Sphingomyelin and ceramide: their role in cystic fibrosis, infection, emphysema and acute lung injury

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Chairs: S. Uhlig (Aachen, Germany), R. Tuder (Baltimore, United States of America)
Aims: The focus of the symposium is to present advances in sphingolipid research that provide exciting and novel insights into the pathogenesis of acute lung injury, pulmonary infection as in cystic fibrosis, emphysema, asthma and Niemann-Pick disease. A comprehensive introduction into sphingolipid biology will be provided in the first presentation.

Sphingolipids and emphysema I. Petrache (Indianapolis, United States of America)
Sphingomyelinase deficiency: Niemann-Pick disease and the lung A. Wells (London, United Kingdom)