α-Galactosylceramides and glycosylceramides (“ceramide-like glycolipids”) that modulate NK T cells. The ceramide-like glycolipids vary in the cytokines induced in NK T cells and vary in the antigen-presenting cells that are capable of efficiently presenting the compounds to NK T cells. Pharmaceutical compositions of the ceramide-like glycolipids are provided, as are pharmaceutical compositions of the ceramide-like glycolipids combined with dendritic cells. Methods utilizing the ceramide-like glycolipids in vaccines, to activate NK T cells, to stimulate the immune system, and to treat mammals are also provided. The invention also provides methods of evaluating a compound for its ability to activate an NK T cell in the presence of a cell expressing a CD1d protein.
α-半
乳糖基神经酰胺和糖基神经酰胺(“类神经酰胺
糖脂”),调节NK T细胞。这些类神经酰胺
糖脂在NK T细胞中诱导的细胞因子中有所不同,并且在有效呈递这些化合物给NK T细胞的抗原呈递细胞中也有所不同。提供了含有类神经酰胺
糖脂的药物组合物,以及与树突状细胞结合的类神经酰胺
糖脂的药物组合物。还提供了利用这些类神经酰胺
糖脂制备疫苗、激活NK T细胞、刺激免疫系统和治疗哺乳动物的方法。本发明还提供了评估化合物在表达CD1d蛋白的细胞存在下激活NK T细胞能力的方法。