Sphingolipid derivatives and their methods of use

A sphingolipid derivative of the formula:

• wherein
• A is a spacer group which is (CH2)m where m=0-14, where any of the hydrogens may be independently replaced by R1 or X and where any two adjacent carbons may be independently replaced by a C3-C8 cycloalkyl group, a 1,2-, 1,3-, or 1,4-disubstituted benzene group, or a 2,3- 2,4-, or 2,5-disubstituted thiophene, furan or pyrrole group;
• Y, V and Q are independently hydrogen, OR1, NR2, CN, alkyl, acyl or carboxylate, and wherein alternatively, V and Y or Y and Q can together constitute a double or triple bond;
• X is hydrogen;
• W=no substituent, H, alkyl, aryl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, C(O)(CH2l )nCO2H, C(O)(CH2)nCW'2CO2H or OR1;
• W' is selected independently from H, alkyl, aryl, (CH2)nCO2H;
• (CH2)nCH(CO2H)—CH2CO2H;
• and (CH2)nCH(CO2H)CH(CH2CO2H)CO2H;
• Z is H, O, NH, NR, NHC(O), CO2, C(O)NH or C(O)NR;
• R is selected independently from H, alkyl, acyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, alkaryl, aralkyl or heteroaryl;
• R1 is R or R2;
• R2 is β-D-galatoside, N-acetyl-β-D-glucosamine, α-D-mannoside, β-D-cellobioside, β-D-glucopyranoside, β-D-galatopyranoside, β-D-glucuronide, starch, lactose, raffinose, stachyose, fructo-oligo-saccharide, or amide or ester of β-cyclodextrin, or dextran linked via succinate or glutarate, or furanose or pyranose carbohydrate;
• wherein there is at least one R2 substituent in the sphingolipid derivative.