The role of sphingosine-1-phosphate in smooth muscle contraction.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite that is known to mediate diverse cellular responses including cell growth, survival, and migration. Most of these effects have been attributed to its binding to a specific subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), namely S1P(1-5). Recent studies have suggested that S1P also plays a prominent role in the contraction of various types of smooth muscle. This review provides a brief overview of its role in this process and also highlights how S1P-dependent signaling serves as an important regulator of smooth muscle contraction.