Sphingosine kinase interacts with TRAF2 and modulates tumor necrosis factor-induced cellular activity

摘要

Disclosed is the use of an agent modulating the interaction of sphingosine kinase with a TRAF in the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of a condition in a mammal characterised by aberrant, unwanted or otherwise inappropriate cytokine induced cellular activity. Agonists and up-regulators of the sphingosine kinase/TRAF interaction have the effect of up-regulating cellular activity while antagonists down-regulate cellular activity. Also disclosed is a method of determining agents capable of interacting with the TRAF binding site comprising contacting sphingosine kinase with a putative agent and assessing the degree of interactive complementarity of the agent with the binding site.