catalyse the formation of a bioactive lipid, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P). S1P is a well-established ligand of a family of five S1P-specific G protein coupled receptors but also has intracellular signalling roles. There is substantial evidence to support a role for sphingosine kinases and S1P in health and disease. This review summarises recent advances in the area in relation to receptor-mediated signalling by S1P and novel intracellular targets of this lipid. New evidence for a role of each sphingosine kinase isoform in cancer, the cardiovascular system, central nervous system, inflammation and diabetes is discussed. There is continued research to develop isoform selective SK inhibitors, summarised here. Analysis of the crystal structure of SK1 with the SK1-selective inhibitor, PF-543, is used to identify residues that could be exploited to improve selectivity in SK inhibitor development for future therapeutic application.