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Review
. 2023 Dec 9;24(24):17303.
doi: 10.3390/ijms242417303.

The Implication of Sphingolipids in Viral Infections

Sanya Thomas  1   2 , Stephen Varghese Samuel  2   3 , Annmarie Hoch  1 , Caitlin Syphurs  1 , Joann Diray-Arce  1   2
Affiliations
Review

The Implication of Sphingolipids in Viral Infections

Sanya Thomas et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Sphingolipids are involved in cell signaling and metabolic pathways, and their metabolites play a critical role in host defense against intracellular pathogens. Here, we review the known mechanisms of sphingolipids in viral infections and discuss the potential implication of the study of sphingolipid metabolism in vaccine and therapeutic development.

Keywords: lipid metabolism; sphingolipid metabolism; sphingolipids; sphingosine-1-phosphate; viral infections.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sphingolipid biosynthesis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Potential targets in sphingolipid metabolism for viral infections. Potential targets include the cell surface (alteration in lipid composition aiding viral entry), nucleus (alteration of replication machinery), lysosome (inhibition of degradation), endoplasmic reticulum (anchoring of replication complex), and the cell membrane (viral budding and release). The lipid raft in the cell membrane is composed of sphingolipids and glycerophospholipids, and it promotes receptor-mediated endocytosis when a virus binds to it. The nucleus contains sphingolipids that aid in the replication of the viral genome. ER: endoplasmic reticulum.
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