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Journal Article Review Epublish 18 citations

PubMed: 36615886 DOI: 10.3390/nu15010229

Ceramides in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases: Existing Evidence and Therapeutic Considerations for Diet as an Anticeramide Treatment.

Nutrients 15(1)

Authors: Ioanna Alexandropoulou, Maria G Grammatikopoulou, Kalliopi K Gkouskou, Agathi A Pritsa, Tonia Vassilakou, Eirini Rigopoulou, Helen M Lindqvist, Dimitrios P Bogdanos

Affiliations

  • Department of Nutritional Sciences & Dietetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, International Hellenic University, Alexander Campus, GR-57400 Thessaloniki, Greece.
  • Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University General Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Biopolis, GR-41110 Larissa, Greece.
  • Laboratory of Biology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, GR-11527 Athens, Greece.
  • Department of Public Health Policy, School of Public Health, University of West Attica, GR-11521 Athens, Greece.
  • Department of Medicine and Research Laboratory of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, Biopolis, GR-41222 Larissa, Greece.
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 115, 40530 Gothenburg, Sweden.

Abstract

Autoimmune rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) constitute a set of connective tissue disorders and dysfunctions with akin clinical manifestations and autoantibody responses. AIRD treatment is based on a comprehensive approach, with the primary aim being achieving and attaining disease remission, through the control of inflammation. AIRD therapies have a low target specificity, and this usually propels metabolic disturbances, dyslipidemias and increased cardiovascular risk. Ceramides are implicated in inflammation through several different pathways, many of which sometimes intersect. They serve as signaling molecules for apoptosis, altering immune response and driving endothelial dysfunction and as regulators in the production of other molecules, including sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) and ceramide 1-phosphate (C1P). With lipid metabolism being severely altered in AIRD pathology, several studies show that the concentration and variety of ceramides in human tissues is altered in patients with rheumatic diseases compared to controls. As a result, many in vitro and some in vivo (animal) studies research the potential use of ceramides as therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, fibromyalgia syndrome, primary Sjögren's syndrome, systemic sclerosis, myositis, systemic vasculitis and psoriatic arthritis. Furthermore, the majority of ceramide synthesis is diet-centric and, as a result, dietary interventions may alter ceramide concentrations in the blood and affect health. Subsequently, more recently several clinical trials evaluated the possibility of distinct dietary patterns and nutrients to act as anti-ceramide regimes in humans. With nutrition being an important component of AIRD-related complications, the present review details the evidence regarding ceramide levels in patients with AIRDs, the results of anti-ceramide treatments and discusses the possibility of using medical nutritional therapy as a complementary anti-ceramide treatment in rheumatic disease.

MeSH

Sphingolipids, Rheumatology, Arthritis, Sphingosine, Diet, Rheumatic Diseases, Food, Ceramides, Metabolomics, Therapeutics, Tissues, Lipidomics

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