Comparison of L-selectin and E-selectin ligand specificities: The L-selectin can bind the E-selectin ligands Sialyl Lex and Sialyl Lea

Abstract The L- and E-selectins are leukocyte and endothelial cell surface molecules which mediate leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion by interacting with carbohydrate ligands. In the present study we find that L-selectin, like E-selectin, can interact with synthetic neoglycoproteins containing Sialyl Le x (Neu5Acα2-3Galβ1-4[Fucα1-3]GlcNAcβ-R), or Sialyl Le a (Neu5Ac-α2-3Galβ1-3[Fucα1-4]GlcNAcβ-R). Additionally, both the E-selectin and L-selectin can bind the peripheral lymph node addressin, a high endothelial venule ligand for L-selectin. Despite overlapping interactions, the L- and E-selectins discriminate between their native ligands. The peripheral lymph node addressin is a preferential ligand for L-selectin; and furthermore, L-selectin expressing cells do not interact detectably with the cutaneous lymphocyte antigen, a native glycoprotein ligand for E-selectin found on a subset of lymphocytes associated with the skin.