Julie Saba, MD, PhD

Professor In Residence
Pediatrics
Research Description: 

physician-scientist
(she/her/hers)

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive lipid that plays important roles in development, vascular biology, immune cell trafficking, carcinogenesis and other physiological processes. S1P mediates its actions primarily by signaling through a family of G protein-coupled receptors. Our research group is investigating the role of S1P metabolism and signaling in development and disease using cellular and animal models, translational approaches and metabolomics profiling. Our recent findings demonstrate that defects in S1P metabolism underlie a novel childhood syndrome called sphingosine phosphate lyase insufficiency syndrome (SPLIS), which is characterized by defects of kidney, adrenal gland, neurological system, skin and immune system. We are now developing several therapeutic approaches to the treatment of SPLIS including gene therapy and cofactor supplementation.

Primary Thematic Area: 
Cancer Biology & Cell Signaling
Secondary Thematic Area: 
Human Genetics
Research Summary: 
Sphingolipid signaling and metabolism in the pathophysiology and treatment of cancer, inflammatory conditions, and rare diseases
Featured Publications: 

Mutations in sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase cause nephrosis with ichthyosis and adrenal insufficiency.

The Journal of clinical investigation

Lovric S, Goncalves S, Gee HY, Oskouian B, Srinivas H, Choi WI, Shril S, Ashraf S, Tan W, Rao J, Airik M, Schapiro D, Braun DA, Sadowski CE, Widmeier E, Jobst-Schwan T, Schmidt JM, Girik V, Capitani G, Suh JH, Lachaussée N, Arrondel C, Patat J, Gribouval O, Furlano M, Boyer O, Schmitt A, Vuiblet V, Hashmi S, Wilcken R, Bernier FP, Innes AM, Parboosingh JS, Lamont RE, Midgley JP, Wright N, Majewski J, Zenker M, Schaefer F, Kuss N, Greil J, Giese T, Schwarz K, Catheline V, Schanze D, Franke I, Sznajer Y, Truant AS, Adams B, Désir J, Biemann R, Pei Y, Ars E, Lloberas N, Madrid A, Dharnidharka VR, Connolly AM, Willing MC, Cooper MA, Lifton RP, Simons M, Riezman H, Antignac C, Saba JD, Hildebrandt F

Dendritic cell sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase regulates thymic egress.

The Journal of experimental medicine

Zamora-Pineda J, Kumar A, Suh JH, Zhang M, Saba JD

Sphingosine-1-phosphate lyase downregulation promotes colon carcinogenesis through STAT3-activated microRNAs.

The Journal of clinical investigation

Degagné E, Pandurangan A, Bandhuvula P, Kumar A, Eltanawy A, Zhang M, Yoshinaga Y, Nefedov M, de Jong PJ, Fong LG, Young SG, Bittman R, Ahmedi Y, Saba JD

MRI Spectrum of Brain Involvement in Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Lyase Insufficiency Syndrome.

AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology

Martin KW, Weaver N, Alhasan K, Gumus E, Sullivan BR, Zenker M, Hildebrandt F, Saba JD

Sphingosine-1-Phosphate Signaling and Metabolism Gene Signature in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Matched-case Control Pilot Study.

Inflammatory bowel diseases

Suh JH, Degagné É, Gleghorn EE, Setty M, Rodriguez A, Park KT, Verstraete SG, Heyman MB, Patel AS, Irek M, Gildengorin GL, Hubbard NE, Borowsky AD, Saba JD

Responsiveness of sphingosine phosphate lyase insufficiency syndrome to vitamin B6 cofactor supplementation.

Journal of inherited metabolic disease

Zhao P, Liu ID, Hodgin JB, Benke PI, Selva J, Torta F, Wenk MR, Endrizzi JA, West O, Ou W, Tang E, Goh DL, Tay SK, Yap HK, Loh A, Weaver N, Sullivan B, Larson A, Cooper MA, Alhasan K, Alangari AA, Salim S, Gumus E, Chen K, Zenker M, Hildebrandt F, Saba JD