Effects of Selectin Antagonist GMI-1070 on the Activation State of Leukocytes In Sickle Cell Patients Not In Crisis

Abstract 2672

It is hypothesized that activated leukocytes play key roles in sickle cell vaso-occlusion by adhering to inflamed venules and capturing circulating platelets and sickle red blood cells. GMI-1070 is a small molecule selectin antagonist which was recently reported to reverse acute vascular occlusion in a humanized sickle cell disease (SCD) mouse model (Chang et al, Blood 2010) presumably by inhibiting E-selectin and its effects on downstream signaling of leukocyte activation. Sickle cell patients express elevated levels of soluble E-selectin (Kato et al, Brit J Haem 2005) activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) (Lum et al Amer J Hem 2004) and platelet/monocyte aggregates (PMA) (Wun et al Clin Lab Haem 2002). In this study, the activation state of leukocytes from whole blood samples of sickle cell patients not in crisis before and after infusion of GMI-1070 was evaluated ex vivo. Isolated PMN from normal, healthy volunteers were strongly activated by binding soluble E-selectin/hIg in vitro as determined by a 7-fold increase of the integrin MAC1 (CD11b) and an 8-fold increase in expression of the high affinity form of CD18 detected by antibody 327C. Addition of GMI-1070 completely blocked upregulation of MAC1 and 327C at 50μg/ml and showed pronounced inhibition (79% MAC1; 75% 327C) at 10μg/ml. These in vitro concentrations are consistent with blood levels of GMI-1070 found in sickle cell patients 4 and 8 hours after dosing. A phase 1/2 study was conducted on 10 adult subjects with SCD at steady state. GMI-1070 was given IV at 20mg/kg as a loading dose and at 10 hours a final dose of 10mg/kg was given. Blood samples were drawn from these adults pre-infusion and at 8, 24, and 48 hours after the initial infusion. In some subjects, a blood sample was also drawn at 4 hours post infusion. Activation of PMN's in whole blood samples from subjects was assessed by upregulation of MAC-1, expression of the high affinity CD18 and the loss of CD62L due to shedding of L-selectin determined by flow cytometric analysis of cell surface labeling with fluorescently conjugated antibodies. Of 4 subjects tested, 3 showed increased surface expression of L-selectin, 3 showed decreased expression of MAC-1, and 2 showed decreased expression of high affinity CD11b at the first time point tested (4 or 8hr) after dosing with GMI-1070 suggesting an inhibition of PMN activation in these patients. A functional consequence of monocyte activation is the formation of platelet/monocyte aggregates due to expression of high affinity integrins. Platelet-monocytes aggregates (PMA) in blood were detected using anti-CD11c for monocytes and anti-CD41a for platelets. Treatment of samples with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used for positive controls. Intracellular IL-1β was used as a marker of activated monocytes. In 5 patients out of 6 tested with this assay, PMA in the subject's blood were decreased at the first time point after dosing (8hr). These results are consistent with an effect of GMI-1070 on inhibition of activation given its IC₅₀ value for E-selectin (4.3μM), the blood concentration in subjects after dosing, and the serum half life (7.7hr) in steady state sickle cell adults.