Alkaline ceramidase 3 (Acer3) mediates the immune response by regulating C18:1-ceramide levels in the cells of the innate immune system, and Acer3 deficiency increases the levels of proinflammatory cytokines in colonic epithelial cells; this effect may subsequently regulate the development and progression of intestinal cancer (114). The gene discussed is ACER3; the disease is intestinal cancer.