Expression of enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism in the blood vessel. (LB697)

Background: Sphingolipids represent a class of diverse bioactive lipid molecules that are increasingly appreciated as key modulators of diverse physiologic and pathophysiologic processes that include cell growth, cell death, autophagy, angiogenesis, and stress and inflammatory responses. The cellular contents of the various sphingolipid species are controlled by enzymes involved in their metabolic pathways: sphingomyelinase (neutral‐SMase), Ceramidase (neutral‐CDase), Sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) and Sphingosine kinase 2 (SPHK2). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the expression of enzymes of sphingolipid metabolism in the blood vessel of kidney and heart as well as in aorta. Methods: The expression of neutral‐SMase, neutral‐CDase, SPHK1, SPHK2, α‐actin (Smooth muscle cells marker) and PECAM (endothelial cell marker) were measured by Immunofluorescence and Confocal Microscopy. Results: neutral‐SMase, neutral‐CDase, SPHK1 and SPHK2 immunoreactivity were found to have a widespread distribution in the blood vessel of kidney and heart as well as in aorta. Conclusions: The blood vessel express neutral‐SMase, neutral‐CDase, SPHK1 and SPHK2, enzymes involved in the sphingolipid metabolism and can therefore endogenously form sphingomyelin metabolites in the vasculature.