[Research advances of the roles of sphingosine-1-phosphate in acute lung injury]

Abstract

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is the main metabolite produced in the process of phospholipid metabolism, which can promote proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of cells, and maintain the barrier function of vascular endothelium. The latest researches showed that S1P can alleviate acute lung injury (ALI) and the inflammation caused by ALI, while the dosage of S1P is still needed to be considered. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been a emerging therapy with potential therapeutic effects on ALI because of their characteristics of self-replication and multi-directional differentiation, and their advantages in hematopoiesis, immune regulation, and tissue repair. S1P can promote differentiation of MSCs and participate in immune regulation, while MSCs can regulate the homeostasis of S1P in the body. The synergistic effect of S1P and MSC provides a new treatment method for ALI. This article reviews the production and biological function of S1P, receptor and signal pathway of S1P, the therapeutic effects of S1P on ALI, and the research advances of S1P combined with MSCs in the treatment of ALI, aiming to provide theoretical references for the development of S1P targeted drugs in the treatment of ALI and the search for new combined treatment schemes for ALI.