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Review
. 2012 Aug;53(8):1437-50.
doi: 10.1194/jlr.R026682. Epub 2012 May 22.

Role of sulfatide in normal and pathological cells and tissues

Tadanobu Takahashi  1 , Takashi Suzuki
Affiliations
Review

Role of sulfatide in normal and pathological cells and tissues

Tadanobu Takahashi et al. J Lipid Res. 2012 Aug.

Abstract

Sulfatide is 3-O-sulfogalactosylceramide that is synthesized by two transferases (ceramide galactosyltransferase and cerebroside sulfotransferase) from ceramide and is specifically degraded by a sulfatase (arylsulfatase A). Sulfatide is a multifunctional molecule for various biological fields including the nervous system, insulin secretion, immune system, hemostasis/thrombosis, bacterial infection, and virus infection. Therefore, abnormal metabolism or expression change of sulfatide could cause various diseases. Here, we discuss the important biological roles of sulfatide in the nervous system, insulin secretion, immune system, hemostasis/thrombosis, cancer, and microbial infections including human immunodeficiency virus and influenza A virus. Our review will be helpful to achieve a comprehensive understanding of sulfatide, which serves as a fundamental target of prevention of and therapy for nervous disorders, diabetes mellitus, immunological diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases.

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Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Structure of sulfatide. For ceramide moieties of sulfatide, d18:1-C24:0 h (major sulfatide in rat organs) and t18:0-C24:0 h (minor sulfatide in rat organs) mean 4-sphingenine with C24 hydroxy FA and phytosphingosine with C24 hydroxy FA, respectively (6).
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Metabolism of sulfatide synthesis and degradation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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