The anti‐inflammatory peptides, antiflammins, regulate the expression of adhesion molecules on human leukocytes and prevent neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells

Antiflammin‐1 and antiflammin‐2 are nonapeptides corresponding to the region of highest similarity between glucocorticoid‐inducible proteins lipocortin‐1 and uteroglobin. We have studied whether antiflammins could affect expression of adhesion molecules on human leukocytes and coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) and binding of neutrophils (PMNs) to HCAEC. Although neither antiflammin‐1 nor antiflammin‐2 affected expression of adhesion molecules on resting PMNs, monocytes, and lymphocytes in whole blood, they attenuated changes in L‐selectin and CD11/CD18 expression evoked by platelet‐activating factor or interleukin‐8 with IC 50 values of 4–20 μmol/l. The maximum inhibition was similar to those seen with human recombinant lipocortin‐1 (100 μg/ml). Unlike dexa‐methasone (100 nmol/l), the antiflammins had little effect on LPS‐stimulated expression of E‐selectin and ICAM‐1 on HCAEC. Consistently, culture of HCAEC with dexamethasone, but not with antiflam‐mins, decreased PMN binding to endothelial cells. Preincubation of PMNs with antiflammins markedly decreased their adhesion to LPS‐activated HCAEC. Inhibition of adhesion was additive with function blocking anti‐E‐selectin and anti‐L‐selectin antibodies, but was not additive with anti‐CD18 antibody. These results show that antiflammins inhibit PMN adhesion to HCAEC by attenuating activation‐induced up‐regulation of CD11/CD18 expression on leukocytes, and suggest that antiflammins may represent a novel therapeutic approach in blocking leukocyte trafficking in host defense and inflammation.—Zouki, C., Ouellet, S., Filep, J. G. The antiinflammatory peptides, antiflammins, regulate the expression of adhesion molecules on human leukocytes and prevent neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells. FASEB J. 14, 572–580 (2000)