Multivalent dendrimeric compounds containing carbohydrates expressed on immune cells inhibit infection by primary isolates of HIV-1.

Specific glycosphingolipids (GSL), found on the surface of target immune cells, are recognized as alternate cell surface receptors by the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) external envelope glycoprotein. In this study, the globotriose and 3'-sialyllactose carbohydrate head groups found on two GSL were covalently attached to a dendrimer core to produce two types of unique multivalent carbohydrates (MVC). These MVC inhibited HIV-1 infection of T cell lines and primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by T cell line-adapted viruses or primary isolates, with IC(50)s ranging from 0.1 to 7.4 µg/ml. Inhibition of Env-mediated membrane fusion by MVC was also observed using a dye-transfer assay. These carbohydrate compounds warrant further investigation as a potential new class of HIV-1 entry inhibitors. The data presented also shed light on the role of carbohydrate moieties in HIV-1 virus-host cell interactions.

LC/MS characterization of meningococcal depolymerized polysaccharide group C reducing endgroup and internal repeating unit.

Hydrogen peroxide has been used to cleave the native Neisseria meningiditis polysaccharide (PS) from mega-Dalton molecular weight to a smaller size (approximately 20 kDa) depolymerized polysaccharide. The polysaccharide was examined after partial peroxide depolymerization to verify the presence of the carboxyl group at position 1 and the intactness of the internal sialic acid repeating units. The reducing end group of meningococcal polysaccharide type C was also examined after derivatization by L-tyrosine hydrazide. Partial peroxide depolymerization did not result in loss of the position 1 carboxyl group at the reducing end of the polysaccharide. In addition, no loss of structural integrity was noted for the internal sialic repeat units.

Novel polysulfated galactose-derivatized dendrimers as binding antagonists of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection.

Evidence indicates that galactosyl ceramide (GalCer) and its 3'-sulfated derivative, sulfatide (SGalCer), may act as alternate coreceptors for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in CD4(-) cells. Glycosphingolipids (GSLs) may also be necessary for fusion of HIV-1 and host cell membranes. Using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to determine which GSL was the best ligand for both recombinant and virus-associated gp120, we found that SGalCer was the best ligand for each rgp120 and HIV-1 isolate tested. Therefore, novel multivalent glycodendrimers, which mimic the carbohydrate clustering reportedly found in lipid rafts, were synthesized based on the carbohydrate moiety of SGalCer. Here we describe the synthesis of a polysulfated galactose functionalized, fifth generation DAB dendrimer (PS Gal 64mer), containing on average two sulfate groups per galactose residue. Its ability to inhibit HIV-1 infection of cultured indicator cells was compared to that of dextran sulfate (DxS), a known, potent, binding inhibitor of HIV-1. The results indicate that the PS Gal 64mer inhibited infection by the HIV-1 isolates tested as well as DxS.

Synthesis of novel, multivalent glycodendrimers as ligands for HIV-1 gp120.

Multivalent neoglycoconjugates are valuable tools for studying carbohydrate-protein interactions. To study the interaction of HIV-1 gp120 with its reported alternate glycolipid receptors, galactosyl ceramide (GalCer) and sulfatide, galactose- and sulfated galactose-derivatized dendrimers were synthesized, analyzed as ligands for rgp120 by surface plasmon resonance, and tested for their ability to inhibit HIV-1 infection of CXCR4- and CCR5-expressing indicator cells. Four different series of glycodendrimers were made by amine coupling spacer-arm derivatized galactose residues, either sulfated or nonsulfated, to poly(propylenimine) dendrimers, generations 1-5. One series of glycodendrimers was prepared from the ceramide saccharide derivative of purified natural GalCer, and another was from chemically synthesized 3-(beta-D-galactopyranosylthio)propionic acid. Synthesis of 3-sulfogalactopyranosyl-derivatized dendrimers was accomplished using the novel compound, 3-(beta-D-3-sulfogalactopyranosylthio)propionic acid. The fourth series was made by random sulfation of the 3-(beta-D-galactopyranosylthio)propionic acid functionalized dendrimers. Structures of the carbohydrate moieties were confirmed by NMR, and the average molecular weights and polydispersities of the different glycodendrimers were determined using MALDI-TOF MS. Surface plasmon resonance studies found that rgp120 IIIB bound to the derivatized dendrimers tested with nanomolar affinity, and to dextran sulfate with picomolar affinity. In vitro studies of the effectiveness of these compounds at inhibiting infection of U373-MAGI-CCR5 cells by HIV-1 Ba-L indicated that the sulfated glycodendrimers were better inhibitors than the nonsulfated glycodendrimers, but not as effective as dextran sulfate.

Botulinum neurotoxin A activity is dependent upon the presence of specific gangliosides in neuroblastoma cells expressing synaptotagmin I.

Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) is the deadliest of all known biological substances. Although its toxicity makes BoNT/A a biological warfare threat, its biologic activity makes it an increasingly useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of muscular disorders. However, almost 200 years after its discovery, the neuronal cell components required for the activity of this deadly toxin have not been unequivocally identified. In this work, neuroblastoma cells expressing synaptotagmin I, a protein shown to be bound by BoNT/A, were used to determine whether specific gangliosides were necessary for BoNT/A activity as measured by synaptosomal-associated protein of 25 kDa (SNAP-25) cleavage. Ganglioside GT1b was found to support BoNT/A activity significantly more effectively than GD1a, which was far more effective than GM1 when added to ganglioside-deficient murine cholinergic Neuro 2a or to human adrenergic SK-N-SH neuroblastoma cells. Whereas both cell lines expressed synaptotagmin I, SNAP-25 cleavage was not observed in the absence of complex gangliosides. These results indicate that 1) gangliosides are required for BoNT/A activity, 2) synaptotagmin I in the absence of gangliosides does not support BoNT/A activity, and 3) Neuro 2a cells are an efficient model system for studying the biological activity of BoNT/A.