Ceramide generation and apoptosis in autoimmunity

Apoptotic cell death was originally distinguished from necrosis based on morphological differences and on the tendency of necrotic, but not apoptotic, cells to induce an inflammatory response. Although it is still not clear how necrotic cells trigger inflammation, this capacity may be critical in relating tissue damage to the generation of an immune response. Ceramide has received substantial interest for its modulatory role in the path of programmed cell death (apoptosis). These studies have led to new understanding of some of the underlying pathology of several diseases with imbalances in the ceramide metabolism leading to undesired cell activation, imbalance in apoptosis and inflammatory processes.