Differential expression of E- and P-selectin in the microvasculature of sickle cell transgenic mice.
OBJECTIVE
There is a growing body of evidence that endothelial cells assume an inflammatory phenotype in sickle cell disease. The authors determined whether (1) the expression of E- and P-selectin differs between sickle cell transgenic (beta(S)) mice and their wild-type counterparts, and (2) blood platelets and/or neutrophils contribute to the altered selectin expression.


METHODS
Expression of E- and P-selectin was measured in different regional vascular beds of wild-type and beta(S) mice (with or without thrombocytopenia or neutropenia) using the dual radiolabeled monoclonal antibody technique.


RESULTS
Constitutive expression of P-selectin was significantly increased in the heart, lungs, small bowel, large bowel, and penis of beta(S) versus WT mice. While thrombocytopenia reduced P-selectin expression in the small bowel and penis of beta(S) mice, neutropenia was associated with a reduction in P-selectin expression only in the penis. E-selectin expression was not significantly elevated in any vascular bed except the penis of beta(S) mice.


CONCLUSIONS
Sickle cell disease promotes an increased P-selectin expression in several vascular beds. An accumulation of platelets may explain the increased P-selectin expression observed in some vascular beds.
Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71130-3932, USA.
Katherine
K
Wood
Janice
J
Russell
Robert P
RP
Hebbel
D Neil
DN
Granger
D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000235:genetics*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005914:Globins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D008833:Microcirculation; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000235:genetics*; D010973:Platelet Adhesiveness; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D019040:E-Selectin; D019007:P-Selectin; D005914:Globins