Frontiers in Pharmacology (May 2011)

SELECTIVITY AND SPECIFICITY OF SPHINGOSINE 1-PHOSPHATE RECEPTOR LIGANDS: ‘OFF-TARGETS’ OR COMPLEX PHARMACOLOGY?

  • Nigel John Pyne,
  • Susan ePyne

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2011.00026
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2

Abstract

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A recent perspective published in frontiers of Pharmacology by Salomone and Waeber (2011) discussed the selectivity and specificity of sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) receptor ligands. This perspective surveyed the use of various S1P receptor ligands and attempted to reconcile a number of inconsistencies in the predicted biological outcomes: these were interpreted as ‘off-target’ effects. Therefore the perspective cautioned against the use of these S1P receptor ligands. Here we highlight the complex pharmacology of S1P receptors, which along with ‘inside-out’ signalling might provide an alternative explanation for ‘off-target’ effects.

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