LigoCyte's technical focus is directed at understanding and controlling cellular
interactions governed by the binding of molecules on the surface of a cell with
complementary molecules on another cell. Cell communication and interactions
are vital to inflammation, healing of wounds, embryonic growth, the spread and
growth of tumor cells and the entry and dissemination of microbes in the body.
Bioadhesion is the process used to recruit leukocytes in response to inflammatory
events and infections. The recruiting process involves many complex biochemical
interactions. LigoCyte's areas of focus include selectins, integrins, chemokines and
cytokines. Selectins are the bioadhesion molecules responsible for causing
leukocytes (white blood cells) to slow and roll along the walls of blood
vessels. The slowing and rolling is followed by the integrin-mediated sticking to the
vessel wall and then passing through the wall to the site of inflammation or infection.
In infectious disease, a pathogenic microorganism trafficks from its point of entry
to a target tissue similar to how leukocytes move through
recognition of cellular addresses and passage through vessel linings. LigoCyte's
discovery process has revealed that infections occur because a pathogen has
learned to use many of the same molecules in the host's communication network
to reach specific tissues and organs. Consequently, any synthetic compound or
biological material that blocks or prevents the pathogen's use of the host's adhesion
molecules for trafficking has the potential to serve as a therapeutic compound.
|