Abstract: Disclosed are a highly safe treatment method for hyperlipidemia and a therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia. Specifically, the invention provides a novel method for screening an agent for treating hyperlipidemia, more specifically, a method for screening a substance that can inhibit the production or function of gangliosides, particularly GM3, or inhibit the activity or expression of GM3 synthase to reduce a blood lipid level. A pharmaceutical composition, which can specifically inhibit the production of gangliosides, particularly GM3, thereby effective for hyperlipidemia treatment, and others are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to selectively controlling the function of a helper T cell. In the present invention, a mouse lacking a gene involved in ganglioside biosynthesis (ganglioside GM3 synthetase gene) (SAT-I KO) was produced and analyzed. As a result, the present invention provides, for example, a method for screening a substance which induces selective suppression of the function of a helper T cell in an immune response, including control of production of a sphingoglycolipid in the helper T cell, and moderation or suppression of an excessive immune response caused by the suppression of the function, that is, a substance having an immunosuppression activity, an anti-asthmatic action and/or an anti-allergic action.

Abstract: Disclosed is a simple method for detecting a pathological condition of an insulin-resistant disease, particularly type-2 diabetes. The method comprises quantifying the ganglioside GM3 in a blood sample separated from a living body. More specifically, the method comprises the following steps (a) to (c): (a) separating a plasma or serum from the blood collected from a human; (b) quantifying the ganglioside GM3 in the plasma or serum; and (c) comparing the quantified ganglioside GM3 level to the mean ganglioside GM3 level determined in blood samples from healthy volunteers.

Abstract: Disclosed are a highly safe treatment method for hyperlipidemia and a therapeutic agent for hyperlipidemia. Specifically, the invention provides a novel method for screening an agent for treating hyperlipidemia, more specifically, a method for screening a substance that can inhibit the production or function of gangliosides, particularly GM3, or inhibit the activity or expression of GM3 synthase to reduce a blood lipid level. A pharmaceutical composition, which can specifically inhibit the production of gangliosides, particularly GM3, thereby effective for hyperlipidemia treatment, and others are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to selectively controlling the function of a helper T cell. In the present invention, a mouse lacking a gene involved in ganglioside biosynthesis (ganglioside GM3 synthetase gene) (SAT-I KO) was produced and analyzed. As a result, the present invention provides, for example, a method for screening a substance which induces selective suppression of the function of a helper T cell in an immune response, including control of production of a sphingoglycolipid in the helper T cell, and moderation or suppression of an excessive immune response caused by the suppression of the function, that is, a substance having an immunosuppression activity, an anti-asthmatic action and/or an anti-allergic action.

Abstract: Disclosed is a simple method for detecting a pathological condition of an insulin-resistant disease, particularly type-2 diabetes. The method comprises quantifying the ganglioside GM3 in a blood sample separated from a living body. More specifically, the method comprises the following steps (a) to (c): (a) separating a plasma or serum from the blood collected from a human; (b) quantifying the ganglioside GM3 in the plasma or serum; and (c) comparing the quantified ganglioside GM3 level to the mean ganglioside GM3 level determined in blood samples from healthy volunteers.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 2-acylamino alcohol derivative which comprises (A) reacting an aminopropanol derivative represented by the following formula (1): Y—CH2—C*H (NHP1)—C*H(OH)—R1   (1) with an amine represented by R2H to synthesize an amino alcohol derivative represented by the following formula (2): R2—CH2—C*H(NHP1)—C*H(OH)—R1   (2) (B) leaving P1 from said amino alcohol derivative represented by formula (2) to synthesize an amino alcohol derivative represented by the following formula (3): R2—CH2—C*H(NH2)—C*H(OH)—R1   (3) (C) reacting said amino alcohol derivative represented by formula (3) with a carboxylic acid represented by R11COOH or a reactive derivative thereof to prepare a 2-acylamino alcohol derivative represented by the following formula (4): R2—CH2—C*H(NHCOR11)—C*H(OH)—R1   (4 ) wherein * represents an asymmetric carbon atom, and P1, R1, R2 and R

Abstract: Amino alcohol derivatives with a primary amino group or a substituted amino group influence the synthesis of glycolipids and have antiviral, antitumor, metastasis inhibiting and neural cell growth enhancing functions. The amino alcohol derivatives are useful in preparing 2-acylamino alcohol derivatives.

Abstract: The present invention provides a compound which is a glycolipid analog having a novel structure represented by the formula (1): ##STR1## wherein Z represents an imino group, an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom; m is an integer of from 3 to 12; and n is an integer of from 4 to 22; and shows a potent activity of inhibiting glycosidase and has potential physiological activities, for example, antiviral activity. The invention also provides a glycosidase inhibitor which comprises said glycolipid analog as an active ingredient.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agent for curing neuronal diseases caused by disorders of peripheral nervous system or central nervous system, which comprises a 2-acylaminopropanol compound of the formula: ##STR1## wherein R.sup.1 represents a phenyl group or cyclohexyl group each of which may be substituted by 1 to 3 same or different substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy and nitro, or represents an alkyl group, and n represents an integer of 0 to 16,or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an effective ingredient.

Abstract: This invention relates to a 2-acylaminopropanol compound represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## (wherein R.sup.1 represents a phenyl group which may be substituted by 1 to 3 same or different substituents selected from alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxyl, hydroxyalkyl and nitro, R.sup.2 represents the following formula (II), (III), (IV), (V) or (VI), ##STR2## (wherein R.sup.3, R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6, R.sup.7, R.sup.8, R.sup.9, m and p are those defined in the specification) R.sup.11 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydroxyl group, and n represents an integer of 3 to 15) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

Abstract: Disclosed is an agent for curing neuronal diseases caused by disorders of peripheral nervous system or central nervous system, which comprises a 2-acylaminopropanol derivative represented by the formula (I): ##STR1## ?wherein R.sup.1 represents a phenyl group or cyclohexyl group each of which may be substituted by 1 to 3 same or different substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxy, hydroxy and nitro, or represents an alkyl group, and n represents an integer of 0 to 16! or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an effective ingredient. It accelerates neurite extension and synapse formation by elevating biosynthesis of endogenous sphingoglycolipid of neurocytes, particularly ganglioside, whereby it can be used for curing various diseases of central nervous system and peripheral nervous system.