Glucocerebroside treatment of disease

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for the treatment of immune mediated or immune related diseases or disorders, infectious diseases, metabolic disorders and cancer in mammalian subjects. This method comprises the administration of a naturally occurring, mammalian intermediary metabolite or T cell receptor ligand, preferably a glucosylceramide, to a mammalian subject. In a preferred embodiment, such mammalian subjects are human beings.

1 - 112 . (canceled) 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein said administering step comprises oral, intravenous, intraperitoneal, parenteral, mucosal, rectal or subcutaneous administration, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         114 . A method for treating Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) in a mammalian subject, comprising:
 administering to a mammalian subject having Inflammatory Bowel Disease a pharmaceutical composition comprising a therapeutically effective amount of a β-glucosylceramide,   wherein said administration improves the Inflammatory Bowel Disease in said mammalian subject.   
     
     
         115 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein the β-glucosylceramide is soy-derived. 
     
     
         116 . The method according to  claim 114 , wherein said subject is subjected to fasting for a minimum of twelve hours prior to said administration of said β-glucosylceramide. 
     
     
         117 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the β-glucosylceramide is soy-derived. 
     
     
         118 . The method of  claim 114 , wherein the mammalian subject is a human subject. 
     
     
         119 . The method of  claim 118 , wherein said administering step comprises enteral administration of said β-glucosylceramide. 
     
     
         120 . The method of  claim 118 , wherein said administering step comprises parenteral administration of said β-glucosylceramide. 
     
     
         121 . The method of  claim 115 , wherein the mammalian subject is a human subject. 
     
     
         122 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein said administering step comprises enteral administration of said β-glucosylceramide. 
     
     
         123 . The method of  claim 121 , wherein said administering step comprises parenteral administration of said β-glucosylceramide. 
     
     
         124 . The method of  claim 116 , wherein the mammalian subject is a human subject. 
     
     
         125 . The method of  claim 124 , wherein said administering step comprises enteral administration of said β-glucosylceramide. 
     
     
         126 . The method of  claim 124 , wherein said administering step comprises parenteral administration of said β-glucosylceramide. 
     
     
         127 . The method of  claim 117 , wherein the mammalian subject is a human subject. 
     
     
         128 . The method of  claim 127 , wherein said administering step comprises enteral administration of said β-glucosylceramide. 
     
     
         129 . The method of  claim 127 , wherein said administering step comprises parenteral administration of said β-glucosylceramide. 
     
     
         130 . The method of  claim 118 , wherein the Inflammatory Bowel Disease is ulcerative Colitis. 
     
     
         131 . The method of  claim 130 , wherein said administering step comprises rectal administration. 
     
     
         132 . The method of  claim 130 , wherein said administering step comprises parenteral administration. 
     
     
         133 . The method of  claim 130 , wherein said administering step comprises enteral administration. 
     
     
         135 . The method of  claim 118 , wherein said Inflammatory Bowel Disease is Crohn's disease. 
     
     
         136 . The method of  claim 135 , wherein said administering step comprises parenteral administration. 
     
     
         137 . The method of  claim 135 , wherein said administering step comprises enteral administration.