P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 mediates L-selectin-dependent leukocyte rolling in venules

J Exp Med. 2003 May 19;197(10):1355-63. doi: 10.1084/jem.20021854.

Abstract

Leukocyte rolling in postcapillary venules of inflamed tissues is reduced in L-selectin-deficient mice and mice treated with L-selectin blocking antibodies, but the glycoprotein ligand for L-selectin in inflamed venules is unknown. Here, we show that L-selectin-dependent rolling after P-selectin blockade is completely absent in P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1)-/- mice or wild-type mice treated with a PSGL-1 blocking monoclonal antibody. Immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry failed to show PSGL-1 expression on resting or inflamed endothelium or on platelets. To investigate whether leukocyte-expressed PSGL-1 is mediating L-selectin-dependent rolling, we reconstituted lethally irradiated wild-type mice with PSGL-1-/- bone marrow cells. These chimeric mice showed no L-selectin-dependent rolling, suggesting that leukocyte-expressed PSGL-1 mediates L-selectin-dependent rolling. Frame-to-frame video analysis of L-selectin-dependent rolling in wild-type mice showed that the majority of observed L-selectin-dependent leukocyte rolling was between free flowing leukocytes and already adherent leukocytes or possibly leukocyte fragments, followed by E-selectin-dependent leukocyte rolling along the endothelium. Leukocyte rolling was significantly slower for leukocyte-endothelial than leukocyte-leukocyte interactions. We conclude that leukocyte-expressed PSGL-1 serves as the main L-selectin ligand in inflamed postcapillary venules. L-selectin binding to PSGL-1 initiates tethering events that enable L-selectin-independent leukocyte-endothelial interactions. These findings provide a molecular mechanism for the inflammatory defects seen in L-selectin-deficient mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Communication
  • Inflammation / immunology*
  • L-Selectin / physiology*
  • Leukocytes / physiology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / physiology*
  • Mice
  • P-Selectin / physiology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / pharmacology
  • Venules / pathology*

Substances

  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • P-Selectin
  • P-selectin ligand protein
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • L-Selectin