Minimum structure requirement of immunomodulatory glycolipids for predominant Th2 cytokine induction and the discovery of non-linear phytosphingosine analogs.

Analogs of immunomodulatory glycolipid OCH (2) were prepared and minimum structure requirement to exhibit equivalent profiles was disclosed. Analogs bearing non-linear hydrocarbon chain in the phytosphingosine moiety (18, 19) were shown for the first time to possess comparable cytokine inducing profile to 2. Molecular modeling of 2/hCD1d complex based on the crystal structure of alpha-GalCer (1)/hCD1d complex is also described.