Beta-galactosylceramide increases and sulfatide decreases cytokine and chemokine production in whole blood cells

A subset of human pancreatic beta cells express functional CD14 receptors: a signaling pathway for beta cell‐related glycolipids, sulfatide and β‐galactosylceramide

“…These glycolipids have been shown to modulate IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα production in mononuclear cells [22]. In β-cells, sulfatide and insulin localize to the same cellular compartments; sulfatide is probably involved in processing, maintenance and secretion of insulin [23][24][25].…”

Regulation of Fibroblasts by Activated and Non-activated Immune Cells

“…This cytokine is produced at PHA-stimulation 14,15 as well as by ex vivo propagated graft infiltrating cells 12,13 and in our previous studies has shown strong stimulating abilities when added to fibroblast cultures. 9 The contribution of other cytokines, such as IL-1, IFN-␥ and IL-6, which are all known to increase at PHA-stimulation 15 can of course not be ruled out.…”

The glycolipid sulfatide protects insulin‐producing cells against cytokine‐induced apoptosis, a possible role in diabetes

“…The glycolipid sulfatide has reliably been shown to decrease the release of cytotoxic cytokines from immune cells [25,26]. Here, we have investigated the ability of sulfatide to modulate the effect of cytotoxic cytokines on target cells, using the insulin-secreting INS-1E cells and rat pancreatic islets.…”

“…In vitro experiments hint at a possible chaperone-like effect of sulfatide: At the pH of the secretory granules sulfatide preserves insulin crystals, but when the pH is raised to that of the extracellular environment sulfatide facilitates insulin monomerisation [24]. Sulfatide appears to have immunomodulatory properties as well; lipopolysaccharide-and phytohemaglutinin-induced cytokine production in whole blood and isolated mononuclear cells is inhibited by sulfatide by more than 50%, whereas GalCer, the immediate precursor of sulfatide, increases cytokine production [25,26]. The expansion of auto-reactive T-cells is also inhibited by sulfatide [27].…”