Synthesis and biological properties of novel sphingosine derivatives

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S-1P) derivatives such as threo-(2S,3S)-analogues, which are C-3 stereoisomers of natural erythro-(2S,3R)-S-1P, have been synthesized starting from L-serine or (IS,2S)-2-amino-1-aryl-1,3-propanediols (6). threo-(IS,2R)2-Amino-1-aryl-3-bromopropanols (HBr salt) have also been prepared from 6. The threo-S-1Ps and the threo-amino-bromide derivatives have shown potent inhibitory activity against Ca2+ ion mobilization in HL60 cells induced by erythro-S-1P, suggesting that these compounds would compete with cell surface EDG/S1P receptors. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.