Stabilization of the Hinge Region of Human E-selectin Enhances Binding Affinity to Ligands Under Force

Introduction E-selectin is a member of the selectin family of cell adhesion molecules expressed on the plasma membrane of inflamed endothelium and facilitates initial leukocyte tethering and subsequent cell rolling during the early stages of the inflammatory response via binding to glycoproteins expressing sialyl LewisX and sialyl LewisA (sLeX/A). Existing crystal structures of the extracellular lectin/EGF-like domain of E-selectin complexed with sLeX have revealed that E-selectin can exist in two conformation states, a low affinity (bent) conformation, and a high affinity (extended) conformation. The differentiating characteristic of the two conformations is the interdomain angle between the lectin and the EGF-like domain. Methods Using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations we observed that in the absence of tensile force E-selectin undergoes spontaneous switching between the two conformational states at equilibrium. A single amino acid substitution at residue 2 (serine to tyrosine) on the lectin domain favors the extended conformation. Results Steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations of E-selectin and PSGL-1 in conjunction with experimental cell adhesion assays show a longer binding lifetime of E-selectin (S2Y) to PSGL-1 compared to wildtype protein. Conclusions The findings in this study advance our understanding into how the structural makeup of E-selectin allosterically influences its adhesive dynamics.

The Effect of Soluble P-Selectin in Coagulation

P-selectin, a member of the selectin family, is a vascular cell adhesion molecule. It is expressed and stored in alpha granules of platelets and in Weibel-Palade bodies of endothelial cells, and upon activation, P-selectin is translocated/transferred to the membrane surface. A key function of the P-selectin is to mediate leukocyte, lymphocyte and platelet interactions in inflammation and possibly in the thrombus formation. A soluble variant, S-Psel, comprising the extracellular domain of P-selectin, has been identified in healthy individuals, but is markedly elevated in patient with vascular disorders. Recent work on S-Psel suggested that S-Psel may play a role in hemostasis/coagulation through the generation of procoagulant TF-bearing microparticles (MP), and therefore, has potential in treating patients with the bleeding disorders, like hemophilia. The aim of this study is to verify studies reporting that S-Psel exhibits in vitro and in vivo pro-coagulant activity. S-Psel and S-Psel-Fc (IgG) fusion were purchased commercially or prepared at Novo Nordisk Research US (NNRUS) and their biological activity was verified by P-selectin/Pselectin glycoprotein ligand-1(PSGL-1) interaction in vitro. The clotting times of human whole blood and plasma treated with S-Psel or S-Psel-Fc, or with an irrelevant human IgG control protein, were measured by thromboelastography and aggregometry respectively. After up to 8 hours of incubation with S-Psel and S-Psel-Fc at a concentration of 15ug/ml, we found no significant difference between samples treated with S-Psel, S-Psel-Fc and the IgG controls. The ability of S-Psel to generate TF-bearing microparticles in human whole blood was examined in a FXa substrate cleavage assay; however, no significant difference in cleavage was observed. Finally, we evaluated S-Psel in vivo. Hemophilia A mice were injected with recombinant mouse S-Psel-IgG or S-Psel-Fc (IgG) at the concentration of 1.2 mg/Kg body weight and human IgG was used as control. As suggested from published results, the effect of S-Psel was determined 6 h after the treatment. Contrary to previous reports, the results revealed no significant difference in bleed time and blood loss between the experimental and control group. In conclusion, we were unable to demonstrate the procoagulant activity of S-Psel in our laboratory either in vitro or in vivo.

Serum levels of P-selectin in men with high-functioning autism

SummaryImmune dysfunction has been proposed as a mechanism for the pathophysiology of autistic-spectrum disorders. The selectin family of adhesion molecules plays a prominent role in immune/inflammatory responses. We determined the serum levels of three types of soluble-form selectin (sP, sL and sE) in 15 men with high-functioning autism and 22 age-matched healthy controls by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Levels of sP-selectin and sL-selectin were significantly lower in patients than in controls. Furthermore, sP-selectin levels were negatively correlated with impaired social development during early childhood.

CD44 is a physiological E-selectin ligand on neutrophils

The selectin family of adhesion molecules and their glycoconjugated ligands are essential for blood polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) extravasation into inflammatory and infectious sites. However, E-selectin ligands on PMNs are not well characterized. We show here that CD44 immunopurified from G-CSF–differentiated 32D cells or from peripheral blood PMNs binds specifically to E-selectin. In contrast, CD44 extracted from bone marrow stromal or brain endothelial cell lines does not interact with E-selectin, suggesting cell-specific posttranslational modifications of CD44. PMN-derived CD44 binding activity is mediated by sialylated, α(1,3) fucosylated, N-linked glycans. CD44 enables slow leukocyte rolling on E-selectin expressed on inflamed endothelium in vivo and cooperates with P-selectin glycoprotein ligand–1 to recruit neutrophils into thioglycollate-induced peritonitis and staphylococcal enterotoxin A–injected skin pouch. CD44 extracted from human PMNs also binds to E-selectin. Moreover, we demonstrate that CD44 is hypofucosylated in PMNs from a patient with leukocyte adhesion deficiency type II, suggesting that it contributes to the syndrome. These findings thus suggest broader roles for CD44 in the innate immune response and uncover a potential new target for diseases in which selectins play a prominent role.

The emerging value of P-selectin as a disease marker

Activated platelets are key components in many arterial disorders. P-selectin is an activation-dependent platelet receptor, which is also identified in endothelial cells. Together with E-and L-selectin it constitutes the selectin family. These transmembrane proteins have continued to attract great interest as they support rapid and reversible cell adhesion in flow systems and thus play an essential role in multicellular interactions during thrombosis and inflammation. Similarly to other lectins, selectins bind to different glycoconjugates with varying affinities. Protein ligands, equipped with the appropriate carbohydrate and sulfate moieties for P-selectin binding, have been identified in normal peripheral blood leukocytes and several non-hematopoietic organs, as well as on cancer cells. For diagnostic purposes, P-selectin can readily be detected on the platelet surface by flow cytometry and by ELISA as a soluble ligand in the plasma. Along with other markers, these data can be used in the assessment of platelet activation status. Such results bear clinical significance since P-selectin has been implicated in the pathogenesis of widespread disorders including coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and malignancy.

Glycosyltransferases and glycan structures contributing to the adhesive activities of L-, E- and P-selectin counter-receptors

In mammals, leucocytes of the adaptive and innate immune systems must move from their sites of origin to sites of maturation, or to where they are deployed against the invasion of pathogens. The vascular tree serves as the primary throughfare by which leucocytes move to these various destinations. Adhesion must be established between the leucocyte and the endothelial cells that line the vascular tree to enable leucocytes to escape the vascular compartment and then contribute to extravascular immune processes. A major fraction of these leucocyte endothelial-cell adhesive events initiate with, and require interactions between, the selectin family of cell adhesion molecules and their glycoconjugate counter-receptors. This article will review the structures of the glycan components of these counter-receptors, and the glycosyltransferases that control their expression.

Adhesion molecules of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes and alveolar macrophages in rats: modulation by exposure to ozone

1 Exposure to elevated levels of ozone results in an infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) into the lungs. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the ozone-induced inflammatory process is preceded by a change in the expression of adhesion molecules (integrins and selectins) in peripheral blood PMNs and alveolar macrophages in rats. 2 Female Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to air or ozone (1 p.p.m., 2 h). Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was carried out and blood was collected via intracardiac puncture at 0 or 18 h after the exposure. There were no PMN in the BAL fluid at time 0 after the 2 h exposure to ozone. The expression of cell adhesion molecules from the integrin family (represented by CD18) on alveolar macrophages (AM) was lowered. The expression of cell adhesion molecules from the selectin family (represented by CD62L) on blood PMN was not affected by exposure to ozone, while the expression of integrins (CD11b) on blood PMN was lowered. 3 This effect was confirmed by experiments in which plasma of ozone-exposed animals was incubated with PMN from peripheral blood obtained from nonexposed animals. In these experiments, the expression of CD11b on PMNs of non-exposed animals was lower after incubation with plasma from ozone-exposed animals. 4 Our experiments suggest the presence of factor(s) in blood, which cause a decrease in the expression of CD11b on PMNs.