A galactosylceramide, or galactocerebroside is a type of cerebroside consisting of a ceramide with a galactose residue at the 1-hydroxyl moiety. The galactose is cleaved by galactosylceramidase. Galactosylceramide is a marker for oligodendrocytes in the brain, whether or not they form myelin. α-Galactosylceramides are immunomodulatory and prevents or reduces autoimmune disorders such as Type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, bowel disease. Studies have found α-Galactosylceramides in the large intestines, produced by Bacteriodes, which activate iNKT cells via a CD1 dependent mechanism and plays a role in immune regulation. Additional images
See also Alpha-Galactosylceramide Krabbe disease Myelin
References
External links
Galactocerebrosides at the U.S. National Library of Medicine Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) CHEMBL110111