The adipokine/ceramide axis: key aspects of insulin sensitization

Until recently, sphingolipid physiology was primarily the domain of oncologists and immunologists. However, mounting evidence implicates ceramides and their derivatives in various aspects of metabolism via directly impacting the insulin receptor as well as modulating cell survival and proliferation. More recent observations suggest a strong link between a number of adipokines and ceramide catabolism. Here, we aim to briefly review the available data on the established metabolic effects of sphingolipids in various cell types and will discuss how adipokines exert a critical influence on the steady state levels of these lipid mediators.