Selectins belong to a group of adhesion molecules that fulfill an essential role in immune and inflammatory responses and tissue healing. Selectins are glycoproteins that decode the information carried by glycan structures, and non-covalent interactions of selectins with these glycan structures mediate biological processes. The sialylated and fucosylated tetrasaccharide sLex is an essential glycan recognized by selectins. Several glycosyltransferases are responsible for the biosynthesis of the sLex tetrasaccharide. Selectins are involved in a sequence of interactions of circulated leukocytes with endothelial cells in the blood called the adhesion cascade. Recently, it has become evident that cancer cells utilize a similar adhesion cascade to promote metastases. However, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde's two faces, selectins also contribute to tissue destruction during some infections and inflammatory diseases. The most prominent function of selectins is associated with the initial stage of the leukocyte adhesion cascade, in which selectin binding enables tethering and rolling. The first adhesive event occurs through specific non-covalent interactions between selectins and their ligands, with glycans functioning as an interface between leukocytes or cancer cells and the endothelium. Targeting these interactions remains a principal strategy aimed at developing new therapies for the treatment of immune and inflammatory disorders and cancer. In this review, we will survey the significant contributions to and the current status of the understanding of the structure of selectins and the role of selectins in various biological processes. The potential of selectins and their ligands as therapeutic targets in chronic and acute inflammatory diseases and cancer will also be discussed. We will emphasize the structural characteristic of selectins and the catalytic mechanisms of glycosyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of glycan recognition determinants. Furthermore, recent achievements in the synthesis of selectin inhibitors will be reviewed with a focus on the various strategies used for the development of glycosyltransferase inhibitors, including substrate analog inhibitors and transition state analog inhibitors, which are based on knowledge of the catalytic mechanism.
- MeSH
- Cell Adhesion * MeSH
- Leukocytes metabolism pathology MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Neoplasm Proteins metabolism MeSH
- Neoplasms metabolism pathology MeSH
- Leukocyte Rolling * MeSH
- Selectins metabolism MeSH
- Inflammation metabolism pathology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN: Elucidate the mechanism of action of the small molecule inhibitor of protein binding to glycosaminoglycans, RX-111 and assay its anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of inflammatory disease. MATERIALS: The glycosaminoglycan, heparin, was used in the mechanism of action study of RX-111. Human T lymphocytes and umbilical vein endothelial cells were used to assay the in vitro activity of RX-111. Mouse and rat models of disease were used to assay the anti-inflammatory activity of RX-111 in vivo. METHODS: Circular dichroism and UV/Vis absorption spectroscopy were used to study the binding of RX-111 to the glycosaminoglycan, heparin. T lymphocyte rolling on endothelial cells under shear flow was used to assay RX-111 activity in vitro. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and tri-nitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice and experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rats were used to assay anti-inflammatory activity of RX-111 in vivo. RESULTS: RX-111 was shown to bind directly to heparin. It inhibited leukocyte rolling on endothelial cells under shear flow and reduced inflammation in the mouse model of DTH. RX-111 was efficacious in the mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease, TNBS-induced colitis and the rat model of multiple sclerosis, EAE. CONCLUSIONS: RX-111 exercises its broad spectrum anti-inflammatory activity by a singular mechanism of action, inhibition of protein binding to the cell surface GAG, heparan sulfate. RX-111 and related thieno[2,3-c]pyridine derivatives are potential therapeutics for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
- MeSH
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Myelin Basic Protein immunology MeSH
- Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental drug therapy immunology MeSH
- Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells drug effects immunology MeSH
- Heparitin Sulfate metabolism MeSH
- Colitis chemically induced drug therapy immunology MeSH
- Rats MeSH
- Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Mice, Inbred BALB C MeSH
- Cell Line, Tumor MeSH
- Oxazolone MeSH
- Rats, Inbred Lew MeSH
- Hypersensitivity, Delayed chemically induced drug therapy immunology MeSH
- Pyridines pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Leukocyte Rolling drug effects MeSH
- T-Lymphocytes drug effects immunology MeSH
- Thiophenes pharmacology therapeutic use MeSH
- Treatment Outcome MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Rats MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
