Design and Synthesis of Leukocyte Adhesion Inhibitors

The recognition of glycoprotein ligands by the selectins mediates leukocyte recruitment during an inflammatory response. Mimetics whose designs are based on the sialyl Lewis-x tetrasaccharide, common to these glycoproteins, have proven to be good inhibitors of leukocyte binding to the selectins. Some of the more recent approaches to the synthesis of these mimetics, including the use of polymeric and liposomal displays, multicomponent condensation reactions, and solid-phase peptide synthesis, are presented.