The integrin CD11c/CD18 plays a role in leukocyte and cell matrix adhesion and is highly expressed in certain hematopoietic malignancies. To better characterize ligand binding properties, we panned random peptide phage-display libraries over purified CD11c/CD18. We identified a phage expressing the circular peptide C-GRWSGWPADL-C. C-GRWSGWPADL-C phage bound specifically to CD11c/CD18 expressing monocytes but not CD11c/CD18 negative lymphocytes and showed 5 x 10(3)-fold higher binding to purified CD11c/CD18 than control phage, without binding to CD11b/CD18. Peptide sequence analysis revealed a similar sequence in domain D5 of ICAM-1 and an alternative, phase-shifted motif in domain D4. Surface plasmon resonance experiments demonstrated direct interaction of ICAM-1 and CD11c/CD18. A soluble fusion protein containing the extracellular domain of ICAM-1 abolished C-GRWSGWPADL-C phage binding to CD11c/CD18. Moreover, synthetic monomeric circular peptide C-GRWSGWPADL-C bound specifically to CD11c/CD18 and inhibited ICAM-1 binding. Its rather low binding affinity and inability to displace pentavalent C-GRWSGWPADL-C phage from CD11c/CD18 suggests that a multimeric display of the selected peptide is essential for high affinity binding. Using ICAM-1 deletion constructs, we showed that domain D4 is required for interaction with CD11c/CD18, suggesting that C-GRWSGWPADL-C phage binds specifically to CD11c/CD18 by structurally mimicking the interaction site on D4 of ICAM-1.