CERAMIDE DERIVATIVES AS MODULATORS OF IMMUNITY AND AUTOIMMUNITY

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide ceramide derivatives as modulators of immunity and autoimmunity.SOLUTION: Provided areα-galactosyl ceramide and glycosyl ceramide (ceramide-like glycolipids) for modulating NK T cells. The ceramide-like glycolipids vary in cytokines induced in the NK T cells and vary in the antigen-presenting cells that can efficiently present a compound to the NK T cells. Provided is a pharmaceutical composition comprising ceramide-like glycolipids and dendritic cells. Also provided is a method for utilizing ceramide-like glycolipids as vaccine to activate NK T cells, to stimulate the immune system and to treat mammals. The invention also provides a method for evaluating a compound for its ability to activate NK T cells in the presence of cells expressing CD1d protein.