Treatment of sickle cell disease and inflammatory conditions

1. A method for treating sickle cell disease comprising administering to a subject having sickle cell disease an effective amount of a compound having the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate form thereof, wherein the formula can be the alpha or beta anomer or the corresponding aldose form;

each of R 1 , R 3 , and R 4 is independently OH or a hydrolyzable ester group.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said treatment reduces the incidence of vaso-occlusion in a subject having sickle cell disease or reduces the severity or duration of a vaso-occlusive event in a subject having sickle cell disease.

3. A method for reducing the incidence of vaso-occlusion in a subject having sickle cell disease or reducing the severity or duration of a vaso-occlusive event in a subject having sickle cell disease comprising administering to a subject having sickle cell disease an effective amount of a compound having the formula:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate form thereof, wherein the formula can be the alpha or beta anomer or the corresponding aldose form;

each of R 1 , R 3 , and R 4 is independently OH or a hydrolyzable ester group.

4. A method for treating sickle cell disease comprising administering to a subject having sickle cell disease an effective amount of 2-deoxy-2-fluorofucose to inhibit the binding of at least one of E-selectin or P-selectin to neutrophils.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of R 1 , R 3 , and R 4 is independently —OH or —OC(O)C 1 -C 10 alkyl.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein each of R 1 , R 3 , and R 4 is independently —OH or —OC(O)CH 3 .

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is soluble in aqueous formulation buffer at a concentration of at least 1 mg/ml.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is soluble in aqueous formulation buffer at a concentration of at least about 100 mg/ml.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is soluble in aqueous formulation buffer at a concentration of at least about 300 mg/ml.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein following administration to a subject, the compound is converted in vivo to 2-deoxy-2-fluorofucose or a salt or solvate thereof.

11. The method claim 1 , wherein treatment with the compound inhibits the binding of an adhesion molecule to leukocytes in the mammal by at least about 20%.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said adhesion molecule is E-selectin, P-selectin, and/or L-selectin.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein said leukocytes are neutrophils.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein treatment with the compound inhibits leukocyte capture of red blood cells in the mammal by at least about 20%.

15. The method of claim 1 wherein treatment with the compound inhibits leukocyte rolling along on the endothelium in the mammal by at least about 20%.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein treatment with the compound inhibits leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium in the mammal by at least about 20%.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein treatment with the compound inhibits neutrophil extravasation in the mammal by at least about 20%.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the compound is orally administered.