Research Progress of the Role of Ceramides in Vascular Pathophysiology

a large class of sphingolipids, ceramides are important components of cell and organelle membranes. In addition, as second messengers, ceramides could directly regulate downstream signal molecules and participate in signal transduction and protein transport by forming lipid rafts or lipid microregions on cell membranes. A large number of studies have shown that ceramides participate in various biological processes including cell growth, cell differentiation, cell senescence, cell apoptosis and stress response, and play important roles in maintaining vascular homeostasis. The study of the distribution, synthesis and metabolism of ceramides, the effects of ceramides on vascular cells and the relationship between ceramides and occurrence and development of vascular diseases is crucial to provide reference for revealing the mechanism of vascular diseases and finding new therapeutic targets.