Identification of Novel Small Molecule Beta2 Integrin Agonists

Information

  • Patent Application
  • 20180319865
  • Publication Number
    20180319865
  • Date Filed
    January 20, 2017
    8 years ago
  • Date Published
    November 08, 2018
    6 years ago
Abstract
The application describes small molecules capable of modulating activity of beta2 family of integrins, such as integrin CD11b/CD18 (also known as Mac-1, CR3 and αMβ2). Such compounds may be used in certain embodiments for treating a disease or condition, such as inflammation, immune-related disorders, cancer, ischemia-reperfusion injury, stroke, neointimal thickening associated with vascular injury, wound-healing, organ transplantation and cardiovascular disease, among others.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to compounds that modulate function of beta2 family of integrins.


BACKGROUND

Integrins are non-covalently linked α/β heterodimeric receptors that mediate cell adhesion, migration and signaling. Together with their ligands, integrins play central roles in many processes including development, hemostasis, inflammation and immunity, and in pathologic conditions such as cancer invasion and cardiovascular disease. Leukocyte migration and recruitment is essential for their normal immune response to injury and infection and in various inflammatory and autoimmune disorders [1]. For example, in response to injury or infection leukocytes are recruited into the tissues where they participate in immune clearance [2].


The β2 integrins, a sub-family of α/β heterodimeric integrin receptors that have a common β-subunit (β2, CD18) but distinct α-subunits (CD11a, CD11b, CD11c and CD11d [3]), are leukocyte specific receptors [4]. β2 integrins, including highly expressed integrin CD11b/CD18 (also known as Mac-1, CR3 and αMβ2), modulate leukocyte functions, including cell adhesion, migration, recruitment and activation [2]. CD11b/CD18 recognizes the complement fragment iC3b, Fibrinogen, and ICAM-1 as ligands, among various others. CD11b/CD18 has been implicated in many inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury (including acute renal failure and atherosclerosis), tissue damage, stroke, neointimal thickening in response to vascular injury and the resolution of inflammatory processes [5-9]. Leukocytic β2 integrins also modulate tumor infiltration. For example, tumors also secrete inflammatory cytokines to recruit CD11b-expressing myeloid cells to facilitate neovascularization [10]. During cancer treatments, irradiated tumors recruit large numbers of specific leukocytes, bone marrow-derived CD11b-expressing myeloid cells expressing matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), that restore tumor vasculature and allow tumor re-growth and recurrence [11]. Recent studies have shown that treatment with CD11b antagonists (anti-CD11b antibody) reduces CD11b-expressing myeloid cell infiltration and an enhancement of tumor response to radiation in mice [11]. Additionally, inflammatory leukocytes potentiate anti-GBM nephritis. Experimental anti-GBM nephritis in mice is a model of rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis, is characterized by proteinuria, leukocyte infiltration and glomerular crescent formation [12, 13]. Leukocytes play a critical role in the pathogenesis of anti-GBM nephritis, and their number correlates with the percentage of crescentic glomeruli. CD11b−/− animals show no proteinuria and strong protection of renal function [14], suggesting that agents targeting this integrin have a potential to treat this disease.


In addition to increasing cell adhesion and modulating migration, the beta2 integrins, including CD11b/CD18, mediate a number of intracellular signaling events, including production of reactive oxygen species and modulation of a number of pro- and anti-inflammatory genes in inflammatory cells [15-20]. Integrin activation and ligand binding leads to its clustering on the cell surface and initiates outside in signaling, including the activation of PI3-K/Akt and MAPK/ERK1/2 pathways [16, 21], thereby mimicking the anchorage-dependent pro-survival signals in most cells. Ligation and clustering of integrins also synergistically potentiates intracellular signaling by other receptors (such as, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and cytokine receptors interleukin-1 receptor (IL-1R) and TNFR) and both induce transcription factor (such as, NF-κB) dependent expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g.; IL1β, IL6, TNFα) as well as release of other factors (e.g.; Tissue Factor).


Thus, there is a considerable potential for agents that modulate the function of CD11b/CD18 and other beta2 integrin as therapeutic agents for the treatment of various diseases and conditions, including inflammatory conditions. Indeed, blocking beta2 integrins, including CD11b/CD18, and their ligands with antibodies and ligand mimics (anti-adhesion therapy) [22-24] and genetic ablation of CD11a, CD11b, CD11c or CD18 decreases the severity of inflammatory response in vivo in many experimental models [25-27]. However, such blocking agents have had little success in treating inflammatory/autoimmune diseases in humans [26, 28], perhaps because complete blockage of integrins with antibodies is difficult due to availability of a large mobilizable intracellular pool of such integrins (for example, CD11b/CD18) [29, 30] or because suppressing leukocyte recruitment with blocking agents requires occupancy of >90% of active integrin receptors [31]. Anti-integrin β2 antibodies have also shown unexpected side effects [32].


The above suggests that what is needed are small molecules that selectively regulate the ligand binding and function of beta2 integrins, including integrins CD11a/CD18, CD11b/CD18 and integrin CD11c/CD18. Additionally, agents that do not compete with ligand binding (by targeting allosteric regulatory sites, such as the hydrophobic site-for-isoleucine (SILEN) pocket in CD11b/CD18) are especially desired. Moreover, compounds and methods to enhance or promote integrin-mediated cell-adhesion are highly desired. Furthermore, compounds that regulate cellular functions (such as cell activation and signaling) of inflammatory cells are highly desirable. Integrin activation has been proposed as an alternative to blockade (anti-adhesion) for modulating cell function and treating a number of diseases, including inflammatory diseases [33, 34]. It is based on the initial finding by Harlan and co-workers over 15 years ago that freezing of integrin α4β1 in high avidity state using an activating antibody increases cell adhesion and decreases eosinophil migration [35]. Recent research with knock-in animals that express activating mutants of integrins αLβ2 [36, 37] and α4β7 [38] provides in vivo support for this hypothesis.


However, compounds that enhance integrin activity are highly desired but no integrin-specific compounds and methods have been previously described. Additionally, whether transient activation of a fraction of native receptors in vivo, as is expected from small molecule treatment, will have biological effect also remains an open question. Moreover, an important requirement of useful compounds and compositions that regulate beta2 integrins, including CD11b/CD18, is that they not negatively affect the cell, tissue and animal viability. Some have suggested that integrin agonists might induce killing of target cells (Yang et al., J Biol Chem 281, 37904 (2006)), which is not desirable.


SUMMARY

The invention describes novel compounds, compositions and methods that are useful in targeting beta2 integrins, including CD11b/CD18. The invention also describes compositions and methods that are useful in detecting, diagnosing or treating various mammalian diseases and conditions, including, but not limited to, inflammatory diseases and conditions, autoimmune diseases and conditions and transplantation. The invention describes compositions and methods that are useful in improving the health of a patient.


The compounds and methods described in this invention are useful in activating beta2 integrins (such as CD11b/CD18), thereby modulating biological function of cells that express this protein. Such cells include leukocytes. Such biological functions include signaling pathways and gene expression. The compounds and methods described in this invention can also be used, via activation of beta2 integrin, to regulate levels of secreted factors in vitro and in vivo. In vitro or in vivo modulation of the levels of such soluble factors, which include factors such as cytokines, chemokines, microparticles, small molecules and other proteins and peptides, is also useful in treating a number of diseases and conditions in patients, including inflammatory and auto-immune disease and conditions.


This invention also describes our novel strategy, as an alternative to the anti-adhesion strategy that is currently practiced in literature, for regulating the biological function of integrins and integrin-expressing cells. Our strategy involves integrin activation, rather than its blockade, as a way to modulate the function or activity of beta2 integrins, including CD11b/CD18, and the function or activity of cells that express beta2 integrins, such as of leukocytes. The compounds of this invention are easily delivered in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo and can be readily derivatized or optimized for use in patients. Additionally, this invention shows that transient activation of a fraction of native receptors in vitro and in vivo (via administration of the compounds of this invention) affects the function of biological cells. Integrin activation is a novel, useful, pharmacologically targetable methodology to treat, without limitation, a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and conditions.


One embodiment described herein is any one of the compounds listed in Table 1 or Table 2 or a derivative, salt, or ester thereof that augment beta2 integrin activity. In one aspect described herein, the compound is listed in Table 2. In another aspect described herein, the beta2 integrin is CD11b/CD18. In another aspect described herein, the beta2 integrin is CD11bE320A/CD18. In another aspect described herein, the beta2 integrin is CD11c/CD18. In another aspect described herein, the compound binds to an αA-domain of a beta2 integrin. In another aspect described herein, the compound binds to an αA-domain of a CD11b integrin. In another aspect described herein, the compound binds to an αA-domain of a CD11c integrin.


Another embodiment described herein is a pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the compounds of Table 1 or Table 2 and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.


Another embodiment described herein is a genus of one or more of the compounds listed in Table 2, wherein the genus is identified by quantitative structure-activity relationship experiments and biological methods.


Another embodiment described herein is a species identified by quantitative structure-activity relationship experiments and biological assays.


Another embodiment described herein is a pharmaceutical composition comprising the species of claim described herein and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.


Another embodiment described herein is a method for identifying agonist compounds of beta2 integrin, the method comprising: (a) contacting cells with a compound on a substrate treated with fibrinogen; (b) physically repositioning the substrate such that non-adherent cells move away from the substrate by the action of gravity; and (c) detecting adherent cells on the substrate. One aspect described herein is a method for identifying agonist compounds of beta2 integrin, further comprising the step of: (d) quantifying the adherent cells on the substrate. In another aspect described herein, the cells are K562 cells expressing integrin CD11b/CD18, CD11bE320A/CD18, or CD11c/CD18. In another aspect described herein, the solution further comprises Mg2+, Ca2+, or a mixture thereof. In another aspect described herein, the method further comprises removing the solution from the substrate after physically repositioning the substrate.


In another aspect described herein, removing the solution from the substrate comprises contacting adhered cells with a fixative and washing the substrate. In another aspect described herein, the fixative comprises formaldehyde. In another aspect described herein, the method is conducted without contacting the substrate with an additional liquid to wash or rinse the substrate. In another aspect described herein, detecting adherent cells comprises measuring the viability of the adherent cells or imaging the adherent cells.


Another embodiment described herein is a beta2 integrin agonist compound identified by the methods described herein. In one aspect described herein, the compound is listed in Table 2.


Another embodiment described herein is a compound of Table 2, or a derivative thereof, useful in modulating the levels of cell-secreted factors in vitro or in vivo, wherein the secreted factor comprises inflammatory cytokines or chemokines.


Another embodiment described herein is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of Table 2, or a derivative thereof, useful in treating a disease or condition in a subject.


Another embodiment described herein is a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of Table 2, or a derivative thereof, useful in detecting or diagnosing a disease or condition in a subject.


Another embodiment described herein is a method of improving health of a subject, comprising administering to a subject an effective amount of any compound of Table 2, or a derivative thereof.


Another embodiment described herein is a method of improving health of a subject, comprising administering to a subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of any compound of Table 2, or a derivative thereof.





BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS


FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of the design of a high throughput-screening assay.





DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One aspect of the invention relates to compounds described in this invention, their derivatives, pharmaceutically acceptable salts or hydrates thereof.


One aspect of the invention relates to the compounds listed in FIG. 1, their derivatives or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, excipient or adjuvant.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof in combination with another compound or agent to modulate or treat a condition and a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, excipient or adjuvant.


Beta2 family integrins, such as CD11b/CD18, are known targets in a number of mammalian diseases and conditions and there is considerable potential for agents that modulate the function of these integrins as therapeutic agents for the treatment of various mammalian diseases and conditions, including inflammatory conditions. Indeed, many agents that block binding of these integrins to their ligands (antagonists) have been previously described in the literature. However, such blocking agents have had little success in treating inflammatory/autoimmune diseases in humans [26, 28], and some have shown unexpected side effects [32].


In certain aspects, the compounds of this invention, and their derivatives, are useful in promoting the function or activity of beta2 integrins, including CD11b/CD18. In certain aspects, the mechanism of action of the described compounds includes a direct binding of the compounds to the ligand binding αA- (or αI-) domain of beta2 integrins in a high-affinity conformation. In certain aspects, binding by the compounds of this invention to the αA-domain of beta2 integrins leads to a conversion of the αA-domain from an inactive to an active, ligand-competent conformation. In certain aspects, the binding by the compounds of this invention to the αA-domain of beta2 integrins leads to stabilization of the αA-domain into an active, ligand-competent conformation. In certain other aspects, the compounds of this invention bind very weakly to the αA-domain of beta2 integrins, when the αA-domain is in an inactive conformation. In certain aspects, binding by the compounds of this invention to beta2 integrins leads to a conversion of the integrin molecule from an inactive to an active, ligand-competent conformation. In certain aspects, the compounds do not compete with ligands for binding to their target beta2 integrins, bind in an allosteric pocket of the protein and allosterically regulate the protein function. Furthermore, in certain aspects, the compounds of this invention are not ligand mimics.


In one aspect of this invention, the compounds bind, with varying binding affinities, to all members of the beta2 integrin family, including CD11a/CD18, CD11b/CD18, CD11c/CD18 and CD11d/CD18. Thus, these compounds are useful in targeting all beta2 integrins and that the utility of these compounds and methods is not limited to a single type of integrin.


In certain aspects, integrin activation by the described compounds increases adhesion of integrin-expressing cells to extra-cellular matrix, ligands or other targets. In certain aspects, increased cell adhesivity reduces the lateral motility of cells (including cellular chemotaxis). In certain aspects, increased cell adhesivity reduces the transendothelial migration (TEM) of cells. In certain aspects, the compositions and methods described herein affect leukocyte recruitment. They can achieve this, for example, by increasing leukocyte slow rolling and adhesivity to the inflammed endothelium, which could be reversed with a blocking antibody. In certain aspects, the compositions and methods described herein reduce the levels of secreted factors. Such factors include, without limitation, inflammatory factors, for example TNFalpha, IL1 beta, IL-6, IFNgamma, soluble uPAR, microparticles among others. In a related aspect, the compositions and methods described herein reduce the levels of secreted factors by integrin-expressing cells. In another aspect, the compositions and methods described herein reduce the levels of secreted factors by cells that interact with beta2 integrin expressing cells. In certain aspects, the compositions and methods described herein increase the level of secreted factors. Such factors include anti-inflammatory factors, for example IL-10 among others. In certain aspects, the compositions and methods described herein modify the signaling pathways in cells. In certain aspects, the compositions and methods described herein modify intracellular signaling pathways in beta2 integrin-expressing cells (including leukocytes, among others). Such pathways include, without limitation, the NF-κB pathway, AKT pathway, MAPK pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, cytokine receptor signaling pathways, among others. In certain aspects, the compounds and methods of this invention activate beta2 integrins, which induces intracellular signaling that synergizes or opposes other signaling pathways in the cells. In certain aspects, the compositions and methods described herein modify the signaling pathways in cells that interact with the beta2-integrin expressing cells. Such cells include other leukocyte subsets, lymphocytes, endothelial cells, among others. In certain other aspects, the compositions and methods described herein modify the signaling pathways in cells that interact with factors secreted by the beta2-integrin expressing cells (such as leukocytes, lymphocytes, endothelial cells, among others).


In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention regulate the function of beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18.


In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention regulate conformation of beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18.


In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention regulate the organization of beta2 integrins in a cell, especially integrin CD11b/CD18. In certain such embodiments, the organization of beta2 integrins includes its dimerization or multimerization with itself or other proteins and substances.


In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention regulate the organization of beta2 integrins on a cell membrane, especially integrin CD11b/CD18. In certain such embodiments, the organization of beta2 integrins includes its dimerization or multimerization with itself or other proteins and substances.


In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention increase the binding of beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, to its ligands.


In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention increase the binding of beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, to its ligands, wherein the ligand is independently selected from ICAM-1, ICAM-2, ICAM-3, iC3b, fibrinogen, Factor X, fibrin, uPAR and GP Ibalpha.


In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention increase the binding of beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, to its ligands, wherein binding of the compound with the protein modulates at least one function normally associated with binding of a natural ligand of the protein. In certain embodiments, the function is independently selected from the group consisting of rolling of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, binding of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, crawling of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, translocation of leukocytes through vascular endothelium, infiltration of leukocytes into intimal tissue, release of one or more soluble factors from leukocytes, release of a chemotactic factor from leukocytes, release of a growth factor from leukocytes, leukocyte-binding-associated release of a chemotactic factor from a tissue, leukocyte-binding-associated release of a growth factor from a tissue, leukocyte-binding-associated release of one or more soluble factors from a tissue, change in the level of one or more soluble factors in circulation and change in the level of one or more insoluble factors.


In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention modulate function of cells in vitro or in vivo. In certain such embodiments, the function is independently selected from the group consisting of rolling of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, binding of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, crawling of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, translocation of leukocytes through vascular endothelium and infiltration of leukocytes into intimal tissue. In certain other embodiments, the function is independently selected from the group consisting of release of one or more secreted factors from leukocytes, release of a chemotactic factor from leukocytes, release of a growth factor from leukocytes, leukocyte-binding-associated release of a chemotactic factor from a tissue, leukocyte-binding-associated release of a growth factor from a tissue, leukocyte-binding-associated release of one or more soluble factors from a tissue, change in the level of one or more soluble factors in circulation and change in the level of one or more insoluble factors. In certain such embodiments, the secreted factors include cytokines. In certain such embodiments, the cytokines include pro-inflammatory cytokines. In certain other embodiments, the cytokines include anti-inflammatory cytokines. In certain other embodiments, the cytokines include, but not limited to, IL-1 beta, IL-6 and IL-10. In certain other embodiments, the soluble factors include, but not limited to, TNFalpha and interferon gamma.


In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention modulate biological function in vitro or in vivo. In certain such embodiments, the biological function is independently selected from the group consisting of gene expression, epigenetic profile, protein expression, protein levels, protein modifications, post-translational modifications and signaling. In certain such embodiments, the compounds of the invention modulate biological function in leukocytes. In certain other embodiments, the compounds of the invention modulate biological function in other cells. In certain other embodiments, the compounds of the invention modulate biological function in tissues.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for the regulation of the function of beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, comprising administering a compound of the invention.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for the regulation of the conformation of beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, comprising administering a compound of the invention.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for the regulation of the organization of beta2 integrins in a cell, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, comprising administering a compound of the invention. In certain such embodiments, the organization of beta2 integrins includes is dimerization or multimerization with itself or other proteins and substances.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for the regulation of the organization of beta2 integrins on a cell membrane, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, comprising administering a compound of the invention. In certain such embodiments, the organization of beta2 integrins includes is dimerization or multimerization with itself or other proteins and substances.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for increasing the binding of beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, to its ligands comprising administering a compound of the invention.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for increasing the binding of beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, to its ligands comprising administering a compound of the invention, wherein the ligand is independently selected from ICAM-1, ICAM-2, ICAM-3, iC3b, fibrinogen, Factor X, fibrin, uPAR and GP Ibalpha.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for increasing the binding of beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, to its ligands comprising administering a compound of the invention, wherein binding of the compound with the protein modulates at least one function normally associated with binding of a natural ligand of the protein. In certain embodiments, the function is independently selected from the group consisting of rolling of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, binding of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, crawling of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, translocation of leukocytes through vascular endothelium, infiltration of leukocytes into intimal tissue, release of one or more soluble factors from leukocytes, release of a chemotactic factor from leukocytes, release of a growth factor from leukocytes, leukocyte-binding-associated release of a chemotactic factor from a tissue, leukocyte-binding-associated release of a growth factor from a tissue, leukocyte-binding-associated release of one or more soluble factors from a tissue, change in the level of one or more soluble factors in circulation and change in the level of one or more insoluble factors.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for modulating function of cells in vitro or in vivo comprising of administering a compound of the invention. In certain such embodiments, the function is independently selected from the group consisting of rolling of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, binding of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, crawling of leukocytes with vascular endothelium, translocation of leukocytes through vascular endothelium and infiltration of leukocytes into intimal tissue. In certain other embodiments, the function is independently selected from the group consisting of release of one or more soluble factors from leukocytes, release of a chemotactic factor from leukocytes, release of a growth factor from leukocytes, leukocyte-binding-associated release of a chemotactic factor from a tissue, leukocyte-binding-associated release of a growth factor from a tissue, leukocyte-binding-associated release of one or more secreted factors from a tissue, change in the level of one or more soluble factors in circulation and change in the level of one or more insoluble factors. In certain such embodiments, the soluble factors include cytokines. In certain such embodiments, the cytokines include pro-inflammatory cytokines. In certain other embodiments, the cytokines include anti-inflammatory cytokines. In certain other embodiments, the cytokines include, but not limited to, IL-1beta, IL-6 and IL-10. In certain other embodiments, the soluble factors include, but not limited to, TNFalpha and interferon gamma.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for modulating biological function in vitro or in vivo comprising of administering a compound of the invention. In certain such embodiments, the biological function is independently selected from the group consisting of gene expression, epigenetic profile, protein expression, protein levels, protein modifications, post-translational modifications and signaling. In certain such embodiments, the compounds of the invention modulate biological function in leukocytes. In certain other embodiments, the methods of the invention modulate biological function in other cells. In certain other embodiments, the methods of the invention modulate biological function in tissues.


In certain aspects, the invention includes compositions and methods to optimize the in vivo half-life of the compounds of this invention, or their derivatives.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a composition for use on an article, such as a catheter or a stent, comprising administering an effective amount of any compound of the invention, or a derivative thereof, to the article. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a composition for use on an article for a patient, comprising administering an effective amount of any compound of the invention, or a derivative thereof, to the article.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a drug-eluting stent media; wherein said drug-eluting stent media comprises a pharmaceutical composition; wherein said pharmaceutical composition comprises a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, excipient or adjuvant.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a composition comprising a drug-eluting stent media; wherein said drug-eluting stent media comprises a pharmaceutical composition; wherein said pharmaceutical composition comprises a compound of the invention or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable diluent, carrier, excipient or adjuvant.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a method of improving health of a patient, comprising administering an article comprising an effective amount of any compound of the invention, or a derivative thereof, to the patient.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a compound or method of improving health of a patient, comprising administering an article comprising an effective amount of any compound of the invention, or a derivative thereof, to a cell, tissue or organ of the patient, wherein the administration is performed in vivo or ex vivo.


In certain embodiments, the compounds and methods of this invention have no systemic vascular toxicity and do not induce injury or apoptosis in vascular cells.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition useful in treating a disease or condition associated with the activity of beta2 integrins. In certain embodiments, such a disease or condition is selected from inflammation (including, but not limited to, acute and chronic inflammation), inflammatory skin diseases, immune-related disorders, autoimmune diseases, burn, immune deficiency, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), myeloperoxidase deficiency, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, chronic kidney disease, chronic granulomatous disease, hyper-IgM syndromes, leukocyte adhesion deficiency, iron deficiency, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, severe combined immunodeficiency, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, HIV, wound-healing, remodeling, scarring, fibrosis, stem cell therapies, cachexia, encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, immune-related disorders, radiation injury, transplantation, cell transplantation, cell transfusion, organ transplantation, organ preservation, cell preservation, asthma, irritable bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, colitis, bowel disease, cancer, leukemia, ischemia-reperfusion injury, stroke, neointimal thickening associated with vascular injury, bullous pemphigoid, neonatal obstructive nephropathy, familial hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, aortic aneurisms, arteritis, vascular occlusion, including cerebral artery occlusion, complications of coronary by-pass surgery, myocarditis, including chronic autoimmune myocarditis and viral myocarditis, heart failure, including chronic heart failure (CHF), cachexia of heart failure, myocardial infarction, stenosis, restenosis after heart surgery, silent myocardial ischemia, post-implantation complications of left ventricular assist devices, thrombophlebitis, vasculitis, including Kawasaki's vasculitis, giant cell arteritis, Wegener's granulomatosis, traumatic head injury, post-ischemic-reperfusion injury, post-ischemic cerebral inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion injury following myocardial infarction and cardiovascular disease, and wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, diluent or excipient and a compound of the invention. In certain such embodiments, the invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition useful in treating a disease or condition associated with the activity of beta2 integrins such as inflammatory kidney disease, a condition that affects millions of people in the world and leads to renal failure, and restenosis, a common problem in people who have undergone angioplasty, one of the most common procedures in interventional cardiology. In certain such embodiments, the beta2 integrin is CD11b/CD18.


In one aspect, the compounds and methods of this invention are useful in treating cancer or reducing tumors in patients. In one related aspect, the compounds and methods of this invention modulate tumor infiltration of leukocytes. For example, tumors also secrete inflammatory cytokines to recruit cells expressing beta2 integrins, such as CD11b/CD18, to facilitate neovascularization [10]. During cancer treatments, including via chemotherapy and irradiation, tumors recruit large numbers of specific leukocytes or bone marrow-derived cells that restore tumor vasculature and allow tumor re-growth and recurrence [11]. In one aspect, the compounds and methods of this invention are useful in reducing activity, such as infiltration, of such cells. In another aspect, the compounds and methods of this invention are useful in enhancing the response of other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, antibody therapy and irradiation [11].


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for treating a disease or condition selected from inflammation (including, but not limited to, acute and chronic inflammation), inflammatory skin diseases, immune-related disorders, autoimmune diseases, burn, immune deficiency, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), myeloperoxidase deficiency, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, chronic kidney disease, chronic granulomatous disease, hyper-IgM syndromes, leukocyte adhesion deficiency, iron deficiency, Chediak-Higashi syndrome, severe combined immunodeficiency, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, HIV, wound-healing, remodeling, scarring, fibrosis, stem cell therapies, cachexia, encephalomyelitis, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, immune-related disorders, radiation injury, transplantation, cell transplantation, cell transfusion, organ transplantation, organ preservation, cell preservation, asthma, irritable bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, ulcerative colitis, colitis, bowel disease, cancer, leukemia, ischemia-reperfusion injury, stroke, neointimal thickening associated with vascular injury, bullous pemphigoid, neonatal obstructive nephropathy, familial hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis, dyslipidemia, aortic aneurisms, arteritis, vascular occlusion, including cerebral artery occlusion, complications of coronary by-pass surgery, myocarditis, including chronic autoimmune myocarditis and viral myocarditis, heart failure, including chronic heart failure (CHF), cachexia of heart failure, myocardial infarction, stenosis, restenosis after heart surgery, silent myocardial ischemia, post-implantation complications of left ventricular assist devices, thrombophlebitis, vasculitis, including Kawasaki's vasculitis, giant cell arteritis, Wegener's granulomatosis, traumatic head injury, post-ischemic-reperfusion injury, post-ischemic cerebral inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion injury following myocardial infarction and cardiovascular disease, comprising administering a compound of the invention.


Leukocyte recruitment precedes neointima formation and restenosis following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) [5]. Denudation of the endothelial cell lining at the site of mechanical vascular injury leads to the deposition of fibrin and platelets, where selective binding between the platelet cell surface receptor GP Ibα and CD11b/CD18 expressed on the surface of leukocytes mediates the recruitment of leukocytes [40]. In certain aspects, the compositions and methods described herein decrease leukocyte recruitment upon injury, inflammation or other disease and condition in mammals. In certain aspects, the compositions and methods described herein reduce organ injury, including neointimal hyperplasia upon arterial injury. In certain other aspects, the compositions and methods described herein preserved organ function upon acute organ injury, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury. For example, the compounds preserve kidney function upon acute kidney injury. In certain aspects, the compositions and methods described herein preserved kidney function upon glomerular nephritis or nephrosis. In certain aspects, the compositions and methods described herein modulate the function of inflammatory cells, such as lymphocytes and leukocytes. For example, the compositions and methods described herein induce graft tolerance in the recipient animal. Similarly, the compositions and methods described herein reduce graft-versus-host disease in the recipient animal. Thus, in certain aspects, the compositions and methods described herein improve transplantation outcomes.


In one aspect, the compounds and methods of this invention are useful in inducing graft tolerance in patients. In one related aspect, the grafts include bone marrow, bone marrow cells, stem cells, immune cells, engineered cells, organs, tissues or other cells. In another related aspect, the grafts include one or more of bone marrow, bone marrow cells, stem cells, immune cells, engineered cells, organs, tissues or other cells.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a method of preventing or treating beta2 integrin (such as CD11b/CD18) mediated condition or disease in a patient comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a substantially pure and pharmaceutically acceptable compound of the invention.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a method of preventing or treating beta2 integrin (such as CD11b/CD18) expressing cell mediated condition or disease in a patient comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a substantially pure and pharmaceutically acceptable compound of the invention.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a method of detecting or diagnosing a beta2 integrin (such as CD11b/CD18) mediated condition or disease in a patient comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a substantially pure and pharmaceutically acceptable compound of the invention.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to a method of detecting or diagnosing a beta2 integrin (such as CD11b/CD18) expressing cell mediated condition or disease in a patient comprising administering to said patient a therapeutically effective amount of a substantially pure and pharmaceutically acceptable compound of the invention.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to the use of one or more compounds of the invention in an assay for the identification of modulators of beta2 integrins, especially CD11b/CD18.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to the use of the described compounds in identification of sites and domains in beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, CD11c/CD18, CD11d/CD18 and CD11a/CD18, that modulate activity of the said integrin. In certain other embodiments, the invention relates to the use of the described compounds in identification of related compounds that show selective binding for one or more of the beta2 integrins over other integrins.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to the use of the described compounds in determining exact three-dimensional structure of the binding pocket in the target proteins, which can be used to derive more selective and/or potent binders. For example, a complex of CD11b/CD18 with a compound can be prepared and analyzed, e.g., by x-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance, or other suitable means, to identify the binding site of CD11b/CD18 that interacts with the compound.


In certain embodiments, computer-based modeling algorithms can be used to analyze the structures and conformations of compounds that bind beta2 integrins, especially CD11b/CD18, to identify structural features that contribute to successful binding. In certain embodiments, such information is analyzed in conjunction with information about the structure or conformation of CD11b/CD18 or a binding pocket thereof, such as structural information obtained by analysis of CD11b/CD18 using analytical techniques such as x-ray crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance, to analyze interactions between binding compounds and the binding pocket they interact with. Such analysis can be used to predict the portion of, for example, CD11b/CD18 that interacts with the compound, to select compounds that possess structural features correlated with desired binding activity from a library of test compounds, or to design structures that are expected to exhibit binding with, for example, CD11b/CD18 for testing in vivo or in vitro using assays as described herein.


In certain embodiments, computer-based modeling algorithms can be used to identify novel compounds that bind beta2 integrins, especially CD11b/CD18, using structural features of the compounds of this invention. In certain embodiments, the methods used include scaffold hopping. In certain embodiments, the methods used include atom replacement, residue replacement and/or molecule replacement. In certain embodiments, such information is analyzed in conjunction with information about the structure or conformation of CD11b/CD18 or a binding pocket thereof, such as structural information obtained by analysis of CD11b/CD18 using analytical techniques such as x-ray crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance, to analyze interactions between binding compounds and the binding pocket they interact with. Such analysis can be used to predict the portion of CD11b/CD18 that interacts with the compound, to select compounds that possess structural features correlated with desired binding activity from a library of test compounds, or to design structures that are expected to exhibit binding with CD11b/CD18 for testing in vivo or in vitro using assays as described herein.


In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention occupy a binding pocket in αA-domain. In certain such embodiments, the αA-domain is from CD11b/CD18. In certain other embodiments, the αA-domain is from CD11aCD18. In yet other embodiments, the αA-domain is from CD11c/CD18. In yet another embodiment, the αA-domain is from CD11d/CD18. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention occupy a binding pocket in αA-domain. In certain such embodiments, the compounds of the invention interact with polar residues of the amino acids of αA-domain. In certain other embodiments, the compounds of the invention interact with polar side-chains of the amino acids of αA-domain. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention interact with residue lysine 166 of αA-domain. In certain such embodiments, the polar end of the compounds of the invention interacts with residue lysine 166 of αA-domain. In certain embodiments, the compounds of the invention interact with residue lysine 168 of αA-domain. In certain such embodiments, the polar end of the compounds of the invention interacts with residue lysine 168 of αA-domain. In certain embodiments, the non-polar end of the compounds of this invention occupies a hydrophobic pocket in the binding site in αA-domain. In certain embodiments, the polar end of the compounds of this invention occupies a pocket in the binding site in αA-domain, such that the polar end is more exposed to the solvent.


In certain embodiments, compounds of the invention are useful in enhancing the function of beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18. In certain embodiments, compounds of the invention are useful in promoting activation of beta2 integrins, especially CD11b/CD18, by binding to the αA-domain of the protein. In certain embodiments, compounds of the invention are useful in modulating the function of beta2 integrin expressing cells, especially leukocytes. In certain embodiments, compounds of the invention are useful in treating a disease or condition, wherein the composition modulates the function of beta2 integrins, especially CD11b/CD18. In certain embodiments, compounds of the invention are useful in detecting or diagnosing a disease or condition, wherein the compound modulates the function of beta2 integrins, especially CD11b/CD18. In certain embodiments, compounds of the invention are useful on an article for a patient, comprising administering an effective amount of any compound of this invention, or a derivative thereof, to the article.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for modulating an immune response in a patient, comprising administering to the patient, in vivo or ex vivo, an effective amount of a compound of this invention, or a derivative thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for improving health of a patient, comprising administering to the patient, in vivo or ex vivo, an effective amount of a compound of this invention, or a derivative thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for modulating function of beta2 integrins, especially CD11b/CD18, comprising administering to the integrin expressing cell an effective amount of any compound of the invention, or a derivative thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for modulating function or activity of beta2 expressing cells, especially leukocytes, in vitro or in vivo, comprising administering to the integrin expressing cell an effective amount of any compound of the invention, or a derivative thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for modulating levels of secreted factors, in vitro or in vivo, comprising administering an effective amount of any compound of the invention, or a derivative thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for modulating organ function in a patient, comprising administering an effective amount of any compound of the invention, or a derivative thereof, in vivo or ex vivo. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for improving health of a patient, comprising administering an article comprising an effective amount of any compound of the invention, or a derivative thereof. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for detecting or diagnosing a disease or condition of a patient, comprising administering to the patient an effective amount of any compound of the invention, or a derivative thereof.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for the modulation of integrin beta2, especially CD11b/CD18, comprising administering a compound of the invention. In certain such embodiments, the compound of the invention is a compound listed in Table 1 or in Table 2. In certain preferred embodiments, the invention relates to a method for modulating integrin CD11b/CD18 comprising administering a compound selected from compounds listed in Table 1 or in Table 2.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for agonizing beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18, comprising administering a compound of the invention. In certain such embodiments, the compound of the invention is a compound listed in Table 1. In certain such embodiments, the compound of the invention is selected from the compounds listed in Table 2.


Certain compounds of the present invention may exist in particular geometric or stereoisomeric forms. The present invention contemplates all such compounds, including cis- and trans-isomers, R- and S-enantiomers, diastereomers, (d)-isomers, (l)-isomers, the racemic mixtures thereof, and other mixtures thereof, as falling within the scope of the invention. Additional asymmetric carbon atoms may be present in a substituent such as an alkyl group. All such isomers, as well as mixtures thereof, are intended to be included in this invention.


If, for instance, a particular enantiomer of a compound of the present invention is desired, it may be prepared by asymmetric synthesis, or by derivation with a chiral auxiliary, where the resulting diastereomeric mixture is separated and the auxiliary group cleaved to provide the pure desired enantiomers. Alternatively, where the molecule contains a basic functional group, such as amino, or an acidic functional group, such as carboxyl, diastereomeric salts may be formed with an appropriate optically active acid or base, followed by resolution of the diastereomers thus formed by fractional crystallization or chromatographic means well known in the art, and subsequent recovery of the pure enantiomers.


The present invention includes radiolabeled forms of compounds of the invention, for example, compounds of the invention labeled by incorporation within the structure 3H or 14C or a radioactive halogen such as 125I.


The present invention also includes labeled forms of compounds of the invention, for example, compounds of the invention labeled by linking the compound structure with biotin, with the help of a linker.


In certain embodiments, compounds of the invention, or derivatives thereof, can be used to detect or diagnose a condition or disease in a patient. In certain such embodiments, the compound of the invention is a compound of any one of the compounds listed in Table 1. In certain such embodiments, the compound is selected from the compounds listed in Table 2.


In certain embodiments, compounds and compositions of the invention, or derivatives thereof, can be used in detecting or diagnosing an inflammatory disease or condition or an autoimmune disease or condition, comprising administering a compound of the invention or a derivative thereof, where the compound binds beta2 integrins, especially CD11b/CD18. In certain such embodiments, compounds and compositions of the invention, or derivatives thereof, preferably bind to active form of beta2 integrins, especially CD11b/CD18.


In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for detecting or diagnosing a condition or disease in a patient comprising of administering a compound of the invention, or a derivative thereof, to the patient. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for the identification of compounds or agents that modulate beta2 integrins, especially integrin CD11b/CD18. In certain embodiments, the invention relates to methods for the identification of biological function of compounds or agents that modulate integrin CD11b/CD18. In certain embodiments, the method includes a cell-adhesion-based high-throughput screening assay. In certain embodiments, the methods include in vitro and in vivo assays as described herein. While such methods and assays are demonstrated herein for identifying agonists of integrin CD11b/CD18, such methods and assays can be employed to identify compounds that inhibit or enhance cell adhesion mediated by other mechanisms as well, as will be recognized by those of skill in the art.


The term “a cell” as used herein includes a plurality of cells. Administering a compound to a cell includes in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro administration.


To “enhance” or “promote” a function or activity, such as binding of integrin to its ligand or adhesion of cell to matrix or cell proliferation, is to increase the function or activity when compared to otherwise same conditions except for a condition or parameter of interest, or alternatively, as compared to another condition(s).


The term “modulate” as used herein includes the inhibition or suppression of a function or activity (such as cell proliferation) as well as the enhancement of a function or activity.


The term “agonist” is art-recognized. In certain embodiments, the term includes compounds and compositions that enhance or promote a function or activity (such as integrin binding to its ligand or conversion of integrin from inactive state to active state or phosphorylation of an intracellular protein).


The term “secreted factor” is art-recognized. In certain embodiments, the term includes proteins, peptides, small molecules, ions, lipids and microparticles that are released by a cell. In certain related embodiments, the term includes cytokines, chemokines, small molecules (such as cyclic AMP) and ions that are released by a cell.


The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable” is art-recognized. In certain embodiments, the term includes compositions, excipients, adjuvants, polymers and other materials and/or dosage forms which are, within the scope of sound medical judgment, suitable for use in contact with the tissues of human beings and animals without excessive toxicity, irritation, allergic response, or other problem or complication, commensurate with a reasonable benefit/risk ratio.


The phrase “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” as used herein means a pharmaceutically acceptable material, composition or vehicle, such as a liquid or solid filter, diluent, excipient, solvent or encapsulating material useful for formulating a drug for medicinal or therapeutic use. Each carrier must be “acceptable” in the sense of being compatible with other ingredients of the formulation and not injurious to the patient.


Some examples of materials which can serve as pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include (1) sugars, such as lactose, glucose and sucrose; (2) starches, such as corn starch and potato starch; (3) cellulose, and its derivatives, such as sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose and cellulose acetate; (4) powdered tragacanth; (5) malt; (6) gelatin; (7) talc; (8) excipients, such as cocoa butter and suppository waxes; (9) oils, such as peanut oil, cottonseed oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and soybean oil; (10) glycols, such as propylene glycol; (11) polyols, such as glycerin, sorbitol, mannitol and polyethylene glycol; (12) esters such as ethyl oleate and ethyl laurate; (13) agar; (14) buffering agents, such as magnesium hydroxide and aluminum hydroxide; (15) alginic acid; (16) pyrogen-free water; (17) isotonic saline; (18) Ringer's solution; (19) ethyl alcohol; (20) phosphate buffer solutions; and (21) other non-toxic compatible substances employed in pharmaceutical formulations.


The term “pharmaceutically acceptable salt” means an acid addition salt or a basic addition salt that is suitable for or compatible with the treatment of patients.


The term “pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt” as used herein means any non-toxic organic or inorganic salt of any base compounds represented by Formula I or II. Illustrative inorganic acids that form suitable salts include hydrochloric, hydrobromic, sulfuric and phosphoric acids, as well as metal salts such as sodium monohydrogen orthophosphate and potassium hydrogen sulfate. Illustrative organic acids that form suitable salts include mono-, di-, and tricarboxylic acids such as glycolic, lactic, pyruvic, malonic, succinic, glutaric, fumaric, malic, tartaric, citric, ascorbic, maleic, benzoic, phenylacetic, cinnamic and salicylic acids, as well as sulfonic acids such as p-toluene sulfonic and methanesulfonic acids. Both the mono or di-acid salts can be formed, and such salts may exist in either a hydrated, solvated or substantially anhydrous form. In general, the acid addition salts of compounds of Formula I or II are more soluble in water and various hydrophilic organic solvents, and generally demonstrate higher melting points in comparison to their free base forms. The selection of the appropriate salt will be known to one skilled in the art. Other non-pharmaceutically acceptable salts, e.g. oxalates, may be used, for example, in the isolation of compounds of Formula I or II for laboratory use, or for subsequent conversion to a pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salt.


The term “pharmaceutically acceptable basic addition salt” as used herein means any non-toxic organic or inorganic base addition salt of any acid compounds represented by Formula I or II or any of their intermediates. Illustrative inorganic bases that form suitable salts include lithium, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, or barium hydroxide. Illustrative organic bases which form suitable salts include aliphatic, alicyclic, or aromatic organic amines such as methylamine, trimethylamine and picoline or ammonia. The selection of the appropriate salt will be known to a person skilled in the art.


The term “preventing” is art-recognized, and when used in relation to a condition, such as a local recurrence (e.g., pain), a disease such as cancer, a syndrome complex such as heart failure or any other medical condition, is well understood in the art, and includes administration of a composition which reduces the frequency of, or delays the onset of, symptoms of a medical condition in a subject relative to a subject which does not receive the composition. Thus, prevention of cancer includes, for example, reducing the number of detectable cancerous growths in a population of patients receiving a prophylactic treatment relative to an untreated control population, and/or delaying the appearance of detectable cancerous growths in a treated population versus an untreated control population, e.g., by a statistically and/or clinically significant amount. Prevention of an infection includes, for example, reducing the number of diagnoses of the infection in a treated population versus an untreated control population, and/or delaying the onset of symptoms of the infection in a treated population versus an untreated control population. Prevention of pain includes, for example, reducing the magnitude of, or alternatively delaying, pain sensations experienced by subjects in a treated population versus an untreated control population.


The term “solvate” as used herein means a compound of Table 1 or Table 2, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of a compound of Table 1 or Table 2, wherein molecules of a suitable solvent are incorporated in the crystal lattice. A suitable solvent is physiologically tolerable at the dosage administered. Examples of suitable solvents are ethanol, water and the like. When water is the solvent, the molecule is referred to as a “hydrate.”


As used herein, and as well understood in the art, “treatment” is an approach for obtaining beneficial or desired results, including clinical results. Beneficial or desired clinical results can include, but are not limited to, alleviation or amelioration of one or more symptoms or conditions, diminishment of extent of disease, stabilized (i.e., not worsening) state of disease, preventing spread of disease, delay or slowing of disease progression, amelioration or palliation of the disease state, and remission (whether partial or total), whether detectable or undetectable. “Treatment” can also mean prolonging survival as compared to expected survival if not receiving treatment.


The compositions containing the compounds of the invention can be prepared by known methods for the preparation of pharmaceutically acceptable compositions that can be administered to subjects, such that an effective quantity of the active substance is combined in a mixture with a pharmaceutically acceptable vehicle. Suitable vehicles are described, for example, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Company, Easton, Pa., USA 1985). On this basis, the compositions include, albeit not exclusively, solutions of the substances in association with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable vehicles or diluents, and contained in buffered solutions with a suitable pH and iso-osmotic with the physiological fluids.


The compounds of this invention may be used in the form of the free base, in the form of salts, solvates and as hydrates. All forms are within the scope of the invention. Acid addition salts may be formed and provide a more convenient form for use; in practice, use of the salt form inherently amounts to use of the base form. The acids which can be used to prepare the acid addition salts include preferably those which produce, when combined with the free base, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, that is, salts whose anions are non-toxic to the animal organism in pharmaceutical doses of the salts, so that the beneficial properties inherent in the free base are not vitiated by side effects ascribable to the anions. Although pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the basic compounds are preferred, all acid addition salts are useful as sources of the free base form even if the particular salt per se is desired only as an intermediate product as, for example, when the salt is formed only for the purposes of purification and identification, or when it is used as an intermediate in preparing a pharmaceutically acceptable salt by ion exchange procedures.


Pharmaceutically acceptable salts within the scope of the invention include those derived from the following acids; mineral acids such as hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and sulfamic acid; and organic acids such as acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, malonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, cyclohexylsulfamic acid, quinic acid, and the like.


In accordance with the methods of the invention, the described compounds, salts, or solvates thereof may be administered to a patient in a variety of forms depending on the selected route of administration, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. The compositions of the invention may be administered orally or parenterally. Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraperitoneal, subcutaneous, intramuscular, transepithelial, nasal, intrapulmonary, intrathecal, rectal and topical modes of administration. Parenteral administration may be by continuous infusion over a selected period of time.


A compound of the invention or a salt or solvate thereof may be orally administered, for example, with an inert diluent or with an assimilable edible carder, it may be enclosed in hard or soft shell gelatin capsules, it may be compressed into tablets, or it may be incorporated directly with the food of the diet. For oral therapeutic administration, the compound of the invention may be incorporated with excipient and used in the form of ingestible tablets, buccal tablets, troches, capsules, elixirs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the like.


A compound of the invention may also be administered parenterally or intraperitoneally. Solutions of a compound of the invention as a free base or pharmacologically acceptable salt or solvate can be prepared in water suitably mixed with a surfactant such as hydroxypropylcellulose. Dispersions can also be prepared in glycerol, liquid polyethylene glycols, DMSO, and mixtures thereof with or without alcohol, and in oils. Under ordinary conditions of storage and use, these preparations contain a preservative to prevent the growth of microorganisms. A person skilled in the art would know how to prepare suitable formulations. Conventional procedures and ingredients for the selection and preparation of suitable formulations are described, for example, in Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences (1990—18th edition) and in The United States Pharmacopeia: The National Formulary (USP 24 NF19) published in 1999.


The pharmaceutical forms suitable for injectable use include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersion and sterile powders for the extemporaneous preparation of sterile injectable solutions or dispersions. In all cases, the form must be sterile and must be fluid to the extent that easy syringeability exists.


The compounds of the invention may be administered to an animal alone or in combination with pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, as noted above, the proportion of which is determined by the solubility and chemical nature of the compound, chosen route of administration and standard pharmaceutical practice.


The dosage of the compounds and/or compositions of the invention can vary depending on many factors such as the pharmacodynamic properties of the compound, the mode of administration, the age, health and weight of the recipient, the nature and extent of the symptoms, the frequency of the treatment and the type of concurrent treatment, if any, and the clearance rate of the compound in the animal to be treated. One of skill in the art can determine the appropriate dosage based on the above factors. The compounds of the invention may be administered initially in a suitable dosage that may be adjusted as required, depending on the clinical response.


EXAMPLES
Reagents and Antibodies.

The anti-CD11b monoclonal antibody (mAb) 44a (IgG2a) [41] and the heterodimer-specific anti-CD18 mAb IB4 (IgG2a) [42, 43] were from ATCC. The mAb 24 (IgG1) [44] was from Abcam and the isotype control antibodies MOPC-21 (IgG1) and MOPC-173 (IgG2a), FITC-conjugated mAbs A85-1 (rat anti-mouse IgG1), R19-15 (rat anti-mouse IgG2a) and FITC-conjugated goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin were from BD Pharmingen (San Diego, Calif.). Rat anti-mouse GR1-FITC and Mac-1-PE were from BD Pharmingen (San Diego, Calif.). Human Fibrinogen (Plasminogen, vonWillebrand Factor and Fibronectin depleted) is from EnzymeResearch Laboratories (SouthBend, Ind.), bovine serum albumin (BSA) is from Sigma (St. Louis, Mich.). 384-well plates are from commercial sources (MaxiSorp from Nalgene (Rochester, N.Y.) and Highbind from Corning (Corning, N.Y.)). Non-fat milk is obtained from BioRad (Hercules, Calif.). Cell quantitation reagent MTS are from Promega (Madison, Wis.) and ATPLite from PerkinElmer (Boston, Mass.). Cell culture reagents are from Invitrogen Corp. (San Diego, Calif.) and Mediatech (Manassas, Va.). Fetal bovine serum is purchased from Atlanta Biologicals, Inc (Lawrenceville, Ga.).


Cell Lines

K562 cells (ATCC) stably transfected with wild-type integrin CD11b/CD18 (K562 CD11b/CD18) have been described previously [33, 46]. K562 cells stably expressing CD11c/CD18 (K562 CD11c/CD18) were generated similarly. Mutant CD11bE320A has been described previously [47]. K562 cells stably transfected with mutant integrin CD11bE320A/CD18 (K562 E320A) were generated according to literature protocols [33, 46]. All cell lines were maintained in Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium (IMDM) supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum, 50 IU/mL penicillin and streptomycin and 0.5 mg/mL G418.


HTS Adhesion Assay

Cell adhesion assays with immobilized ligands were performed using the general protocol previously described and as illustrated in FIG. 1 [33]. Assays with all different K562 cell lines (K562, K562 CD11b/CD18, K562 CD11c/CD18 and K562 E320A) were performed in an identical fashion. Briefly, 384-well microplates (Corning 3700) were coated with 15 μg/mL fibrinogen (Fg) ligand in PBS++ overnight at 4° C. At the same time, anti-CD18 (IB4) mAb was also coated. Subsequently, the coated wells were washed with 1% nonfat milk in TBS at room temperature for 1 hour. Next, the wells were washed 3 times with TBS, and the coated microplates were used in the HTS assays.


K562 CD11b/CD18, K562 CD11bE320A/CD18 and K562 CD11c/CD18 cells were washed with TBS, and cells were transferred to the Fg-coated wells of microplates in the assay buffer (Ca2+ and Mg2+ for physiological condition, Mn2+ as the Positive control). A 1 μL aliquot of the compounds were transferred to each washed well with multichannel pipet from the 384-well plates.


The assay plates were incubated at 37° C. in the presence of small-molecule compounds for 30 min. To dislodge the non-adherent cell, the assay plates were gently inverted and kept in inverted position for 20 min at room temperature.


The cells were fixed with 37% formaldehyde in a small volume and the plates were kept inverted for 1 h. Upon the fixation, the solutions in the well were discarded. Next, the cells were fluorescently labeled with DAPI (0.5 μM final in TBS with 0.1% Triton X-100) and the quantitated with “Opera High Content Screening System” (Perkin Elmer).


Data Analysis:

Cell-adhesion under positive and negative control conditions was used to define the activity scale; signal corresponding to the number of non-small molecule treated cells adherent in activating buffer condition (in the presence of Mn2+ ions as agonist, PC) was considered maximum (100% binding) and the signal corresponding to the number of non-small molecule treated cells adherent in basal buffer condition (in the presence of 1 mM each of Ca2+ and Mg2+, NC) was considered minimum (0% binding).







%





Activation

=


%





Activation

=



(

A
-
NC

)


(

PC
-
NC

)


*
100

%






Compounds with EC50 (concentration needed for half-maximal increase in cell-adhesion) less than 8 were selected as Primary hits. The primary hits were cherry picked and retested in the assay with E320A Cells at the same concentration.


Dose Response

The compounds were diluted in DMSO by the final concentration 10 μM, 5 μM, 2.5 μM, 1.25 μM and 0.625 μM and stocked as sealed in 384-well plates at −80° C.




















Stock in Plates
1
2
3
4
5






















STOCK
10 mM
1 mM
0.5 mM
0.25 mM
0.125 mM
0.0675 mM


Concentration


Buffer

10
5
2.5
1.25
0.675


Concentration









Compound Library: 92,500 compounds from the NIH's Molecular Libraries Probe Production Centers Network small molecule library. The compounds were cherry picked from the diluted compound plates used to generate the original primary screening data.


Results

Primary screening of approximately 92,690 compounds was completed by Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute (SBMRI, San Diego, Calif.), which relies on the ability of small molecules to increase adhesion of mammalian K562 cells stably transfected with the wild type integrin CD11b/CD18 (K562 CD11b/CD18) to Fibrinogen, a physiologic ligand of integrin CD11b/CD18. K562 CD11b/CD18 cells showed virtually no binding to immobilized Fibrinogen (Fg) when incubated in the assay buffer (1 mM each of physiologic ions Ca2+ and Mg2+ in Tris buffered saline (TBS++)) alone. Results were deposited at Pubchem (AID 1499).


We identified 845 compounds that showed ≥50% activity in the assay. These compounds were ordered from the NIH's small molecule repository for re-testing. We screened these compounds in-house using a 5-point dose-response series and binding of K562 CD11b/CD18 cells to Fibrinogen. We identified 258 compounds that produced dose-dependent increase in cell adhesion of K562 CD11b/CD18 cells (see Table 3).


To identify compounds that potentially target the CD11bA-domain, we used the K562 CD11bE320A/CD18 cells and performed a five point dose-response series. We also tested these compounds in assay with K562 CD11c/CD18 cells to find agonists of CD11c/CD18. We identified 82 compounds (see Table 4) that show high binding and thus were confirmed as agonist hits (hit confirmation rate of ˜53%). We did not find any overlap with the hits previously described in Bioassay AID 1499. The compounds listed in Table 1 are the same as those listed in Table 3, although the numbers are ordered sequentially in Table 1; likewise, the compounds listed in Table 2 are sequentially numbered, but are the same as those listed in Table 4.









TABLE 1





Beta2 Integrin Agonists


Pubchem Compound Identification Numbers















625239


629074


646977


650199


650604


650825


651007


652267


652695


655389


656131


658682


658936


658948


660042


660507


660662


660761


664182


664240


664564


665043


665142


665589


707842


743624


862194


960705


960708


984329


1011163


1016780


1017701


1045434


1076720


1078286


1132508


1135734


1144109


1164441


1193278


1212121


1219756


1226649


1227337


1245695


1254288


1255242


1255636


1262031


1272696


1290769


1295289


1308620


1309747


1310712


1314910


1317528


1322134


1331726


1334850


1345254


1347165


1352154


1356461


1358622


1398027


1418314


1442651


1494229


1554430


1554642


1564171


1599902


1745635


1764811


1773030


1825650


1827856


1844411


1871747


1891182


1943921


1949560


1951731


1964957


1967927


1973614


1976060


1984877


1993471


1997460


2023256


2030970


2030972


2064203


2067755


2078838


2081288


2083967


2098333


2108710


2121076


2126150


2132989


2144321


2145570


2145571


2150886


2163411


2182821


2193118


2208079


2214811


2252798


2254616


2313216


2321209


2327777


2338283


2365417


2366866


2369720


2408017


2421294


2422317


2448744


2462581


2537029


2549650


2566737


2566842


2569132


2766156


2829724


2831455


2836867


2912337


2941732


2958500


2965657


2997788


2998734


2998894


3000165


3101589


3160888


3162305


3197508


3207334


3226283


3235854


3237376


3237460


3237466


3238190


3238872


3241193


3241379


3241486


3242458


3244583


3244843


3244965


3272728


3287222


3352440


3395368


3466680


3908086


4168394


4325421


4412067


4483668


4831224


4835204


4896185


4971819


5143923


5212443


5287341


5307308


5307705


5308150


5309189


5309602


5309909


5334631


5334671


5342606


5343920


5346533


5347156


5349163


5350469


5423532


5431927


5494763


5497396


5516744


5521841


5624444


5683040


5727347


5736971


5739634


5769297


5774232


5801934


5912542


5950432


5971886


6012385


6030986


6079611


6098117


6098526


6291421


6299255


6402388


6508323


6513263


6879466


6880170


6880740


6881723


6892710


7109922


7191378


7206282


7285276


7424594


9550569


9551541


9551824


9557044


9564362


9568664


9594695


9617832


9619223


9774264


11840403


11948741


11957216


12004639


12004750


12005911


12005977


12006068


12006105


15944670


15944880


54680928
















TABLE 2





Beta2 Integrin Agonists


Pubchem Compound Identification Numbers















629074


652267


652695


658682


658948


664182


665142


666410


960705


1017701


1078286


1132508


1144109


1164441


1227337


1255242


1255636


1262031


1295289


1308620


1310712


1317528


1331726


1334850


1356461


1494229


1554430


1554642


1599902


1745635


1825650


1891182


1943921


1949560


1951731


1964957


1967927


1984877


2030970


2030972


2083967


2144321


2150886


2163411


2214811


2252798


2254616


2321209


2365417


2422317


2569132


2831455


2997788


2998894


3207334


3235854


3237466


3241193


3242458


3244965


3466680


4483668


5143923


5308150


5309602


5342606


5346533


5431927


5494763


5521841


5736971


5769297


5912542


5971886


6098117


6299255


6880740


6892904


9568664


9774264


11957216


12004750


12005977


12006068
















TABLE 3







Agonist Compounds Augmenting CD


11c/CD18 Binding to Fibrinogen










Compound
EC50
EC50
EC50


ID No.
E320A
CD11c/CD18
CD11b/CD18













1418314
9.57
3.444
4.487


5950432
9.83
6.487
5.891


9619223
35.71
11.8
6.181


658682
1.603
0.7531
0.6213


3241193
1.281
1.256
0.6911


665589
14.55
5.108
5.962


2997788
5.269
2.684
4.718


1984877
3.071
2.537
2.16


9564362
12.22
9.956
4.418


1345254
7.527
4.504
1.223


2327777
21.86
Infinite
2.567


2965657
12.77
Infinite
0.7002


656131
9.971
9.592
6.78


651007
8.178
4.878
6.586


2078838
72.4
10.8
6.682


2829724
18.28
11.43
7.444


4412067
11.41
9.968
6.136


4168394
8.854
9.336
6.401


625239
7.743
4.334
6.488


2836867
121
11.59
8.702


9557044
10.49
10.11
6.587


5309602
6.416
4.782
2.56


1764811
19.31
9.827
9.505


1254288
11.51
10.35
8.803


1219756
9.943
14.1
4.02


6098117
3.761
2.54
1.527


2030970
Very Low
9.608
Very Low


3244583
9.704
10.45
5.562


1322134
12.12
9.676
4.309


2462581
12.58
9.695
4.252


1825650
6.615
9.55
4.969


2448744
21.8
8.596
4.546


3237376
12.23
10.09
7.32


9551541
8.228
6.16
2.612


1226649
8.47
5.653
3.605


1255242
3.409
5.028
2.569


11957216
6.755
5.077
4.312


3352440
10.1
7.662
3.078


2064203
8.968
5.637
5.308


2150886
5.052
5.168
2.129


1356461
4.023
1.428
2.267


3226283
6.695
6.708
3.767


660042
9.35
9.649
6.887


1871747
15.44
7.236
3.759


7285276
16.3
12.29
3.374


3241486
9.083
9.15
7.47


2549650
10.33
13.19
4.32


629074
5.158
5.803
2.357


2912337
12.41
11547
3.984


15944670
21.4
Infinite
4.866


9550569
8.217
5.181
8.358


6299255
3.618
1.305
3.228


650825
9.861
8.93
2.84


2566737
8.42
7.78
5.658


1964957
6.467
5.924
10.55


3242458
2.828
1.558
1.886


1599902
5.709
576.8
2.23


1144109
7.059
2.348
3.059


1227337
4.191
3.999
3.317


2365417
2.826
5.977
4.042


743624
15.67
8.287
4.743


1773030
7.744
3.516
3.516


1078286
6.921
6.917
2.501


3237466
3.689
3.759
1.352


1255636
0.6782
19.01
Very Low


5624444
15.29
3.722
7.64


1997460
6.227
1.635
1.866


1262031
1.603
7.208
7.187


1193278
5.166
1.268
2.77


3237460
135.3
9.273


2408017
2.02 × 108
4.739
5.803


2098333
0.4410 (reverse)
5.943
6.841


2338283
Infinite
4.976
7.786


1317528
3.623
2.36
2.135


7424594
10.26
3.646
4.064


2081288
12.68
5.523
6.288


1844411
7.039
2.319
6.161


2067755
78.26
4.061
4.392


6402388
11.24
3.923
4.805


2145570
8.248
3.054
2.799


1310712
2.395
1.993
1.286


1398027
18.21
5.482
5.138


665142
4.917
1.204
2.625


3908086
12.17
4.359
4.435


6513263
13.91
3.332
3.424


1993471
163.7
4.377
3.072


4483668
5.421
5.253
4.636


1967927
2.67
2.738
2.488


5683040
14.44
5.262
6.596


650199
13.35
4.982
6.354


5769297
2.527
2.125
2.535


6879466
170.8
5.599
7.095


984329
9.234
5.252
8.206


3207334
5.171
3.81
1.99


655389
8.489
4.68
6.707


2126150
Infinite
4.941
8.151


1272696
Infinite
8.433
4.131


1314910
11.74
9.413
4.318


1290769
7.817
3.676
5.552


1358622
13.67
2.725
2.874


12004639
10.24
3.412
5.578


2421294
9.807
5.044
4.578


5727347
10.24
2.609
5.935


2254616
4.425
1.31
1.869


2941732
35.59
7.858
2.149


3238190
10.5
5.961
7.597


3162305
10.39
4.798
9.03


3101589
13.45
5.146
6.78


1331726
2.459
0.86
2.644


12006068
6.837
2.59
2.463


4831224
11.15
4.126
6.618


2252798
4.095
2.661
4.063


2321209
5.298
2.646
2.63


2132989
18
14.89
6.378


11948741
8.089
4.807
3.879


3197508
8.477
8.933
6.03


1334850
2.695
1.014
1.379


1554642
7.9
3.947
5.26


1308620
3.303
4.283
6.26


5774232
8.841
10.51
7.721


12004750
6.234
5.897
5.841


664182
4.238
3.959
3.781


6880740
4.985
4.421
2.599


5343920
Very Low
3.935
5.408


12005911
12.12
10.27
11.21


660507
18.5
9.944
7.06


1494229
6.529
2.563
6.717


1949560
5.463
2.686
5.531


1164441
4.004
2.51
2.775


1745635
3.706
Very low
70.37


1076720
14.86
5.749
4.686


5309909
258.7
Infinite
5.514


1943921
4.122
1.368
3.5


2569132
6.292
3.675
5.281


2208079
567.9
1.404 × 106
3.472


1212121
18.84
0.9866
7.579


3000165
9.018
5.13
7.913


6012385
25.09
158.6
5.699


6098526
13.36
9.173
5.415


2366866
8.59
3.036
7.267


7109922
8.761
1.617
4.856


2182821
8.515
4.964
5.36


5307705
9.933
10.18
3.421


1011163
12.91
4.091
5.958


3238872
19.11
4.396
6.336


1554430
4.68
5.212
1.301


9774264
4.164
9.43
1.034


2083967
3.331
2.23
2.696


2958500
8.939
4.458
7.468


650604
9.43
7.155
7.485


1045434
9.84
Infinite
3.981


658948
0.9942
0.7315
0.5641


1309747
10.49
11.94
4.47


7206282
10.74
7.291
6.335


15944880
10.12
5.883
4.253


1017701
8.108
2.5
2.715


5287341
8.975
4.84
4.158


5347156
13.67
7.01
6.211


5307308
18.7
4.443
3.528


1951731
3.654
2.045
4.207


6030986
8.101
8.539
6.117


3244965
4.911
3.462
4.028


5736971
6.547
4.599
4.499


1827856
7.034
4.26
6.326


5516744
13.56
9.19
6.956


2030972
6.689
Very Low
Very Low


5350469
14.36
9.728
6.896


1976060
0.3153 (Reverse)
1.86
1.904


12005977
6.715
9.39
5.047


9568664
6.192
2.988
3.728


5971886
4.657
1.201
1.102


2831455
5.084
4.12
6.866


660662
9.733
8.811
7.714


1245695
8.466
4.8
6.953


6881723
7.326
4.849
5.939


658936
0.2092 (Reverse)
1.669 (Reverse)
1.164


5494763
4.902
4.717
4.955


1442651
10.78
7.064
6.796


1973614
43.61
3.671
4.648


1132508
4.443
0.76
5.39


960705
3.492
1.398
2.281


9594695
17.52
5.172
7.539


5349163
10.92
7.869
5.733


5497396
11.66
60.29
7.956


7191378
8.133
52.49
5.216


5423532
8.978
8.495
6.044


2537029
8758
9.463
7.907


6079611
9.051
8.423
3.176


3235854
5.555
4.021
2.705


2766156
10.66
5.855
6.556


652695
4.859
2.62
4.615


3272728
10.8
4.58
7.433


5212443
12.98
6.611
7.301


5346533
5.807
5.117
3.459


1295289
3.619
1.414
2.67


5143923
5.315
4.986
3.014


3466680
5.991
5.433
6.257


6508323
12.63
4.033
6.3


1891182
6.863
3.882
5.267


5334631
12.95
6.826
5.391


1347165
171.3
8.482
4.597


960708
101.3
9.435
6.816


2566842
7.571
4.903
5.075


2214811
4.678
2.448
2.536


2108710
62.49
9.811
3.856


652267
6.001
3.384
5.009


5912542
6.981
4.747
7.767


4835204
Infinite
20.24
6.44


862194
15.19
8.549
3.753


5308150
1.261
Very Low
17.34


3160888
11.43
9.383
5.432


3395368
8.783
5.249
4.844


2369720
11.25
5.501
3.597


664564
20.39
9.685
7.03


4896185
11.84
9.714
4.463


3287222
16.49
7.234
3.752


2145571
12.09
5.125
4.735


6892710
12.44
4.062
3.363


2193118
38.17
33.96
2.924


6880170
11.28
5.051
5.095


11840403
13.36
34.74
1.912


2998734
8.015
2.989
2.837


2121076
19.37
6.383
5.048


2422317
5.703
2.588
3.35


2023256
26.06
1544
6.201


5342606
5.159
2.603
2.942


5521841
3.625
2.685
2.512


665043
9.234
2.475
4.072


2313216
28.35
16.32
5.865


646977
10.1
7.248
5.644


2144321
6.486
5.863
5.067


1135734
9.418
4.67
2.074


4971819
60.19
9.326
5.255


9551824
22.3
7.315
6.672


5739634
7.099
3.211
1.632


660761
8.803
5.499
5.625


1016780
7.818
5.271
4.561


1564171
14.83
7.555
5.828


2998894
5.857
2.646
3.053


12006105
9.854
4.737
4.54


5334671
16.92
7.64
7.91


5309189
14.24
10.98
4.852


1352154
8.01
4.123
1.262


2163411
6.56
7.497
1.77


5801934
7.85
2.848
2.697


664240
13.78
5.235
4.596


6291421
12.48
6.923
1.582


3241379
12.62
6.826
6.934


3244843
46.2
7.766
3.591


54680928
16.09
4.623
4.759


4325421
999.2
11.79
7.49


9617832
11.72
5.827
4.411


707842
14.99
Infinite
6.463


5431927
2.355
1.751
2.008
















TABLE 4







Agonistic Compounds Targeting the CD11bA-Domain












Compound
EC50
EC50
EC50



ID No.
E320A
CD11c/CD18
CD11b/CD18
















1255636
0.6782
N/A Very Low
N/A Very Low



658948
0.9942
0.5641
0.7315



5308150
1.261
N/A Very Low
N/A Very Low



3241193
1.281
0.6911
1.256



658682
1.603
0.6213
0.7531



5431927
2.355
2.008
1.751



1310712
2.395
1.286
1.993



1331726
2.459
2.644
0.8603



5769297
2.527
2.535
2.125



1967927
2.67
2.488
2.738



1334850
2.695
1.379
1.014



2365417
2.826
4.042
5.977



3242458
2.828
1.886
1.558



1984877
3.071
2.16
2.537



1308620
3.303
6.268
4.283



2083967
3.331
2.696
2.23



1255242
3.409
2.569
5.028



960705
3.492
2.281
1.398



6299255
3.618
3.228
1.305



1295289
3.619
2.67
1.414



1317528
3.623
2.135
2.63



5521841
3.625
2.512
2.685



1951731
3.654
4.207
2.045



3237466
3.689
1.352
3.759



1745635
3.706
N/A Very Low
N/A Very Low



6098117
3.761
1.527
2.54



1164441
4.004
2.775
2.51



1356461
4.023
2.267
1.428



2252798
4.095
4.063
2.661



1943921
4.122
3.5
1.368



9774264
4.164
1.034
9.43



1227337
4.191
3.317
3.999



664182
4.238
3.781
3.959



2254616
4.425
1.869
1.31



1132508
4.443
5.39
0.7609



5971886
4.657
1.102
1.201



2214811
4.678
2.536
2.448



1554430
4.68
1.301
5.212



652695
4.859
4.615
2.62



5494763
4.902
4.955
4.717



3244965
4.911
4.028
3.462



665142
4.917
2.625
1.204



6880740
4.985
2.599
4.421



2150886
5.052
2.129
5.168



2831455
5.084
6.866
4.12



629074
5.158
2.357
5.803



5342606
5.159
2.942
2.603



3207334
5.171
1.99
3.81



2997788
5.269
4.718
2.684



2321209
5.298
2.63
2.646



5143923
5.315
3.014
4.986



4483668
5.421
4.636
5.253



1949560
5.463
5.531
2.686



6892904
5.486
2.416
2.063



3235854
5.555
2.705
4.021



2422317
5.703
3.35
2.588



1599902
5.709
2.23
576.8



5346533
5.807
3.459
5.117



2998894
5.857
3.053
2.646



3466680
5.991
6.257
5.433



652267
6.001
5.009
3.384



9568664
6.192
3.728
2.988



666410
6.217
2.453
2.949



12004750
6.234
5.841
5.897



2569132
6.292
5.281
3.675



5309602
6.416
2.56
4.782



1964957
6.467
10.55
5.924



2144321
6.486
5.067
5.863



1494229
6.529
6.717
2.563



5736971
6.547
4.499
4.599



2163411
6.56
1.77
7.497



1825650
6.615
4.969
9.55



2030972
6.689
N/A Very Low
N/A Very Low



12005977
6.715
5.047
9.93



11957216
6.755
4.312
5.077



12006068
6.837
2.463
2.59



1891182
6.863
5.267
3.882



1078286
6.921
2.501
6.917



5912542
6.981
7.767
4.747



1144109
7.059
3.059
2.348



1554642
7.9
5.26
3.947



1017701
8.108
2.715
2.5



2030970
9.991
N/A Very Low
N/A Very Low



1262031
1.603
7.208
7.187










All patents and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the same extent as if each individual patent or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference in its entirety.


Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments of the invention described herein. Such equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the following claims.


REFERENCES



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  • 3. Hynes, R. O., Integrins: bidirectional, allosteric signaling machines. Cell, 2002. 110(6): p. 673-87.

  • 4. Amaout, M. A., Leukocyte adhesion molecules deficiency: its structural basis, pathophysiology and implications for modulating the inflammatory response. Immunol Rev, 1990. 114: p. 145-80.

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  • 7. Tang, T., et al., A role for Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) in immune complex-stimulated neutrophil function in vivo: Mac-1 deficiency abrogates sustained Fcgamma receptor-dependent neutrophil adhesion and complement-dependent proteinuria in acute glomerulonephritis. J Exp Med, 1997. 186(11): p. 1853-63.

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Claims
  • 1. Any one of the compounds listed in Table 1 or Table 2 or a derivative, salt, or ester thereof that augment beta2 integrin activity.
  • 2. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound is listed in Table 2.
  • 3. The compound of claim 1, wherein the beta2 integrin is CD11b/CD18.
  • 4. The compound of claim 1, wherein the beta2 integrin is CD11bE320A/CD18.
  • 5. The compound of claim 1, wherein the beta2 integrin is CD11c/CD18.
  • 6. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound binds to an αA-domain of a beta2 integrin.
  • 7. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound binds to the αA-domain of a CD11b integrin.
  • 8. The compound of claim 1, wherein the compound binds to an αA-domain of a CD11c integrin.
  • 9. A pharmaceutical composition comprising one or more of the compounds of claim 1 and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable excipients.
  • 10-12. (canceled)
  • 13. A method for identifying agonist compounds of beta2 integrin, the method comprising: (a) contacting cells with a compound on a substrate treated with fibrinogen;(b) physically repositioning the substrate such that non-adherent cells move away from the substrate by the action of gravity; and(c) detecting adherent cells on the substrate.
  • 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of: (d) quantifying the adherent cells on the substrate.
  • 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the cells are K562 cells expressing integrin CD11b/CD18, CD11bE320A/CD18, or CD11c/CD18.
  • 16. The method claim 13, wherein the solution further comprises Mg2+, Ca2+, or a mixture thereof.
  • 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising removing the solution from the substrate after physically repositioning the substrate.
  • 18. The method of claim 13, wherein removing the solution from the substrate comprises contacting adhered cells with a fixative and washing the substrate.
  • 19. The method of claim 13, wherein the fixative comprises formaldehyde.
  • 20. The method of claim 13, which is conducted without contacting the substrate with an additional liquid to wash or rinse the substrate.
  • 21. The method of claim 13, wherein detecting adherent cells comprises measuring the viability of the adherent cells or imaging the adherent cells.
  • 22. A beta2 integrin agonist compound identified by the method of claim 13.
  • 23-28. (canceled)
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. national phase application of International Patent Application No. PCT/US2017/14222, filed on Jan. 20, 2017, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/286,190, filed on Jan. 22, 2016, each of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by express reference thereto.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made with U.S. government support under grant number 1 R03 NS053659-01 awarded by the National Institutes of Health. The U.S. government has certain rights in the invention.

PCT Information
Filing Document Filing Date Country Kind
PCT/US17/14222 1/20/2017 WO 00
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
62286190 Jan 2016 US