title: Elevated serum L-selectin levels and decreased L-selectin expression on CD8(+) lymphocytes in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: L-selectin is expressed on most circulating leucocytes and mediates leucocyte rolling on endothelium at sites of inflammation. Following rolling or activation of leucocytes, cell surface L-selectin is released as soluble L-selectin (sL-selectin). In the present study, we assessed serum levels of sL-selectin by ELISA and blood leucocyte L-selectin expression by flow cytometry in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Serum levels of sL-selectin in patients with SSc (n = 51) were significantly higher than in normal controls (n = 30) while sL-selectin levels were similar for systemic lupus erythematosus patients (n = 20) and normal controls. Furthermore, SSc patients with elevated sL-selectin levels had inflammatory joint involvement, pitting scar/ulcers, and diffuse pigmentation more frequently than those with normal sL-selectin levels. The frequency of L-selectin(+) population among CD8(+) T cells was significantly decreased in SSc patients (n = 30) compared with normal controls (n = 20), while that among CD4(+) T cells, B cells, monocytes, and neutrophils was similar for SSc patients and normal controls. These suggest that elevated sL-selectin levels and decreased frequency of L-selectin+ CD8(+) T cells in SSc patients may be involved in inflammation associated with SSc.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University School of Medicine, Kanazawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takehara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006684:HLA-DR Antigens / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006801:Humans; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D006684:HLA-DR Antigens; D019041:L-Selectin