Sequence Recognition of α-LFA-1-derived Peptides by ICAM-1 Cell Receptors: Inhibitors of T-cell Adhesion

Blocking the T-cell adhesion signal from intercellular adhesion molecule-1/leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 interactions (Signal-2) can suppress the progression of autoimmune diseases (i.e. type-1 diabetes, psoriasis) and prevent allograph rejection. In this study, we determined the active region(s) of cLAB.L peptide [cyclo(1,12)Pen-ITDGEATDSGC] by synthesizing and evaluating the biologic activity of hexapeptides in inhibiting T-cell adhesion. A new heterotypic T-cell adhesion assay was also developed to provide a model for the T-cell adhesion process during lung inflammation. Two hexapeptides, ITDGEA and DGEATD, were found to be more active than the other linear hexapeptides. The cyclic derivative of ITDGEA [i.e. cyclo(1,6)ITDGEA] has similar activity than the parent linear peptide and has lower activity than cLAB.L peptide. Computational-binding experiments were carried out to explain the possible mechanism of binding of these peptides to intercellular adhesion molecule-1. Both ITDGEA and DGEATD bind the same site on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and they interact with the Gln34 and Gln73 residues on D1 of intercellular adhesion molecule-1. In the future, more potent derivatives of cyclo(1,6)ITDGEA will be designed by utilizing structural and binding studies of the peptide to intercellular adhesion molecule-1. The heterotypic T-cell adhesion to Calu-3 will also be used as another assay to evaluate the selectivity of the designed peptides.