What is "fiasma"

Functional inhibitors of acid sphingomyelinase, or FIASMA, is a term which characterizes a large group of pharmacological compounds inhibiting the enzyme acid sphingomyelinase (ASM, EC 3.1.4.12). This enzyme is mainly located within the lysosome, where it cleaves sphingomyelin to ceramide and sphingosine, the latter of which is then phosphorylated to sphingosine-1-phosphate. These metabolites, and subsequent inhibition of the enzyme, influence the balance between cell death ( apoptosis) and cell growth (proliferation). A lack of regulation of this sensitive equilibrium can lead to serious clinical consequences.