Agonists and antagonists of sphingosine-1-phosphate receptors

A method for modulating the activity of an S1P receptor, said method comprising the step of contacting said receptor with a compound of the general structure:

• wherein
• R11 is selected from the group consisting of C1–C18 alkyl C1–C18 alkenyl, and C1–C18 alkynyl;
• y is an integer ranging from 1–10;
• m is an integer ranging from 0–4;
• R7 and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of O, S and N;
• and R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, phosphate, phosphonate, methylene phosphonate, α-substituted methylene phosphonate, phosphate analogs and phosphonate analogs;
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.

A method of providing immunomodulation to a patient in need thereof, said method comprising the step of administering to said patient a composition comprising a compound of the general formula:

• wherein
• R1 is selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, optionally substituted aryl, optionally substituted heteroaryl, alkyl(optionally substituted aryl), arylalkyl and arylalkyl(optionally substituted)aryl;
• R2 and R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of H, NH2, OH, C1–C6 alkyl, —(C1–C4 alkyl)OH, —(C1–C4 alkyl)NH2, —(C1–C4 alkyl)aryl(C0–C4 alkyl) and —(C1–C4 alkyl)aryloxyaryl(C0–C4 alkyl) with the proviso that at least one of R2 and R3 is NH2;
• y is an integer from 1–10;
• R4 is selected from the group consisting of hydroxyl, phosphate, phosphonate, methylene phosphonate, α-substituted methylene phosphonate, phosphate analogs and phosphonate analogs;
• m is an integer ranging from 0 to 4;
• and
• R7 and R8 are independently selected from the group consisting of O, S and N,
• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof;
• and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.