Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor signaling during acute kidney injury: The tissue is the issue

Sphingosine-1-phospate is a lipid mediator that has been implicated in protection from acute kidney injury (AKI) by activation of the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor S1P(1)R. A recent study demonstrates that mice with induced deletion of S1P1R on endothelial cells experience increased ischemia-induced AKI. These findings have important translational implications. Indeed, S1P1R agonists have been used for the treatment of patients suffering from autoimmune encephalitis. As such, endothelial S1P(1)R-signaling could be targeted for AKI prevention in surgical patients.