The use of one-bead one-compound combinatorial library method to identify peptide ligands for α4β1 integrin receptor in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Using a 'one-bead one-compound' combinatorial library method and whole cell binding assay, we have identified peptide ligands that bind preferentially to human lymphoid malignant cells but not to normal human peripheral lymphocytes. These peptides have a common motif of Leu-Asp-Ile, Leu-Asp-Phe, or Leu-Asp-Val. Anti-α4 integrin antibody blocks binding of cells to these peptides which indicates that the target receptor for these peptides is α4β1 integrin. These findings may have important therapeutic and diagnostic implications in the treatment of lymphoma, leukemia, and various immunologic disorders.