Necessary Role of Ceramides in the Human Microvascular Endothelium During Health and Disease.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Elevated plasma ceramides and microvascular dysfunction both independently predict adverse cardiac events. Despite the known detrimental effects of ceramide on the microvasculature, evidence suggests that activation of the shear-sensitive, ceramide-forming enzyme NSmase (neutral sphingomyelinase) elicits formation of vasoprotective nitric oxide (NO). Here, we explore a novel hypothesis that acute ceramide formation through NSmase is necessary for maintaining NO signaling within the human microvascular endothelium. We further define the mechanism through which ceramide exerts beneficial effects and discern key mechanistic differences between arterioles from otherwise healthy adults (non-coronary artery disease [CAD]) and patients diagnosed with CAD.

Methods

Human a

SUBMITTER: SenthilKumar G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10766100 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature