Selective inhibition of ICAM-1 and E-selectin expression in human endothelial cells. 2. Aryl modifications of 4-(aryloxy)thieno[2,3-c]pyridines with fine-tuning at C-2 carbamides.

The elevated expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) on the lumenal surface of vascular endothelial cells is a critical early event in the complex inflammatory process. The adhesive interactions of these CAMs that include E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 with their counter-receptors on leukocytes, such as integrins of the alpha(L)beta(2) family, result in migration of the leukocytes to the site of inflammation and cause tissue injury. Pharmaceutical agents that could suppress the induced expression of one or more of these cell adhesion molecules would provide a novel mechanism to attenuate the inflammatory responses associated with chronic inflammatory diseases. A-205804 (1), a potent and selective inhibitor of the induced expression of E-selectin and ICAM-1 over VCAM-1, was further modified with emphasis at the C-4 and C-2 positions to identify a more potent drug candidate with a good pharmacokinetic profile and physical properties. Replacement of the C-4 sulfur linkage in 1 with an oxygen atom eliminated one of the two major metabolites for this lead molecule. The para-position of the 4-phenoxy group of the thieno[2,3-c]pyridine lead is found to be very critical for a higher in vitro potency and selectivity of E-selectin and ICAM-1 over VCAM-1 expression. This position is presumably close to the solvent-accessible region of the target protein-inhibitor complex. An attempt to install a water-solubilizing group at the para-position of the phenoxy group to increase the aqueous solubility of this lead series through various linkages failed to provide an ideal inhibitor. Only small substituents such as fluorine are tolerated at the meta- and ortho-positions of the 4-phenoxy to retain a good in vitro potency. Bromo, trifluoromethyl, pyrazol-1-yl, and imidazol-1-yl are among the better substituents at the para-position. With fine-tuning at the C-2 position we discovered a series of very potent (IC(50) < 5 nM for ICAM-1) and selective (>200-fold vs VCAM-1) inhibitors with a good pharmacokinetic profile. Demonstrated efficacy in a rat rheumatoid arthritis model and in a mice asthma model with selected compounds is also reported.

Discovery of inhibitors of cell adhesion molecule expression in human endothelial cells. 1. Selective inhibition of ICAM-1 and E-selectin expression.

A critical early event in the inflammatory cascade is the induced expression of cell adhesion molecules on the lumenal surface of vascular endothelial cells. These adhesion molecules include E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1, which serve to recruit circulating leukocytes to the site of the inflammation. These adhesive interactions allow the leukocytes to firmly adhere to and cross the vascular endothelium and migrate to the site of tissue injury. Pharmaceutical agents which would prevent the induced expression of one or more of the cell adhesion molecules on the endothelium might be expected to provide a novel mechanism to attenuate the inflammatory responses associated with chronic inflammatory diseases. A thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine, A-155918, was identified from a whole-cell high-throughput assay for compounds which inhibited the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha)-induced expression of E-selectin, ICAM-1, or VCAM-1 on human vascular endothelial cells. Traditional medicinal chemistry methods were applied to this low-micromolar inhibitor, resulting in the 2,4-disubstituted thieno[2,3-c]pyridine A-205804, a potent and selective lead inhibitor of E-selectin and ICAM-1 expression (IC(50) = 20 and 25 nM, respectively). The relative position of the nitrogen atom in the thienopyridine isomer was shown to be critical for activity, as was a small amide 2-substituent.

Release of the neuronal glycoprotein ICAM-5 in serum after hypoxic-ischemic injury.

Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-5 (telencephalin) is unique among the ICAMs, because it is only expressed in somatodendritic membranes of telencephalic neurons. To investigate the fate of ICAM-5 during focal brain injury, we induced hypoxia-ischemia (HI) damage in adult mice by right common carotid artery ligation followed by hypoxia. ICAM-5 was detectable in serum within a 48-hour window after HI injury. In HI brain, dendritic ICAM-5 immunore-activity was abolished, but it was present in the neuropil and soma of hippocampal pyramidal, dentate granule, and some cortical and striatal neurons. After HI injury, levels of ICAM-5 protein and messenger RNA initially increased, and ICAM-5 messenger RNA expression then decreased, although protein levels continued to increase. Because HI injury induces microglial activation with increases in CD11a/CD18 (lymphocyte function antigen [LFA]-1) counterreceptors to ICAM-5, we investigated whether modulation of interactions between LFA-1 receptors and brain ICAM-5 during HI injury are associated with changes in levels of serum ICAM-5. Intracerebroventricular administration of lipopolysaccharide to activate microglia before HI injury resulted in elevated serum ICAM-5 levels compared with those in mice with only HI injury. Pretreatment with anti-LFA-1 antibodies before HI injury or LFA-1 receptor knockout mice with HI injury had markedly reduced levels of serum ICAM-5. Lipopolysaccharide levels increased, whereas LFA-1 receptor blockade or LFA-1 knockout decreased HI injury in the first 12 hours. These data suggest that during the necrotic phase of HI injury, serum ICAM-5 may be a potential marker for somatodendritic neuronal damage.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-5 induces dendritic outgrowth by homophilic adhesion.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-5 (ICAM-5) is a dendritically polarized membrane glycoprotein in telencephalic neurons, which shows heterophilic binding to leukocyte beta(2)-integrins. Here, we show that the human ICAM-5 protein interacts in a homophilic manner through the binding of the immunoglobulin domain 1 to domains 4-5. Surface coated ICAM-5-Fc promoted dendritic outgrowth and arborization of ICAM- 5-expressing hippocampal neurons. During dendritogenesis in developing rat brain, ICAM-5 was in monomer form, whereas in mature neurons it migrated as a high molecular weight complex. The findings indicate that its homophilic binding activity was regulated by nonmonomer/monomer transition. Thus, ICAM-5 displays two types of adhesion activity, homophilic binding between neurons and heterophilic binding between neurons and leukocytes.

Binding of T lymphocytes to hippocampal neurons through ICAM-5 (telencephalin) and characterization of its interaction with the leukocyte integrin CD11a/CD18.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-5 (ICAM-5, telencephalin) is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily expressed on telencephalic neurons, and serves as a ligand for the leukocyte integrin CD11 a/CD18. We studied here the binding site in ICAM-5 for CD11a/CD18. Protein constructs containing the first immunoglobulin domain of ICAM-5 were able to support CD11a/CD18 interaction, while deletion of the first domain abolished binding. Monoclonal antibodies reacting with the first domain of ICAM-5 also completely blocked the interaction. The soluble first domain of ICAM-5 inhibited the binding of T cells to immobilized ICAM-5 at concentrations of 50 nM and higher. Interestingly, the sixth domain of ICAM-5 was also able to support leukocyte binding, but this binding activity may not involve leukocyte integrins. To test the involvement of ICAM-5 in leukocyte-neuron interactions, an assay using human T cells binding to rat hippocampal neurons was established. This binding was blocked by monoclonal antibodies against CD11a/CD18 and ICAM-5. Thus ICAM-5 may act as a major adhesion molecule for leukocyte binding to neurons in the central nervous system.

Mapping of the ICAM-5 (telencephalin) gene, a neuronal member of the ICAM family, to a location between ICAM-1 and ICAM-3 on human chromosome 19p13.2.

Intercellular adhesion molecule 5 (ICAM-5, telencephalin) is a cell adhesion molecule expressed on neurons in the most rostral segment of the mammalian brain, the telencephalon. Antibody studies in rodents and rabbits have demonstrated expression of this molecule on the cell body and dendrites of these neurons. We have examined the expression pattern in human brain by Northern blot analysis of 16 human brain segments. This analysis has confirmed the unique expression pattern of this ICAM in human. In addition, we report the mapping of the human ICAM-5 gene to an 80-kb region on chromosome 19p13.2 that also contains ICAM-1 and ICAM-3.

The intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) family of proteins. New members and novel functions.

Macromolecular adhesive associations between cells are important for transmitting spatial and temporal information that is critical for immune system function. One such group of proteins, the intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs), has grown as newly identified members are revealed. In addition, the functions of the ICAMs, in general, have begun to be better understood, including intracellular signaling events. This information has led to the design of novel therapeutic agents that may prove effective in a variety of disease states.

Mapping of an inducible element in the T cell receptor V beta 2 promoter.

The murine V beta 2 promoter was analyzed for an element regulating phorbol ester inducibility of the TCR beta chain gene. In transient expression analysis of 5' nested deleted fragments of the V beta 2 promoter, the TPA-inducible element mapped between -85 and -42. The -85 to -62 oligo conferred 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) inducibility to the heterologous TPA-uninducible thymidine kinase promoter. The -85 to -62 region contained an AP-1 site (-85 to -72) and inverted repeat motif (-72 to -62). The AP-1 site required the 3' flanking inverted repeat region for conferring optimal inducibility. In vitro transcribed and translated jun/fos heterodimers bind to the V beta 2 AP-1 motif with a 16-fold lower affinity as compared to the collagenase AP-1 motif. This explains the inability of the V beta 2 AP-1 motif to confer optimal TPA inducibility by itself. The affinity of jun/fos heterodimers for the V beta 2 AP-1 motif was not increased by the presence in cis of the inverted repeat motif. The 3' flanking inverted repeat binds the ets transactivator but not jun/fos heterodimers. The demonstrated cooperativity between the AP-1 and the 3' flanking sequence to confer TPA inducibility can thus be explained by the individual contributions of jun/fos and ets transactivators.

Unusually diverse T cell response to a repeating tripeptide epitope.

The immune system utilizes a diverse T cell repertoire for the recognition of foreign antigens in the context of self MHC gene products. We have examined the potential diversity of the T cell response directed to a immunodominant repeating tripeptide epitope (EYA)5. This peptide represents one of the two T cell epitopes on the synthetic alpha-helical polypeptide antigen Poly 18, Poly EYK(EYA)5 in H-2d mice and does not require antigen processing prior to presentation to Poly 18-specific T cell hybridomas. The T cell response directed to the repeating tripeptide epitope (EYA)5 is extremely heterogenous even though the epitope has a relatively simple amino acid sequence. We have analyzed the fine specificity of 21 randomly chosen Poly 18-reactive, (EYA)5-specific and H-2d-restricted T cell hybridomas derived from H-2d, H-2bxd, and H-2b----H-2bxd Poly 18-responding mice to determine the number of unique antigen reactivity patterns represented by this T cell population. We used alanine- and/or lysine-substituted (EYA)5 peptides and a panel of haplotype-varied splenocytes and observed a great deal of microheterogeneity in response. We find that 13 of the 21 hybridomas have a distinct fine antigen specificity and T cell receptors. The binding of (EYA)5 to the antigen-binding groove of I-Ad appears to generate a highly diversified T cell response. Therefore, (EYA)5-I-Ad complex allows the activation of unrelated T cell clonotypes with the same overall antigen specificity and MHC restriction, but with distinct microheterogeneity in response and receptor usage.

Transcription of the T cell receptor beta-chain gene is controlled by multiple regulatory elements.

The cis-acting sequences regulating transcription of the beta-chain of the TCR have been analyzed and multiple elements identified. The minimum 5' upstream sequence displaying promoter activity is a fragment extending 85 bp upstream of the transcriptional start site. Deletion of an additional 43 bp from the 5' end of this fragment abolished promoter activity. The presence of the conserved TCR beta-chain decanucleotide motif, an AP-1 consensus sequence and an inverted repeat in the deleted region, suggests their role as targets for transacting factors regulating transcription of the beta chain gene. Sequences between -343 and -85 increase transcription from the -85 fragment in T cells. The promoter is active in both T cells and fibroblasts. The enhancer was capable of enhancing TCR V beta 2 promoter activity in both T cells and fibroblasts. Sequences further upstream of the V beta 2 promoter down regulate V beta 2 promoter activity in the absence of the enhancer but its repressive influence is overcome in the presence of the TCR beta-chain enhancer.

Specific inhibition of cell-surface T-cell receptor expression by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and its effect on the production of an antigen-specific regulatory T-cell factor.

We have used antisense oligodeoxynucleotides corresponding to genes encoding the variable (V) region of the T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta chains (V alpha and V beta) to control TCR expression in T-cell hybridomas. Two hybridomas, A1.1 and B1.1, recognize a synthetic polypeptide antigen designated poly 18 (poly[Glu-Tyr-Lys-(Glu-Tyr-Ala)5]) together with I-Ad. We have found that TCR function (production of lymphokines in response to antigen) and T3 expression were removed after protease treatment of the cells and were fully recovered 48 hr later. However, when antisense oligodeoxynucleotides corresponding to the appropriate TCR V genes were present after protease treatment, little or no recovery of TCR function or T3 expression was observed. This effect was specific for the TCR V genes utilized by the T cell: antisense oligodeoxynucleotides corresponding to the TCR V regions of A1.1 had no effect on TCR expression in B1.1 and vice versa. Thus, antisense oligodeoxynucleotides can be used to temporarily block expression of a TCR gene in a T-cell hybridoma. This technique was then applied to a paradoxical phenomenon in A1.1 cells. We had observed previously that A1.1 releases an antigen-specific immunoregulatory activity that shows the same antigenic fine specificity as is displayed by the TCR of A1.1. We now report that antisense oligodeoxynucleotides corresponding to the A1.1 V alpha gene blocked the production of this soluble antigen-specific activity by the cell. Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides corresponding to A1.1 V beta, on the other hand, had no effect on the production of this antigen-specific activity. We discuss these observations in the context of recent findings on the nature of T cell-derived antigen-specific regulatory factors.

Fine-specificity analysis of antibodies directed to the C-terminal peptides of cytochrome c recognized by T-lymphocytes.

Recognition of cytochrome c by T-lymphocytes seems to involve the amino acid residues in the C-terminal region of the molecule. Lys-99 has particularly been identified as one of the critical residues in the recognition process. We have now raised antibodies against the C-terminal region of the cytochrome c molecule to map the residues that may be recognized by B-lymphocytes. These antibodies were generated in high-responder B10.A mice against either the 81-104 CNBr fragment of pigeon cytochrome c or against the synthetic spliced fragment (86-90)-(94-103) of the tobacco hornworm moth cytochrome c. A good antibody response was obtained for both fragments as measured by solid-phase radioimmunoassay. A series of peptides related to these fragments were synthesized for competitive inhibition to assess the antigenic sites on these molecules. In spite of substantial homology between the moth (86-90)-(94-103) and pigeon (81-104) fragments, the antibody populations raised against each fragment differed in their recognition patterns. Residues 99 (Lys), 103 (Ala) and 104 (Lys) were found to be crucial for binding of the anti-pigeon antibody to the pigeon 81-104 fragment. The fine specificity mapping of the antigenic sites on the moth (86-90)-(94-103) fragment indicated that along with some of the residues in the N-terminus (86-90), residue 99 (Lys) was involved in recognition of the moth (86-90)-(94-103) fragment by its antibody. This residue (Lys-99) also acts as a T-cell receptor contact site for both pigeon and moth cytochrome c. We therefore conclude that common patterns of recognition must exist between T and B-cells that recognize the C-terminal region of cytochrome c. Since Lys-99 is also present in mouse cytochrome c, the antigenic site must involve both self and non-self residues.