Background
Sphingosine-1-phosphate is a bioactive lipid signaling molecule and an agonistic ligand of five specific G protein coupled receptors named S1P1-5.These receptors play a crucial role in the cardiovascular and immune system and in angiogenesis. The known compound FTY720 (Fingolimod) is a sphingosine analogue with immunosuppressive effects and was recently approved for treatment of multiple sclerosis in the United States and Russia.The synthetic sphingosine analogue Cis-4-methylsphingosine was firstly synthesized by R. R. Schmidt and coworkers in 1993 in nine steps.Similar to FTY720 this compound is phosphorylated in biological systems and inhibits the activity of different S1P-receptors, however the spectrum of receptors influenced by Cis-4-methylsphingosine is slightly different to that influenced by FTY720. Cis-4-methylsphingosine induces apoptosis of neuroblastoma cells.