E-selectin is an adhesion molecule for all leukocytes and an efficient trigger for intracellular calcium signals

Journal/Book: Z Rheumatol 1999; 58: 376. 1999;

Abstract: PD Dr. R. Hallmann; Institut für Experimentelle Medizin Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg Erlangen The recruitment of leukocytes to a site of inflammation is a multistep process that involves the transmigration of leukocytes across the blood vessel wall (1). A widely accepted model of leukocyte extravasation suggests that the initial tethering and the rolling of leukocytes along the surface of activated endothelial cells of the blood vessel wall requires a transient binding of leukocytes to the endothelium which is mediated by the selectin family of adhesion molecules (2). This initial capture is followed by an activation of integrins on the leukocyte resulting in firm adhesion to the endothelium and finally to the active transmigration of leukocytes across the endothelial cell monolayer and the underlying basement membrane into the site of inflammation. The selectin family of adhesion molecules is comprised of three members L- P- and E-selectin which are carbohydrate-binding lectins. They are structurally related molecules with an N-terminal lectin-domain one EGF-like repeat and between six and nine short consensus repeats (for a recent review see Ref. (2)). In murine endothelium both E- and P-selectin are present on the membrane of activated endothelial cells after stimulation with TNF-a (3 4). The exact contribution of each selectin to the progression of an inflammatory process is not yet entirely clear and it appears to depend on the type and site of the inflammation (5 6). It is however generally accepted that all three selectins are involved in the rolling of all leukocytes on the activated endothelium both in vitro and in vivo. The early transiently rolling leukocyte changes to an adherent and subsequently to a migratory leukocyte. ... le

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