Plasma Sphingolipidome as a Surrogate for Human Metabolic Heath

Because sphingolipids, a class of bioactive lipids with both signaling and structural properties, may play a pivotal role in most major tissues of individuals affected by the metabolic syndrome and are essential components in the molecular etiology of not only this clinical entity, but also its associated diseases (2,3), plasma alterations of circulating individual and highly interconnected sphingolipid species (sphingolipidome) may determine our metabolic doom. [...]specific sphingolipid metabolites may mediate loss of insulin sensitivity, promote the characteristic obesity, and/or diabetic proinflammatory state, as well as induce cell death and dysfunction in critical organ systems, including the cardiovascular and metabolic systems (2,3).