Generation of an LFA-1 antagonist by the transfer of the ICAM-1 immunoregulatory epitope to a small molecule

Science. 2002 Feb 8;295(5557):1086-9. doi: 10.1126/science.295.5557.1086.

Abstract

The protein-protein interaction between leukocyte functional antigen-1 (LFA-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is critical to lymphocyte and immune system function. Here, we report on the transfer of the contiguous, nonlinear epitope of ICAM-1, responsible for its association with LFA-1, to a small-molecule framework. These LFA-1 antagonists bound LFA-1, blocked binding of ICAM-1, and inhibited a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) with potency significantly greater than that of cyclosporine A. Furthermore, in comparison to an antibody to LFA-1, they exhibited significant anti-inflammatory effects in vivo. These results demonstrate the utility of small-molecule mimics of nonlinear protein epitopes and the protein epitopes themselves as leads in the identification of novel pharmaceutical agents.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / chemistry
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / metabolism
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / pharmacology
  • Cyclosporine / pharmacology
  • Dermatitis, Irritant / drug therapy
  • Dinitrofluorobenzene
  • Drug Design
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
  • Epitopes
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / immunology
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments / pharmacology
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / chemistry
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / metabolism
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / pharmacology*
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / chemistry
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / immunology*
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism*
  • Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / immunology
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Molecular Mimicry
  • Mutagenesis
  • Protein Structure, Secondary
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Thiophenes / chemical synthesis*
  • Thiophenes / chemistry
  • Thiophenes / metabolism
  • Thiophenes / pharmacology*
  • beta-Alanine / analogs & derivatives
  • beta-Alanine / chemical synthesis*
  • beta-Alanine / chemistry
  • beta-Alanine / metabolism
  • beta-Alanine / pharmacology*

Substances

  • 2-(4-(3-hydroxy-3-(hydroxyphenyl)propyl)-2,6-dichlorophenyl)carbomylamino-3-((thiophen-2-yl)carbonylamino)propanoic acid
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Epitopes
  • Immunoglobulin Fab Fragments
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1
  • Thiophenes
  • beta-Alanine
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Cyclosporine
  • Dinitrofluorobenzene