Impact of sphingomyelin synthase 1 deficiency on sphingolipid metabolism and atherosclerosis in mice.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Sphingomyelin synthase (SMS) catalyzes the conversion of ceramide to sphingomyelin and sits at the crossroads of sphingolipid biosynthesis. SMS has 2 isoforms: SMS1 and SMS2. Although they have the same SMS activity, they are different enzymes with distinguishable subcellular localizations and cell expression patterns. It is conceivable that these differences could yield different consequences, in terms of sphingolipid metabolism and its related atherogenesis.

Methods and results

We created Sms1 gene knockout mice and found that Sms1 deficiency significantly decreased plasma, liver, and macrophage sphingomyelin (59%, 45%, and 54%, respectively), but only had a marginal effect on ceramide levels. Surprisingly, we found that Sms1 deficiency dramatically increased glu

SUBMITTER: Li Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3444302 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature