Inhibition of beta(2) integrin-mediated leukocyte cell adhesion by leucine-leucine-glycine motif-containing peptides

J Cell Biol. 2001 May 28;153(5):905-16. doi: 10.1083/jcb.153.5.905.

Abstract

Many integrins mediate cell attachment to the extracellular matrix by recognizing short tripeptide sequences such as arginine-glycine-aspartic acid and leucine-aspartate-valine. Using phage display, we have now found that the leukocyte-specific beta(2) integrins bind sequences containing a leucine-leucine-glycine (LLG) tripeptide motif. An LLG motif is present on intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, the major beta(2) integrin ligand, but also on several matrix proteins, including von Willebrand factor. We developed a novel beta(2) integrin antagonist peptide CPCFLLGCC (called LLG-C4), the structure of which was determined by nuclear magnetic resonance. The LLG-C4 peptide inhibited leukocyte adhesion to ICAM-1, and, interestingly, also to von Willebrand factor. When immobilized on plastic, the LLG-C4 sequence supported the beta(2) integrin-mediated leukocyte adhesion, but not beta(1) or beta(3) integrin-mediated cell adhesion. These results suggest that LLG sequences exposed on ICAM-1 and on von Willebrand factor at sites of vascular injury play a role in the binding of leukocytes, and LLG-C4 and peptidomimetics derived from it could provide a therapeutic approach to inflammatory reactions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Motifs
  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents / pharmacology*
  • CD18 Antigens / metabolism*
  • Cations, Divalent / metabolism
  • Cell Adhesion / drug effects
  • Cell Movement / drug effects*
  • Disulfides / metabolism
  • Edetic Acid / pharmacology
  • Glutaral / metabolism
  • Glycine / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / chemistry
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism
  • Leucine / metabolism
  • Leukocytes / cytology*
  • Leukocytes / drug effects*
  • Models, Molecular
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides / chemical synthesis
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / metabolism
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Protein Conformation
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / metabolism
  • Substrate Specificity
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • von Willebrand Factor / chemistry
  • von Willebrand Factor / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents
  • CD18 Antigens
  • Cations, Divalent
  • Disulfides
  • Peptide Library
  • Peptides
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • von Willebrand Factor
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Edetic Acid
  • Leucine
  • Glutaral
  • Glycine