Ceramide and the regulation of apoptosis and the stress response

The process of apoptosis or programmed cell death has been the subject of intense study due to the realization of its importance in a wide variety of biological and pathological conditions, including development, ischemia, cancer, and neurodegenerative disorders. Although a vast number of inducers of this process and several critical components have been identified, the signal transduction pathways regulating apoptosis are poorly understood. Recently, a pathway involving sphingolipid turnover and the production of the lipid mediator, ceramide, has emerged as a candidate regulator of apoptosis. This review provides a summary of the evidence implicating ceramide as a mediator of apoptosis and the stress response.