A breakthrough study led by Professor Sun Jinpeng at Shandong University has uncovered the critical membrane receptor for ceramide in adipocytes. Published in Science, the paper titled "Metabolic signaling of ceramides through the FPR2 receptor inhibits adipocyte thermogenesis" reveals that FPR2, a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), plays a pivotal role in ceramide signaling within adipocytes. This discovery is a significant advancement in understanding how ceramide regulates adipocyte thermogenesis and highlights the molecular basis for FPR2's specificity in recognizing ceramide.
Shandong University authority said in a statement that ceramide, a central molecule in the sphingomyelin metabolic pathway, has been linked to various metabolic disorders, including diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. The research identifies FPR2 as a key receptor for ceramide, a finding that could offer new insights into the mechanisms of metabolic diseases. By using high-throughput screening and animal models, the team showed how ceramide influences metabolic signaling and cellular responses, offering a potential path for targeted therapies.
This study also addresses the unclear mechanisms behind interorgan ceramide transport and its regulation of target cells, providing important clues for future therapeutic approaches to combat metabolic diseases. The rapid regulatory effects observed, such as ceramide’s influence on glucose transport within minutes, suggest the presence of membrane receptor-mediated processes that could facilitate fast cellular responses.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
