Retinol derivatives useful for enhancing immune response

Abstract

The present invention provides a purified retinoid compound characterized by a molecular mass of about 320 daltons and an atomic composition of C.sub.20 H.sub.32 O.sub.3. The present invention also provides a purified retinoid compound having the following structure: ##STR1## wherein the configuration of C7, C9, and C11 double bond independently is Z or E and the absolute configuration at C13 and C14 is independently R or S; wherein R1 is hydroxyl, alkyl, alkyl halide, alcohol, ester, ether, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid, carboxylic ester, acyl halide, amide, nitrile, or amine; wherein R2 and R3 are independently hydroxyl, halide, alkoxy, ester, alkyl, alcohol, ether, aldehyde, ketone, carboxylic acid, carboxylic ester, nitrile, amine, azide, alkyl halide, acid halide, acid azide, or amide; or wherein R2 and R3, or R1 and R2 are replaced by a 13,14-oxirane or a 14,15-oxirane group, respectively. Also provided by this invention is a pharmaceutical composition which comprises the compound above and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. This invention further provides a growth medium comprising the compound above at a concentration effective to enhance cell growth. Additionally, the present invention provides a method of enhancing the growth of a cell, a method for enhancing an immune response in a subject, and a method for enhancing transcription of a gene regulated by a retinoid in a cell.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.