NEOGLYCOPOLYMER INHIBITORS OF THE SELECTINS

The selectin class of proteins plays an important role in the inflamma tory response. These proteins, which bind saccharide ligands, facilita te the recruitment of leukocytes to the inflamed endothelium. The ring -opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) has been used to generate sy nthetic multidentate Ligands, which display multiple copies of sulfate d saccharide residues. By altering the structure of the appended sacch aride residues, multivalent ligands that selectively target one member of the selectin family, P-selectin, were created. The biological acti vities of materials prepared from the same monomer unit varied, depend ing on the method of polymer preparation. This result suggests that po lymers containing more repeat elements exhibit higher selectin inhibit ory activities. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.