Lipid rafts and redox signaling.

In addition to the amplifying action of enzymes in the cell-signaling cascade, another important mechanism has been shown to amplify the signals massively when ligands bind to their receptors, which is characterized by clustering of membrane lipid microdomains or lipid rafts and formation of various signaling platforms. In this process, many receptor molecules aggregate on stimulation, thereby resulting in a very high density of the receptors and other signaling molecules to form signaling platforms and transmit and amplify the signals from receptor activation. Recent studies have indicated lipid rafts or lipid microdomain platforms may be importantly implicated in redox signaling of a variety of cells in response to agonists or stimuli. In this forum, we collected four original research communications, five review articles, and one news or views report to summarize recent progress in this research area. Information is offered for further understanding of the formation and function of lipid rafts and ceramide-enriched platforms and their roles in redox signaling. We hope that this forum could lead to more studies in this area and enhance our understanding of lipid rafts and redox regulation under physiologic and pathologic conditions.