Multiple sclerosis is characterized by a loss of which lipids: (A) Phospholipids and ceramide, (B) Sphingolipids and ceramide, (C) Sphingolipids and gangliosides, (D) Phospholipids and sphingolipids
Answer is D. Phospholipids and sphingolipids Ceramide is an impoant signaling molecule for apoptosis and is a precursor for glycosphingolipids and gangliosides. Sphingolipids and phospholipids are structural lipids in membranes. Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease in which both phospholipid and sphingolipid levels are decreased, unlike lipid storage diseases, which affect sphingolipid levels. Ref : www.ncbi.nlm.gov