Synthesis and biological evaluation of a sialyl Lewis X mimic with significantly improved E-selectin inhibition

The synthesis of the highly potent E-selectin inhibitor 5 is described. Sialyl Lewis X mimic 5 was rationally designed by combining two previously disclosed beneficial sLe(x) modifications in a single molecule. The compound was found to be 30-fold more potent than sLe(x) in a static, cell-free equilibrium assay. Furthermore, compound 5 was highly active (IC50 = 10 microM) in a dynamic non-equilibrium assay in which sLe(x) did not inhibit neutrophil rolling at up to 1000 microM.