Selective inhibition of adhesion molecule expression by edelfosine (ET-18-OCH3) on human umbilical vein or microvascular endothelium.

An abundance of data is accumulating that suggest that if one can block endothelial cell-leukocyte binding or inhibit cell adhesion molecules (CAM), inflammatory events can be greatly diminished. In this report, we demonstrate that an alkyl-lysophospho-lipid compound (ET-18-OCH3) can decrease adhesion molecule expression on cultured human micro- and macrovascular endothelial cell lines. ET-18 selectively decreased CAM expression; CD31 was decreased, however. Vascular CAM-1 tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced expression was not altered. Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 expression was decreased, but endoglin expression was not affected. Thus, we have demonstrated nontoxic downmodulation of vascular CAM expression in vitro. Whether this compound will have anti-inflammatory properties needs to be clarified in animal models.