A cell-permeable analog of naturally occurring ceramides; stimulates cholesterol efflux in CHO cells expressing the human ABCA1 receptor (10 μM); inhibits IL-4 production by 17% in EL4 T cells stimulated with PMA when used at a concentration of 10 μM; induces cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase and a 7-fold increase in sphingosine accumulation as well as inhibits growth of HL-60 leukemia cells,