Published in:
European Journal of Immunology, 36 (2006) 12, Seite 3207-3215
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1002/eji.200636157
ISSN:
0014-2980;
1521-4141
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
AbstractL‐selectin belongs to the C‐type lectin family of glycoproteins and is constitutively expressed on most leukocytes. L‐selectin mediates leukocyte rolling in inflamed microvessels and high endothelial venules (HEV) via binding to specific carbohydrate structures on selectin ligands. Previous studies using sialidase treatment suggested a role of sialic acid residues in L‐selectin‐dependent rolling. To investigate the role of the α2,3‐sialyltransferase (ST3Gal)‐IV on L‐selectin ligand activity in vivo, we studied leukocyte rolling in inflamed venules of the cremaster muscle and in Peyer's patch HEV of ST3Gal‐IV‐deficient mice and littermate control mice. In cremaster muscle venules with or without TNF‐α treatment, L‐selectin‐dependent rolling was almost completely abolished in ST3Gal‐IV–/– mice. In both models, L‐selectin interacts with P‐selectin glycoprotein ligand‐1 (PSGL‐1) presented by adherent leukocytes and leukocyte fragments, but not with endothelial L‐selectin ligands. In contrast, L‐selectin‐dependent rolling in Peyer's patch HEV, which is mediated by unknown endothelial L‐selectin ligands, was not impaired in the absence of ST3Gal‐IV. Our in vivo data show that PSGL‐1, the molecule responsible for L‐selectin‐mediated leukocyte interactions in inflammation, is dependent on ST3Gal‐IV, while α2,3‐sialylation by ST3Gal‐IV is not necessary for L‐selectin ligand activity on high endothelial cells of Peyer's patch HEV.