β-Glucosylceramides or glucocerebrosides (GlcCers) are synthesized from the glycosphingolipids by β-GlcCer synthase. They are synthesized in Golgi and endoplasmic reticulum and localized in the cytosolic side of cell membrane. GlcCers are omnipresent.
β-Glucosylceramides (β-GlcCer) levels are elevated inlevels in Gaucher′s disease, due to the deficiency of β-glucosidase. β-GlcCer participates in the inflammatory and acquired immune responses by binding mincle on myeloid cells and has immunostimulatory activity.