The role of sphingosine 1‐phosphate and its receptors in cardiovascular diseases

There are many different types of cardiovascular diseases, which impose a huge economic burden due to their extremely high mortality rates, so it is necessary to explore the underlying mechanisms to achieve better supportive and curative care outcomes. Sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid mediator with paracrine and autocrine activities that acts through its cell surface S1P receptors (S1PRs) and intracellular signals. In the circulatory system, S1P is indispensable for both normal and disease conditions; however, there are very different views on its diverse roles, and its specific relevance to cardiovascular pathogenesis remains elusive. Here, we review the synthesis, release and functions of S1P, specifically detail the roles of S1P and S1PRs in some common cardiovascular diseases, and then address several controversial points, finally, we focus on the development of S1P‐based therapeutic approaches in cardiovascular diseases, such as the selective S1PR1 modulator amiselimod (MT‐1303) and the non‐selective S1PR1 and S1PR3 agonist fingolimod, which may provide valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular diseases.