title: Langerhans' cell expression of the selectin ligand, sialyl Lewis x.
abstract: Cellular adhesion molecules play a central role in leucocyte migration through peripheral blood and tissues. A crucial stage in these events in selectin-mediated adhesion involving E-selectin expressed on activated endothelium interacting with a range of carbohydrate ligands expressed by specific subpopulations of leucocytes. As such mechanisms may be relevant to bone marrow-derived dendritic epidermal Langerhans' cell (LC) migration, expression of these carbohydrate ligands was assessed immunocytochemically in whole skin biopsies and in epidermal cell suspensions obtained from adult humans. Double-labelling experiments revealed that sialyl Lewis x, recognized by the monoclonal antibody CSLEX1, was expressed on epidermal LC (n = 9). Furthermore, expression was enhanced at 24 hr following epicutaneous application of antigen and in the inflammatory disorder psoriasis (n = 10). E-selectin was concomitantly strongly expressed on dermal endothelium in psoriasis and allergic contact dermatitis. Intradermal injection of the T-cell-derived cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) led to increased LC expression of sialyl Lewis x. In epidermal cell suspensions, in contrast to keratinocytes, CD1a+ cells expressed sialyl Lewis x, intensity of which was enhanced after 4 days in culture. CSLEX1 staining could be abolished and CD15 (non-sialated Lewis x) expression induced by saponification and treatment with neuraminidase. Expression of other selectin ligands was also examined. While the cutaneous lymphocyte antigen defined by the monoclonal antibody HECA-452 reacted with a small minority of LC, sialyl Lewis a and sulphatide were not expressed under any experimental conditions. These studies indicate that E-selectin-sialyl Lewis x interactions are potentially important in LC migration, both into and out of skin.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Applied Dermatopathology, St John's Institute of Dermatology, UMDS, Guy's Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Groves
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: MacDonald
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000032:analysis; D017449:Dermatitis, Allergic Contact / Q000276:immunology*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007801:Langerhans Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D008024:Ligands; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000494:pharmacology; D009844:Oligosaccharides / Q000032:analysis*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000276:immunology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018949:Antigens, CD1; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D016256:Lewis X Antigen; D008024:Ligands; D009844:Oligosaccharides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000080506:Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D009439:Neuraminidase