Reagents that regulate human ceramide kinase protein activity and reagents
that bind to human ceramide kinase gene products can be used to regulate intracellular
signaling and consequently cell proliferation and apoptosis. Such regulation is
particularly useful for treating allergies including but not limited to asthma,
autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory disease, transplant
rejection, and cancer, particularly lymphocytic leukemias, and could be a useful
target of vaccination enhancing adjuvants. Central and peripheral nervous system
disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, also can be treated.