Methods and compositions are disclosed that are useful for the prevention and/or treatment of cardiovascular and cardiac diseases and disorders, or damage resulting from surgical or medical procedures that may cuase ischemic or ischemic/reperfusion damage in humans and cardiovascular trauma. The beneficial effects of the compositions and methods are achieved through the use of pharmaceutical compositions that include agents that interfere with the production and/or biological activities of sphingolipids and their metabolites, particularly sphingosine (SPH) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S-1-P). Also disclosed are methods for identifying and isolating therapeutic agents.
