Increase in secretory sphingomyelinase activity and specific ceramides in the aorta of apolipoprotein E knockout mice during aging.

Atherosclerosis is caused by many factors, one of which is oxidative stress. We recently demonstrated that systemic oxidative stress increased secretory sphingomyelinase (sSMase) activity and generated ceramides in the plasma of diabetic rats. In addition, we also showed that the total ceramide level in human plasma correlated with the level of oxidized low-density lipoprotein.

Neutral sphingomyelinase-induced ceramide accumulation by oxidative stress during carbon tetrachloride intoxication.

Ceramide is a biologically active lipid causing apoptosis in a variety of cells. In this study, we examined the effect of CCl4 on the ceramide metabolism and indicators of oxidative stress. After 12 h of oral administration of CCl4 (4 ml/kg body weight as a 1:1 mixture of CCl4 and mineral oil) to rats, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were increased.