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Review
. 2008:49:387-412.
doi: 10.1007/978-1-4020-8831-5_15.

Multiple roles for sphingolipids in steroid hormone biosynthesis

Natasha C Lucki  1 , Marion B Sewer
Affiliations
Review

Multiple roles for sphingolipids in steroid hormone biosynthesis

Natasha C Lucki et al. Subcell Biochem. 2008.

Abstract

Steroid hormones are essential regulators of a vast number of physiological processes. The biosynthesis of these chemical messengers occurs in specialized steroidogenic tissues via a multi-step process that is catalyzed by members of the cytochrome P450 superfamily of monooxygenases and hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. Though numerous signaling mediators, including cytokines and growth factors control steroidogenesis, trophic peptide hormones are the primary regulators of steroid hormone production. These peptide hormones activate a cAMP/cAMP-dependent kinase (PKA) signaling pathway, however, studies have shown that crosstalk between multiple signal transduction pathways and signaling molecules modulates optimal steroidogenic capacity. Sphingolipids such as ceramide, sphingosine, sphingosine-1-phosphate, sphingomyelin, and gangliosides have been shown to control the steroid hormone biosynthetic pathway at multiple levels, including regulating steroidogenic gene expression and activity as well as acting as second messengers in signaling cascades. In this review, we provide an overview of recent studies that have investigated the role of sphingolipids in adrenal, gonadal, and neural steroidogenesis.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Temporal regulation of steroidogenesis by peptide hormones.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Steroid hormone biosynthetic pathways.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Overview of sphingolipid metabolic pathways.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Relationship between sphingolipid metabolism and steroid hormone biosynthesis in the human adrenal cortex.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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