dihydrosphingosine1phosphate

Dihydrosphingosine-1-phosphate, also called dihydrosphingosine-1-phosphate (dhS1P), is a phosphorylated metabolite of dihydrosphingosine (sphinganine), a saturated backbone of sphingolipids. It is produced when dihydrosphingosine is phosphorylated by sphingosine kinases (SphK1 and SphK2), a pathway similar to the formation of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P). Like S1P, dhS1P can be further metabolized by S1P phosphatases or S1P lyase.

In signaling terms, dhS1P can act as a bioactive lipid that influences cellular processes. It is believed to interact with the same family of G protein–coupled receptors as S1P (S1PR1–5), though with different affinities and potencies depending on the receptor subtype and cellular context. There is also evidence that dhS1P can exert receptor-independent effects in certain settings, contributing to intracellular signaling pathways that regulate cell migration, proliferation, and vascular function. Overall, dhS1P signaling is considered to be complementary to S1P signaling, with distinct quantitative and possibly qualitative outcomes.

Biological and clinical relevance remains an area of active investigation. dhS1P is detected in cells and, at lower levels than S1P, in biological fluids; its precise distribution and flux vary across tissues and conditions. Research has explored roles for dhS1P in immune regulation, angiogenesis, and cancer biology, highlighting the potential for therapeutic strategies targeting dhS1P signaling. Analytical approaches such as mass spectrometry are used to quantify dhS1P in experimental samples.