The Dual Lipid Desaturase/Hydroxylase DEGS2 Controls Phytoceramide Levels Necessary to Counter Intestinal Inflammation Icon for the Forest of Biologists

Scientists found and validated a mutation in delta 4-desaturase, sphingolipid 2 (Degs2) as causative in increasing susceptibility to colitis and altering the phytoceramide balance in the colon. DEGS2 was expressed in the intestinal epithelium, and the colitis phenotype is dependent on the non-hematopoietic compartment of the mouse.