Abstract
The functional studies of glycosphingolipids in hematology and immunology fields have been discussed in this review. First, (1) Glycolipid antigens known as cell surface differentiation antigens of human leukocytes, (2) glycosphingolipids that determine the differentiation direction of human myelogenous leukemia cell line HL-60 cells, (3) their expression control mechanism, and (4) the control mechanism of cell differentiation by the glycolipids are summarized. Subsequently, (5) sugar chain expression control mechanism of selectin ligands in human B lymphoid cell lines, (6) cytokine (IL-3) -associated and autonomous growth-associated ganglioside GD1a in mouse myelogenousleukemia cell line NFS60 cells, (7) its expression mechanism, and (8) its transcription and cell growth control mechanism through STATS are described.
