168 results about "Sphingolipid" patented technology

Methods and compositions are disclosed that are useful for the prevention and / or treatment of cardiovascular and cardiac diseases and disorders, or damage resulting from surgical or medical procedures that may cause ischemic or ischemic / reperfusion damage in humans; and cardiovascular trauma. The beneficial effects of the compositions and methods are achieved through the use of pharmaceutical compositions that include agents that interfere with the production and / or biological activities of sphingolipids and their metabolites, particularly sphingosine (SPH) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S-1-P). Also disclosed are methods for identifying and isolating therapeutic agents.

Methods and compositions are disclosed that are useful for the prevention and / or treatment of cardiovascular and cardiac diseases and disorders, or damage resulting from surgical or medical procedures that may cause ischemic or ischemic / reperfusion damage in humans; and cardiovascular trauma. The beneficial effects of the compositions and methods are achieved through the use of pharmaceutical compositions that include agents that interfere with the production and / or biological activities of sphingolipids and their metabolites, particularly sphingosine (SPH) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S-1-P). Also disclosed are methods for identifying and isolating therapeutic agents.

The invention relates to a soft hydrogel contact lens, especially a silicone hydrogel contact lens, which has a capability of delivering a hydrophobic comfort agent into the eye of a wearer. The hydrophobic comfort agent includes without limitation a monoglyceride, a diglyceride, a triglyceride, a glycolipid, a glyceroglycolipid, a sphingolipid, a sphingo-glycolipid, a phospholipid, a fatty acid, a fatty alcohol, a hydrocarbon having a C12-C28 chain in length, a mineral oil, a silicone oil, or a mixture thereof. It can be released from the soft hydrogel contact lens into the eye of a wearer when being worn so as to strengthen and stabilize the tear film lipid layer and alleviate the dryness of the eye.

Novel prodrugs of amino ceramide-like compounds are provided which inhibit glucosyl ceramide (GlcCer) formation by inhibiting the enzyme GlcCer synthase, thereby lowering the level of glycosphingolipids. The compounds of the present invention have improved GlcCer synthase inhibition activity and are therefore highly useful in therapeutic methods for treating various conditions and diseases associated with altered glycosphingolipid levels.

Novel amino ceramide-like compounds (1) are provided which inhibit glucosyl ceramide (GlcCer) formation by inhibiting the enzyme GlcCer synthase, thereby lowering the level of glycosphingolipids. The compounds of the present invention have improved GlcCer synthase inhibition activity and are therefore highly useful in therapeutic methods for treating various conditions and diseases associated with altered glycosphingolipid levels.

A method for producing a plant with increased yield as compared to a corresponding wild type plant whereby the method comprises at least the following step: increasing or generating in a plant or a part thereof one or more activities of a polypeptide selected from the group consisting of 2-oxoglutarate-dependent dioxygenase, 3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase, 3′-phosphoadenosine 5′-phosphate phosphatase, 4-diphosphocytidyl-2-C-methyl-D-erythritol kinase, 5OS chloroplast ribosomal protein L21, 57972199. R01.1-protein, 60952769. R01.1-protein, 60S ribosomal protein, ABC transporter family protein, AP2 domain-containing transcription factor, argonaute protein, AT1 G29250.1-protein, AT1 G53885-protein, AT2G35300-protein, AT3G04620-protein, AT4G01870-protein, AT5G42380-protein, AT5G47440-protein, CDS5394-protein, CDS5401_TRUNCATED-protein, cold response protein, cullin, Cytochrome P450, delta-8 sphingolipid desaturase, galactinol synthase, glutathione-S-transferase, GTPase, haspin-related protein, heat shock protein, heat shock transcription factor, histone H2B, jasmonate-zim-domain protein, mitochondrial asparaginyl-tRNA synthetase, Oligosaccharyltransferase, OS02G44730-protein, Oxygen-evolving enhancer protein, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase, peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase family protein, plastid lipid-associated protein, Polypyrimidine tract binding protein, PRLI-interacting factor, protein kinase, protein kinase family protein, rubisco subunit binding-protein beta subunit, serine acetyltransferase, serine hydroxymethyltransferase, small heat shock protein, S-ribosylhomocysteinase, sugar transporter, Thioredoxin H-type, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, ubiquitin-protein ligase, universal stress protein family protein, and Vacuolar protein.

Provided herein are sphingolipid compounds that are useful for activating natural killer T cells. Also provided are methods for treating or preventing a disease or disorder that is treatable by activating the immune system by stimulating natural killer T cells. The compounds are therefore useful for treating or reducing the likelihood of occurrence of an immune diseases and disorders, such as autoimmune diseases or disorders. The compounds may also be used for treating or reducing the likelihood of occurrence of a microbial infection or for treating or reducing the likelihood of occurrence of a cancer in a subject by administering the sphingolipid compounds described herein.

The present invention comprises a method for delivering pharmaceutical and / or imaging agents within and / or through the dermal, mucosal and other cellular membranes, and across the blood-brain barrier, utilizing a fusogenic protein. The fusogenic protein is associated with a phospholipid membrane, such as a liposome. The liposome may include dioleoylphosphatidylserine, a negatively charged long-chain lipid. Alternatively, the liposome is comprised of a mixture of negatively charged long-chain lipids, neutral long-chain lipids, and neutral short-chain lipids. Preferred fusogenic proteins include saposin C and other proteins, polypeptides and peptide analogs derived from saposin C. The active agent contained within the liposome may comprise biomolecules and / or organic molecules. This technology can be used for both cosmetic and medicinal applications in which the objective is delivery of the active agent within and / or beneath biological membranes or across the blood-brain barrier and neuronal membranes.

Disclosed herein are polar lipid mixtures, comprising glycerophospholipids such as phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylserine (PS) and phosphatidyl-inositol (PI), and sphingolipids such as sphyngomyelin (SM). Most importantly, the ratio of phospholipids in said mixture is comparable to that of HMF, and is represented by SM>PC>PE>PS>PI or SM=PC>PE>PS>PI. Processes for the preparation of said mixtures and uses thereof are also described herein.

The invention discloses a medical skin care agent and a preparation method thereof, wherein, the medical skin care agent provided in the invention mainly comprises chitosan or derivatives thereof, a gelling agent and preservative. Specifically, the gelling agent is advantaged in that: ceramide, a mixture of sphingolipids and phospholipids, ceramide analogue and the like are used to form a layered-structure gel phase structure which is similar to skin lipoid structure and capable of enhancing the lipoid structure of the skin itself, thereby realizing the function of repairing skin barrier; due to the adding of the chitosan or the derivatives thereof in the medical skin care agent, the medical skin care agent is provided with broad-spectrum anti-microbial property and can effectively repair common skin inflammation of redness, swelling, peeling, itching and the like for dry, damaged and sensitive skin, thereby realizing anti-microbial function and anti-inflammation function in medical skin care.

This invention pertains to pharmaceutical formulations which comprise (i) a drug (e.g., an amphiphilic drug) (e.g., an anthracycline) (e.g., doxorubicin) and (ii) a short-chain sphingolipid (e.g., a short-chain glycosphingolipid or a short-chain sphingomyelin) (e.g., N-octanoyl-glucosylceramide, referred to as C8-GlcCer) (e.g., N-hexanoyl-sphingomyelin, referred to herein as C6-SM), and which provide improved drug delivery and efficacy. The short-chain sphingolipidis selected from compounds of the following formula: wherein: R1 is independently: an O-linked saccharide group; or an O-linked polyhydric alcohol group; or: R1 is independently: an O-linked (optionally N-(C1-4alkyl)-substituted amino)-C1-6alkyl-phosphate group; or an O-linked (polyhydric alcohol-substituted)-C1-6alkyl-phosphate group; R2 is independently C3-9alkyl, and is independently unsubstituted or substituted; R3 is independently C7-19alkyl, and is independently unsubstituted or substituted; R4 is independently —H, —OH, or —O—C1-4alkyl; RN is independently —H or C1-4alkyl; the bond marked with an alpha (α) is independently a single bond or a double bond; if the bond marked with an alpha (α) is a double bond, then R5 is —H; if the bond marked with an alpha (α) is a single bond, then R5 is —H or —OH; the carbon atom marked (*) is independently in an R-configuration or an S-configuration; the carbon atom marked (**) is independently in an R-configuration or an S-configuration; and pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates, esters, ethers, chemically protected forms thereof. In one embodiment, the pharmaceutical formulation is a liposomal pharmaceutical formulation prepared using a mixture of lipids comprising, at least, vesicle-forming lipids (e.g., phospholipids) (e.g., phosphatidylcholines) (e.g., fully hydrogenated soy phosphatidylcholine (HSPC)) (e.g., dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC)) and said short-chain sphingolipid, and optionally cholesterol and optionally a vesicle-forming lipid which is derivatized with a polymer chain (e.g., a phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) which is derivatized with polyethyleneglycol (PEG)) (e.g., N-(carbonyl-methoxypolyethylene glycol 2000)-1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine sodium salt (MPEG2000-DSPE). The present invention also pertains to methods for the preparation and use of such formulations.

The present invention relates to a method for improving the composition of the intestinal flora, to a food comprising a sphingolipid for use in such a method, to methods for the preparation of such a food and to the use of sphingolipids for the preparation of a medicine for improving the composition of the intestinal flora. More in particular, the present invention relates to a method and food in which a sphingolipid chosen from the group consisting of phytosphingosine, sphingosine, lysosphingomyelin and sphinganine, or a precursor, a derivative, or suitable salt thereof is used.

The present invention comprises a method for delivering pharmaceutical and / or imaging agents within and / or through the dermal, mucosal and other cellular membranes, and across the blood-brain barrier, utilizing a fusogenic protein. The fusogenic protein is associated with a phospholipid membrane, such as a liposome. The liposome may include dioleoylphosphatidylserine, a negatively charged long-chain lipid. Alternatively, the liposome is comprised of a mixture of negatively charged long-chain lipids, neutral long-chain lipids, and neutral short-chain lipids. Preferred fusogenic proteins include saposin C and other proteins, polypeptides and peptide analogs derived from saposin C. The active agent contained within the liposome may comprise biomolecules and / or organic molecules. This technology can be used for both cosmetic and medicinal applications in which the objective is delivery of the active agent within and / or beneath biological membranes or across the blood-brain barrier and neuronal membranes.

The present invention is in the field of prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis-related clinical conditions. In particular, the present invention relates to the use of sphingolipids, more preferably phytosphingosine, sphingosine, sphinganine, ceramide, cerebroside lyso-sphingomyelin and / or sphingomyelin for prevention and treatment of inflammatory processes associated with atherosclerosis, psoriasis, colitis or auto-immune diseases in a subject.

The present invention is directed to methods for treating rhinitis or sinusitis in a subject. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: identifying a subject in need thereof, and administering intranasally to the subject a formulation comprising an only active ingredient of an effective amount of rhamnolipid. In another embodiment, the method comprises the steps of: identifying a subject in need thereof, and administering intranasally to the subject a first active ingredient of an effective amount of a rhamnolipid and a second active ingredient of an effective amount of a corticosteroid, an antihistamine, a leukotriene antagonist, cromylin, an antibiotic, a sphingolipid, or a decongestant.

The present invention relates to cationic ceramides, their dihydro-analogs and aromatic analogs and their derivatives, comprising a pyridinium group. Also provided are methods for making cationic ceramides comprising a pyridinium group, and their use for treating or preventing diseases associated with cell overproliferation and sphingolipid signal transduction, such as cancer, inflammation, and stenosis. The compounds are also useful as mitochondritropic agents that are localized to mitochondria carrying with them chemical cargoes, such as drugs, or signaling molecules, such as fluorophores for probing organelle structure and functions.

A cosmetic composition containing from about 1% to about 50% by weight of membrane-forming sphingolipids and / or galactolipids and about 5% to about 50% by weight of a fluorocarbon or fluorocarbon mixture charged with oxygen. Surprisingly, it has been shown that the use of membrane-forming sphingolipids and / or galactolipids as transport vesicles or for the formation of transport vesicles for a fluorocarbon or fluorocarbon mixture charged with oxygen results in excellent transport of oxygen through the stratum corneum of the skin and the epidermis in a manner which is far superior to known transport systems.

A nutritional composition comprising phospholipids, sphingolipids and cholesterol for the prevention of obesity and / or diabetes is provided.

The invention discloses a large-scale blood plasma sphingolipid profile analysis method based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry combination, which is characterized in that sphingolipid in blood plasma is extracted by double-phase extraction with methyl tertiary butyl ether / methanol / water (MTBE / MeOH / H2O) combined with mild basic hydrolysis. Then rapid semi-quantitative analysis is realized within 15 min by combination of ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electro-spray ionization-mass spectrometry. In the invention, the MTBE / MeOH / H2O extraction system is simple, rapid, and easy to operate, has less protein interference in the extract, and has good repeatability; interference of high-abundance phospholipid and glyceride in the lipid group is eliminated by hydrolysis; ion inhibition is reduced; therefore, the purpose of detecting low-abundance sphingolipid with high sensitivity is achieved. With the high resolution separation capability of subsequent ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) and the specificity of MRM, effective distinguishing of isomers is realized, and the introduction of complex isotope correction during quantification is avoided, which makes the method more rapid and accurate.

Pathogenic effector proteins which include one or more RxLR, dEER, Pexel or analogous motifs are blocked from entry into plant or animal cells by binding one or more of the motifs with a blocking compound which prevents binding of phosphoinositides or other polar lipids to the motifs which is a prerequisite for translocation of the pathogenic effector proteins into the plant or animal cell. The blocking compounds can take a variety of forms including synthetic peptides or the hydrophilic head-groups of phosphoinositides, phosphatidic acids, phospholipids, or sphingolipids. Suitable blocking compounds can be identified by assays demonstrating binding to RxLR, dEER, Pexel or analogous motifs. In addition, pathogenic effector proteins can be identified by analyzing whether they contain structural RxLR motifs using hidden markov modeling.

Compositions, methods and kits for diagnosing and treating cancer and muscular disorders are provided. Therapeutic compositions may comprise agents that modulate sphingolipid metabolism and / or signaling pathways. Such compositions may be administered to a mammal afflicted with cancer. Diagnostic methods and kits may employ an agent suitable for detecting alterations in endogenous genes involved in sphingolipid metabolism. Such methods and kits may be used to detect the presence of a cancer or to evaluate the prognosis of a known disease. SPL polypeptides, polynucleotides and antibodies are also provided.

The invention relates to a soft hydrogel contact lens, especially a silicone hydrogel contact lens, which has a capability of delivering a hydrophobic comfort agent into the eye of a wearer. The hydrophobic comfort agent includes without limitation a monoglyceride, a diglyceride, a triglyceride, a glycolipid, a glyceroglycolipid, a sphingolipid, a sphingo-glycolipid, a phospholipid, a fatty acid, a fatty alcohol, a hydrocarbon having a C12-C28 chain in length, a mineral oil, a silicone oil, or a mixture thereof. It can be released from the soft hydrogel contact lens into the eye of a wearer when being worn so as to strengthen and stabilize the tear film lipid layer and alleviate the dryness of the eye.

The present invention comprises a method for delivering pharmaceutical and / or imaging agents within and / or through the dermal, mucosal and other cellular membranes, and across the blood-brain barrier, utilizing a fusogenic protein. The fusogenic protein is associated with a phospholipid membrane, such as a liposome. The liposome may include dioleoylphosphatidylserine, a negatively charged long-chain lipid. Alternatively, the liposome is comprised of a mixture of negatively charged long-chain lipids, neutral long-chain lipids, and neutral short-chain lipids. Preferred fusogenic proteins include saposin C and other proteins, polypeptides and peptide analogs derived from saposin C. The active agent contained within the liposome may comprise biomolecules and / or organic molecules. This technology can be used for both cosmetic and medicinal applications in which the objective is delivery of the active agent within and / or beneath biological membranes or across the blood-brain barrier and neuronal membranes.

The invention provides a pollen-specific promoter and application thereof. The promoter is derived from Brassica rapa and is an upstream sequence of a Delta8 sphingolipid desaturase gene. The promoter provided by the invention is a stable pollen-specific promoter having high specificity. The promoter can be used to promote the expression of various genes in pollen, and can be used for cultivatingmale sterile crop varieties and cultivating landscaping plants and the like with pollen eliminated or greatly reduced.

The invention discloses a method for specific separation and enrichment of acid sphingolipid and glycosphingolipid in human serum. The method realizes a sample preparation step of complex sphingolipidomics in serum through a titanium dioxide column separation technology, and comprises separation of neutral sphingolipid and the acid sphingolipid, and separation of the acid sphingolipid and the glycosphingolipid. The method provided by the invention can separate the neutral sphingolipid, the glycosphingolipid and the acid sphingolipid (such as phosphorylated sphingolipid and sulfatide), and consequently, realizes removal of nature determination and quantification to other minute amount even trace amount of sphingolipid (the glycosphingolipid and the phosphorylated sphingolipid) by high abundance neutral sphingolipid in mass spectrum. According to a titanium dioxide enrichment method in the method provided by the invention, eight biomarkers are detected from a clinical specimen, whereinthe biomarkers comprise ceramide in the neutral sphingolipid, S1P and C1p in the acid sphingolipid and the glycosphingolipid. And the eight biomarkers can distinguish Early and middle and advanced stage patients well.