神经酰胺与细胞凋亡

在多细胞有机体中，凋亡对正常组织的发育和稳态是必需的。神经酰胺（ceramide，Cer）作为一种脂类分子，不仅是细胞膜的重要组成部分，而且是重要的凋亡参与者。在细胞膜上，它能够自发地聚集，形成招募死亡受体和配体的结构域从而促进信号的传导和放大；在细胞质中，它作为信号通路的中介者，通过许多不同的分子机制去调控机体的凋亡通路；在细胞核膜和核内，通过其代谢变化，决定细胞的增殖或凋亡；而且它的浓度和位置以及与其它分子的比例及其相互作用都会影响到细胞和组织的命运。综述了近来关于Cer及其代谢物的凋亡作用。

Ceramide and cell apoptosis

Apoptosis is essential for tissue development and homeostasis in multi-cellular organisms. As a lipid molecule, ceramide is not only an important component of plasma membrane, but also a crucial participant of apoptosis. Ceramide can spontaneously self-associate, and form membrane microdomains for recruiting death-receptors and death-ligands to facilitate signal transduction and amplification. Ceramide, as a mediator of signaling pathway, modulates apoptotic pathways of organisms through many different molecular mechanisms. Its concentration, location, and the proportion and interaction with other molecules influence the fates of cells and tissues. The functions of ceramide and its metabolites in apoptosis were discussed.