Sphingosine 1-phosphate regulates cytoskeleton dynamics: Implications in its biological response

The bioactive sphingolipid sphingosine I-phosphate (SIP) elicits robust cytoskeletal rearrangement in a large variety of cell systems, mainly acting through a panel of specific cell surface receptors, named S I P receptors. Recent studies have begun to delineate the molecular mechanisms involved in the complex process responsible for cytoskeletal rearrangement following S I P ligation to its receptors. Notably, changes of cell shape and/or motility induced by SIP via cytoskeletal remodelling are functional to the biological action exerted by SIP which appears to be highly cell-specific. This review focuses on the current knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms of cytoskeleton dynamics elicited by SIP, with special emphasis on the relationship between cytoskeletal remodelling and the biological effects evoked by the sphingolipid in various cell types. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.