C8 Dihydroceramide acts as a negative control for C8 Ceramide, a cell-permeable analog of natural ceramides. C8 Ceramide, also known as N-Octanoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine, exhibits potent chemotherapeutic properties and anti-proliferation effects. Additionally, it stimulates dendritic cells to enhance T cell responses during viral infections. In vitro studies have also shown that C8 Ceramide induces a slight activation of protein kinase (PKC) [4].
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 sphingosinekinase, 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.
(R)-FTY720-OMe is a structural analogue of FTY720 which acts as a specific competitive inhibitor of sphingosinekinase 2 (SK2). Furthermore, (R)-FTY720-OMe does not inhibit sphingosinekinase 1 (SK1) activity.