AUTHOR=Pyne Nigel J., Pyne Susan 

TITLE=Selectivity and Specificity of Sphingosine 1-Phosphate Receptor Ligands: “Off-Targets” or Complex Pharmacology?

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology

VOLUME=volume 2 - 2011

YEAR=2011

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2011.00026

DOI=10.3389/fphar.2011.00026

ISSN=1663-9812

ABSTRACT=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.