Inhibition of adhesion of human neutrophils and eosinophils to P-selectin by the sialyl Lewis antagonist TBC1269: preferential activity against neutrophil adhesion in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Leukocyte rolling on vascular endothelium is mediated by selectins and their carbohydrate-containing counterligands. The tetrasaccharide sialyl Lewis(x) (sLe(x)) binds to all 3 selectins, so compounds that mimic sLe(x) are potential antagonists.
OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to examine the ability of the sLe(x) mimetic TBC1269 to inhibit binding of human neutrophils and eosinophils to P-selectin.
METHODS: Expression of the primary P-selectin ligand, P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), was examined on neutrophils and eosinophils, and their adhesion to immobilized P-selectin was examined under both static and dynamic conditions in the presence and absence of TBC1269.
RESULTS: Neutrophils and eosinophils expressed PSGL-1, with eosinophils expressing about twice as much as neutrophils. In the absence of TBC1269, both cell types adhered avidly to P-selectin under static and dynamic conditions. For neutrophils, preincubation of P-selectin-coated plates with TBC1269 (1 to 1000 microgram/mL) resulted in concentration-dependent decreases in neutrophil adhesion, with significant inhibition seen at concentrations >/=100 microgram/mL. Eosinophil adhesion to P-selectin was more refractory to inhibition by TBC1269 and was only partially inhibited at the highest concentration tested (1000 microgram/mL). Two structurally related control compounds, TBC1900 and TBC746, had no effect when tested at similar concentrations.
CONCLUSION: These data indicate that an sLe(x) mimetic can exhibit cell type-specific differences in potencies with respect to antagonism of P-selectin adhesion. Although this may in part be the result of differences in PSGL-1 expression, the discrepancy in potencies may also be due to other differences, including carbohydrate composition and binding affinity of PSGL-1.