(R)-FTY720-OMe is a structural analogue of FTY720 which acts as a specific competitive inhibitor of sphingosine kinase 2 (SK2). Furthermore, (R)-FTY720-OMe does not inhibit sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) activity.
FTY720, an immune modulator, down-regulates sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors, enhances the activity of sphingosine transporter Abcb1 and leukotriene C4 transporter Abcc1, and inhibits cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity. Its efficacy relies on in vivo phosphorylation by sphingosine kinases, resulting in FTY720-phosphate which also down-regulates S1P receptors. NBD-FTY720, a fluorescently-labeled analog of FTY720, retains the hydroxy methyl side chain targeted for phosphorylation, suggesting potential phosphorylation in vivo.
FTY720 is a derivative of ISP-1 (myriocin), a fungal metabolite of the Chinese herb Iscaria sinclarii as well as a structural analog of sphingosine. It is a novel immune modulator that prolongs allograft transplant survival in numerous models by inhibiting lymphocyte emigration from lymphoid organs. FTY720 is phosphorylated by sphingosine kinase, which then acts as a potent agonist at four of the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors (S1P1, S1P3, S1P4, and S1P5). Down-regulation of S1P1 receptors on T and B lymphocytes by FTY720 results in defective egress of these cells from spleen, lymph nodes, and Peyer's patch. azido-FTY720 is a highly photoreactive analog of FTY720 that can be used to identify receptor binding sites for this ligand.
(S)-FTY-720 Vinylphosphonate inhibits sphingosine kinase 1 and promotes its proteasomal degradation in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle, breast cancer cells, and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells.