Abstract: The disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition containing an anti-IgE antibody that suppresses the production of allergen-specific IgE antibodies and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition containing an anti-IgE antibody that suppresses the production of allergen-specific IgE antibodies and methods of use thereof.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a pharmaceutical composition containing an anti-IgE antibody that suppresses the production of allergen-specific IgE antibodies and methods of use thereof

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for augmenting an immunogenicity of an antigen in a mammal, comprising administering said antigen together with an adjuvant composition that includes glycosylceramide, preferably ?-galactosylceramide (?-GalCer). According to the present invention, the use of glycosylceramide as an adjuvant is attributed at least in part to the enhancement and/or extension of antigen-specific Th1-type responses, in particular, CD8+ T cell responses. The methods and compositions of the present invention can be useful for prophylaxis and treatment of various infectious and neoplastic diseases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for activating human-derived antigen-presenting cells by in vitro cultivation with at least one of the glycoside compounds represented by formula (A) or salts thereof [preferred example: (2S,3S,4R)-1-(?-D-galactopyranosyloxy)-2-hexacosanoylamino-3,4-octadecanediol], and to human antigen-presenting cells activated by the method. The invention also relates to a method for treatment of cancer and infectious diseases including AIDS with the activated human antigen-presenting cells, and to a use of the activated human antigen-presenting cells in the preparation of medicines for treating such diseases. The invention can provide a satisfactory therapeutic effect on cancer and infectious diseases including AIDS without the need to pulse the human antigen-presenting cells with tumor antigens.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for activating human-derived antigen-presenting cells by in vitro cultivation with at least one of the glycoside compounds represented by formula (A) or salts thereof [preferred example: (2S,3S,4R)-1-(?-D-galactopyranosyloxy)-2-hexacosanoylamino-3,4-octadecanediol], and to human antigen-presenting cells activated by the method. The invention also relates to a method for treatment of cancer and infectious diseases including AIDS with the activated human antigen-presenting cells, and to a use of the activated human antigen-presenting cells in the preparation of medicines for treating such diseases. The invention can provide a satisfactory therapeutic effect on cancer and infectious diseases including AIDS without the need to pulse the human antigen-presenting cells with tumor antigens.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide NKT cell-activating agents, therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases (for example, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis and human type I diabetes), and abortifacients. The medicinal compositions according to the present invention comprise &agr;-glycosylceramides of the following formula (I), or a salt or a solvate thereof as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and compositions for augmenting an immunogenicity of an antigen in a mammal, comprising administering said antigen together with an adjuvant composition that includes glycosylceramide, preferably &agr;-galactosylceramide (&agr;-GalCer). According to the present invention, the use of glycosylceramide as an adjuvant is attributed at least in part to the enhancement and/or extension of antigen-specific Th1-type responses, in particular, CD8+ T cell responses. The methods and compositions of the present invention can be useful for prophylaxis and treatment of various infectious and neoplastic diseases.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide NKT cell-activating agents, therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases (for example, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis and human type I diabetes), and abortifacients. The medicinal compositions according to the present invention comprise &agr;-glycosylceramides of the following formula (I), or a salt or a solvate thereof as an active ingredient.

Abstract: An objective of the present invention is to provide NKT cell-activating agents, therapeutic agents for autoimmune diseases (for example, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis and human type I diabetes), and abortifacients. The medicinal compositions according to the present invention comprise &agr;-glycosylceramides of the following formula (I), or a salt or a solvate thereof as an active ingredient.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for the treatment of thrombocytopenia wherein an effective amount of a compound represented by the formula (A) is administered to a patient: wherein R.sub.2 represents H or OH, X is an integer of 0-26 or R represents --(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.3, and R.sub.1 is a substituent defined by the following (a) to (d):(a) --CH.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3,(b) --CH(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3,(c) --CH(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, or(d) --CH.dbd.(CH)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3wherein Y is an integer of 5-17.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition (a marrow cell proliferation accelerator, a radioprotective agent, a therapeutic agent for thrombocytopenia) comprising a compound represented by the following formula (A), and to a therapeutic or prophylactic method (a method for accelerating marrow cell proliferation, a method for protecting human against radiation damage, a method for the treatment of thrombocytopenia) characterized in that an effective amount of a compound represented by the following formula (A) is administered to human: ##STR1## wherein R represents ##STR2## (wherein R.sub.2 represents H or OH, X is an integer of 0-26) or --(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.3, and R.sub.1 is one of the substituents defined by the following (a) to (d):--CH.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.Y CH.sub.3, (a)--CH(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.Y CH.sub.3, (b)--CH(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.Y CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, (c)and--CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.2).sub.Y CH.sub.3 (d)(wherein Y is an integer of 5-17).

Abstract: The present invention relates to the novel .alpha.-galactosylceramide represented by the formula (A): ##STR1## wherein R represents ##STR2## where R.sub.2 represents H or OH and X denotes an integer of 0-26, or R represents --(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.3 and R.sub.1 represents any one of the substituents defined by the following (a)-(e):(a) --CH.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.Y CH.sub.3,(b) --CH(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.Y CH.sub.3,(c) --CH(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.Y CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2,(d) --CH.dbd.CH(CH.sub.2).sub.Y CH.sub.3, and(e) --CH(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.Y CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2 CH.sub.3,wherein Y denotes an integer of 5-17.The present invention also relates to an anti-tumor agent and an immunostimulator comprising one or more of the aforementioned compounds as effective ingredients.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sphingoglycolipid represented by the following formula (I) which is effective at a small dose and has an anti-tumor activity and an immunostimulating effect with few side-effects: ##STR1## wherein X denotes an integer from 10 to 24, Y denotes an integer from 9 to 13,R.sub.1 represents a hexosyl, pentosyl, deoxyhexosyl, aminohexosyl, N-acetylaminohexosyl or a halide thereof or a sialic acid,R.sub.2 represents H or a group OR.sub.2 ', wherein R.sub.2 ' represents H or a galactosyl or glucosyl group,R.sub.3 represents H or a group OR.sub.3 ', wherein R.sub.3 ' represents H or a galactosyl or glucosyl group,R.sub.4 represents a galactosyl group or H,R.sub.5 represents a methyl or isopropyl group,R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 respectively represents H or form a double bond between the two carbon atoms to which R.sub.6 and R.sub.7 are attached,except for the case where R.sub.1 represents .alpha.-galactosyl and R.sub.4 represents H.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a sphingoglycolipid represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## wherein R.sub.1, R.sub.2 and R.sub.5 represent H or a specific monosaccharide; R.sub.3 and R.sub.6 represent H or OH, respectively;R.sub.4 represents H, OH or a specific monosaccharide;X denotes an integer from 19 to 23;R.sub.7 represents any one of the following groups (a)-(g):(a) --(CH.sub.2).sub.11 --CH.sub.3,(b) --(CH.sub.2).sub.12 --CH.sub.3,(c) --(CH.sub.2).sub.13 --CH.sub.3,(d) --(CH.sub.2).sub.9 --CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2,(e) --(CH.sub.2).sub.10 --CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2,(f) --(CH.sub.2).sub.11 --CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2,(g) --(CH.sub.2).sub.11 --CH(CH.sub.3)--C.sub.2 H.sub.5.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition (a marrow cell proliferation accelerator, a radioprotective agent, a therapeutic agent for thrombocytopenia) comprising a compound represented by the following formula (A), and to a therapeutic or prophylactic method (a method for accelerating marrow cell proliferation, a method for protecting human against radiation damage, a method for the treatment of thrombocytopenia) characterized in that an effective amount of a compound represented by the following formula (A) is administered to human: ##STR1## wherein R.sub.2 represents ##STR2## 26) or --(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH=CH(CH.sub.2).sub.7 CH.sub.3, and R.sub.1, is one of the substituents defined by the following (a) to (d):(a) --CH.sub.2 (CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3,(b) --CH(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.y (CH.sub.3).sub.2, and(c) --CH(OH)(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, and(d) --CH=CH(CH.sub.2).sub.y CH.sub.3(wherein Y is an integer of 5-17).