Targeting ceramides in metabolic syndrome: recent advances and therapeutic opportunities

Ceramides are bifunctional molecules that act as both structural constituents of cellular membranes and bioactive effectors in sphingolipid signaling. Their metabolic perturbation is a hallmark of metabolic syndrome, such as obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and atherosclerosis. Among the numerous ceramide species, the long-chain species C16:0 and C18:0 have garnered particular attention due to their robust pathogenic roles and strong associations with human disease. This review critically examines the potential of ceramides as predictive biomarkers and provides novel translational perspectives for the clinical management of metabolic syndrome.