C8 L-threo Ceramide is a bioactive sphingolipid and cell-permeable analog of naturally occurring ceramides. It is cytotoxic to U937 cells (IC50 = 10 μM) and, like C8 D-threo ceramide , induces nuclear DNA fragmentation 5- to 6-fold more potently than C8 L-erythro ceramide . C8 D-threo Ceramide also enhances V. cholerae cytolysin pore formation in liposome lipid membranes, as measured by calcein release, with a 50% release dose (RD50) value of ~30 μg/ml.

C8 Galactosylceramide is a synthetic C8 short-chain derivative of known membrane microdomain-forming sphingolipids. It increases the amount delivered and toxicity of doxorubicin in cancerous but not non-cancerous cells when incorporated into the nanoliposomal membrane of nanoliposomal-doxorubicin. C8 Galactosylceramide induces proliferation and cytokine production by splenocytes in vitro at concentrations ranging from 100-1,000 ng/ml but has no effect on natural killer T cell production in vivo. It also activates NF-κB production in C6 glioma cells when used at a concentration of 10 μM.

C8 D-threo Ceramide is a bioactive sphingolipid and cell-permeable analog of naturally occurring ceramides. It is cytotoxic to U937 cells (IC50 = 17 μM) and induces nuclear DNA fragmentation 5- to 6-fold more potently than C8 ceramide . C8 D-threo Ceramide is a substrate for E. coli diacylglycerol kinase. It activates ceramide-activated protein kinase (CAPK) in U937 cells. C8 D-threo Ceramide also enhances V. cholerae cytolysin pore formation in liposome lipid membranes, as measured by calcein release, with a 50% release dose (RD50) value of ~5 μg/ml.