Catalyzes the phosphorylation of sphingosine to form sphingosine 1-phosphate (SPP), a lipid mediator with both intra- and extracellular functions. Also acts on D-erythro-sphingosine and to a lesser extent sphinganine, but not other lipids, such as D,L-threo-dihydrosphingosine, N,N-dimethylsphingosine, diacylglycerol, ceramide, or phosphatidylinositol (PubMed:11923095, PubMed:20577214, PubMed:23602659, PubMed:24929359, PubMed:29662056). In contrast to proapoptotic SPHK2, has a negative effect on intracellular ceramide levels, enhances cell growth and inhibits apoptosis (PubMed:16118219). Involved in the regulation of inflammatory response and neuroinflammation. Via the product sphingosine 1-phosphate, stimulates TRAF2 E3 ubiquitin ligase activity, and promotes activation of NF-kappa-B in response to TNF signaling leading to IL17 secretion (PubMed:20577214). In response to TNF and in parallel to NF-kappa-B activation, negatively regulates RANTES induction through p38 MAPK signaling pathway (PubMed:23935096). Involved in endocytic membrane trafficking induced by sphingosine, recruited to dilate endosomes, also plays a role on later stages of endosomal maturation and membrane fusion independently of its kinase activity (PubMed:24929359, PubMed:28049734). In Purkinje cells, seems to be also involved in the regulation of autophagosome-lysosome fusion upon VEGFA (PubMed:25417698). ; Has serine acetyltransferase activity on PTGS2/COX2 in an acetyl-CoA dependent manner. The acetyltransferase activity increases in presence of the kinase substrate, sphingosine. During neuroinflammation, through PTGS2 acetylation, promotes neuronal secretion of specialized preresolving mediators (SPMs), especially 15-R-lipoxin A4, which results in an increase of phagocytic microglia.
