Figure 2. Potential strategies to improve homing of HSPCs by targeting the S1P–S1P receptor axis.
S1P-mediated mobilization and homing of BMSPCs is mediated by S1P1 and S1P3 while S1P2 is known to inhibit this mobilization. Mobilization of BMSPCs could be improved by upregulating S1P levels via inhibition of sphingosine-1 lyase enzyme, using DOP or THI, thus creating a gradient for stem cell mobilization. Further, specific agonists of S1P1 (such as S1P and SEW2871) and S1P3 (such as VPC20139); or S1P2 antagonists (such as JTE013) can also enhance the mobilization and homing processes.