How do selectins mediate leukocyte rolling in venules?

An automatic braking system that stabilizes leukocyte rolling by an increase in selectin bond number with shear

Wall shear stress in postcapillary venules varies widely within and between tissues and in response to inflammation and exercise. However, the speed at which leukocytes roll in vivo has been shown to be almost constant within a wide range of wall shear stress, i.e., force on the cell. Similarly, rolling velocities on purified selectins and their ligands in vitro tend to plateau. This may be important to enable rolling leukocytes to be exposed uniformly to activating stimuli on endothelium, independent of local hemodynamic conditions. Wall shear stress increases the rate of dissociation of individual selectin-ligand tether bonds exponentially (, ) thereby destabilizing rolling. We find that this is compensated by a shear-dependent increase in the number of bonds per rolling step. We also find an increase in the number of microvillous tethers to the substrate. This explains (a) the lack of firm adhesion through selectins at low shear stress or high ligand density, and (b) the stability of rolling on selectins to wide variation in wall shear stress and ligand density, in contrast to rolling on antibodies (). Furthermore, our data successfully predict the threshold wall shear stress below which rolling does not occur. This is a special case of the more general regulation by shear of the number of bonds, in which the number of bonds falls below one.

Regulation of L-selectin-mediated rolling through receptor dimerization

L-selectin binding activity for its ligand expressed by vascular endothelium is rapidly and transiently increased after leukocyte activation. To identify mechanisms for upregulation and assess how this influences leukocyte/endothelial cell interactions, cell-surface dimers of L-selectin were induced using the coumermycin-GyrB dimerization strategy for cross-linking L-selectin cytoplasmic domains in L-selectin cDNA-transfected lymphoblastoid cells. Coumermycin- induced L-selectin dimerization resulted in an approximately fourfold increase in binding of phosphomanan monoester core complex (PPME), a natural mimic of an L-selectin ligand, comparable to that observed after leukocyte activation. Moreover, L-selectin dimerization significantly increased (by approximately 700%) the number of lymphocytes rolling on vascular endothelium under a broad range of physiological shear stresses, and significantly slowed their rolling velocities. Therefore, L-selectin dimerization may explain the rapid increase in ligand binding activity that occurs after leukocyte activation and may directly influence leukocyte migration to peripheral lymphoid tissues or to sites of inflammation. Inducible oligomerization may also be a common mechanism for rapidly upregulating the adhesive or ligand-binding function of other cell-surface receptors.

Static and dynamic lengths of neutrophil microvilli

Containing most of the L-selectin and P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) on their tips, microvilli are believed to promote the initial arrest of neutrophils on endothelium. At the rolling stage following arrest, the lifetimes of the involved molecular bonds depend on the pulling force imposed by the shear stress of blood flow. With two different methods, electron microscopy and micropipette manipulation, we have obtained two comparable neutrophil microvillus lengths, both approximately 0.3 microm in average. We have found also that, under a pulling force, a microvillus can be extended (microvillus extension) or a long thin membrane cylinder (a tether) can be formed from it (tether formation). If the force is </=34 pN (+/- 3 pN), the length of the microvillus will be extended; if the force is >61 pN (+/- 5 pN), a tether will be formed from the microvillus at a constant velocity, which depends linearly on the force. When the force is between 34 pN and 61 pN (transition zone), the degree of association between membrane and cytoskeleton in individual microvilli will dictate whether microvillus extension or tether formation occurs. When a microvillus is extended, it acts like a spring with a spring constant of approximately 43 pN/microm. In contrast to a rigid or nonextendible microvillus, both microvillus extension and tether formation can decrease the pulling force imposed on the adhesive bonds, and thus prolonging the persistence of the bonds at high physiological shear stresses.

Serial changes in plasma levels of soluble P-selectin in patients with acute myocardial infarction

The present study examines whether an acute inflammatory response occurs during acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by measuring soluble P-selectin levels. We examined plasma soluble P-selectin levels in 16 consecutive patients with AMI, in 15 patients with angina, and in 13 control subjects with chest pain but normal coronary arteries and no coronary spasm. In patients with AMI, blood samples were obtained immediately after admission and at 1, 4, 24, and 48 hours, and 1 week after initiation of reperfusion therapy. The plasma soluble P-selectin levels were significantly higher in the AMI group on admission than in the other 2 groups (83 +/- 13 ng/ml, p < 0.01). The plasma soluble P-selectin levels at baseline were not significantly different between the angina and control groups (28 +/- 4 vs 24 +/- 5 ng/ml, p = NS). Plasma soluble P-selectin levels reached their peak significantly at 4 hours after initiation of the reperfusion therapy in patients with AMI. The peak level was significantly higher than the level on admission (115 +/- 17 vs 83 +/- 13 ng/ml, p < 0.05). The plasma soluble P-selectin levels were higher in the AMI group than in the angina and control groups over the time course (p < 0.01). Our data indicate that the plasma soluble P-selectin levels are increased in patients with AMI, and that the levels are increases after reperfusion therapy more than before reperfusion. We suggest that the increase in the plasma soluble P-selectin levels may be caused by the activation of endothelial cells and platelets after myocardial ischemia and reperfusion during AMI.

Treatment of neutrophils with cytochalasins converts rolling to stationary adhesion on P-selectin

We investigated how disruption of the actin cytoskeleton with cytochalasins modified adhesion of neutrophils rolling on a platelet monolayer in vitro at 37 degrees C. When perfused at a wall shear stress of 0.1 Pa over rolling cells, cytochalasin B, cytochalasin D and dihydro-cytochalasin B each induced dose-dependent (approximately 1-10 microg/ml) conversion to stationary attachment over minutes. Stopping was associated with cell elongation to a teardrop shape. Increased deformability of cytochalasin-treated cells was independently evidenced by more rapid entry into a micropipette. Spherical shape and rolling were reestablished concurrently on washout of the cytochalasins, while increasing the shear stress in the range 0.2 to 1.0 Pa induced tear-drop-shaped cells to restart rolling even in the continued presence of cytochalasin. When cells were pretreated with cytochalasin B, they attached efficiently at 0.1 Pa, rolled initially and only stopped after approximately 30 seconds when elongation had been established. Adhesion was selectin-mediated in the presence or absence of cytochalasin B, as judged by inhibition of attachment by antibody against P-selectin and failure of antibody against beta2-integrin CD18 to influence adhesion. Cessation of rolling is unlikely to have arisen from an increase in adhesive contact area induced by deformation because stopped cells were found to be attached only at their pointed end. Failure of adhesive bonds to peel may have arisen because selectin ligands freed of cytoskeletal restraint were dragged into this tethered region and clustered there, and because force applied to bonds was influenced by the change in cell shape. These results suggest that cytoskeletal structure is an important modulator of dynamic adhesive responses of leukocytes, via effects on adhesion receptors and cellular mechanics.

The kinetics of L-selectin tethers and the mechanics of selectin-mediated rolling

Two mechanisms have been proposed for regulating rolling velocities on selectins. These are (a) the intrinsic kinetics of bond dissociation, and (b) the reactive compliance, i.e., the susceptibility of the bond dissociation reaction to applied force. To determine which of these mechanisms explains the 7.5-11.5-fold faster rolling of leukocytes on L-selectin than on E- and P-selectins, we have compared the three selectins by examining the dissociation of transient tethers. We find that the intrinsic kinetics for tether bond dissociation are 7-10-fold more rapid for L-selectin than for E- and P-selectins, and are proportional to the rolling velocities through these selectins. The durations of pauses during rolling correspond to the duration of transient tethers on low density substrates. Moreover, applied force increases dissociation kinetics less for L-selectin than for E- and P-selectins, demonstrating that reactive compliance is not responsible for the faster rolling through L-selectin. Further measurements provide a biochemical and biophysical framework for understanding the molecular basis of rolling. Displacements of tethered cells during flow reversal, and measurements of the distance between successive pauses during rolling provide estimates of the length of a tether and the length of the adhesive contact zone, and suggest that rolling occurs with as few as two tethers per contact zone. Tether bond lifetime is an exponential function of the force on the bond, and the upper limit for the tether bond spring constant is of the same order of magnitude as the estimated elastic spring constant of the lectin-EGF unit. Shear uniquely enhances the rate of L-selectin transient tether formation, and conversion of tethers to rolling adhesions, providing further understanding of the shear threshold requirement for rolling through L-selectin.

Image enhancement of the in vivo leukocyte-endothelium contact zone using optical sectioning microscopy

A major determinant of the strength of leukocyte [white blood cell (WBC)] to endothelium [endothelial cell (EC)] adhesion is the contact area formed between the two cells, which is often obscured by out-of-focus information inherent to intravital microscopy. To improve visualization of the WBC-EC contact zone, techniques of optical sectioning microscopy were developed to enhance brightfield images of WBC-EC adhesion in postcapillary venules of the mesentery of the rat. A 50x/1.0 NA objective was held in a piezoelectric mount that was computer-driven, and video images were obtained by digitizing images from a CCD camera while focusing through the vertical direction in 1 micron steps over a depth of 16 microns. Using measurements of the microscope's optical transfer function, deconvolution of the central image was performed in the Fourier domain using the technique of singular value decomposition with Tikhonov-Miller regulation to remove out-of-focus information. Measurement of the length of the WBC-EC contact zone (LC) in the original images yielded values on the order of 4.32 +/- 1.08 microns (mean +/- SD). The enhanced images showed a significantly 35% smaller LC equal to 2.78 +/- 0.70 micron. Topical application of the chemoattractant f-met-leu-phe resulted in a 26% increase in LC to 3.49 +/- 0.72 micron, thus suggesting that upregulation of adhesion molecules on the WBC membrane results in the recruitment of additional membrane area from surface ruffles into the zone of adhesion. Other advantages of the deconvolution were to visualize structural characteristics of the microvascular wall and parenchymal tissue in greater detail. Thus, brightfield optical sectioning microscopy may provide a valuable tool for in vivo studies of the microvasculature, and serves as a useful alternative to fluorescence microscopy without the undesirable effects of exogenous fluorophores and exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Isolated P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 dynamic adhesion to P- and E-selectin

Leukocyte adhesion to vascular endothelium under flow involves an adhesion cascade consisting of multiple receptor pairs that may function in an overlapping fashion. P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) and L-selectin have been implicated in neutrophil adhesion to P- and E-selectin under flow conditions. To study, in isolation, the interaction of PSGL-1 with P- and E-selectin under flow, we developed an in vitro model in which various recombinant regions of extracellular PSGL-1 were coupled to 10-microm-diameter microspheres. In a parallel plate chamber with well defined flow conditions, live time video microscopy analyses revealed that microspheres coated with PSGL-1 attached and rolled on 4-h tumor necrosis factor-alpha-activated endothelial cell monolayers, which express high levels of E-selectin, and CHO monolayers stably expressing E- or P-selectin. Further studies using CHO-E and -P monolayers demonstrate that the first 19 amino acids of PSGL-1 are sufficient for attachment and rolling on both E- and P-selectin and suggest that a sialyl Lewis x-containing glycan at Threonine-16 is critical for this sequence of amino acids to mediate attachment to E- and P-selectin. The data also demonstrate that a sulfated, anionic polypeptide segment within the amino terminus of PSGL-1 is necessary for PSGL-1-mediated attachment to P- but not to E-selectin. In addition, the results suggest that PSGL-1 has more than one binding site for E-selectin: one site located within the first 19 amino acids of PSGL-1 and one or more sites located between amino acids 19 through 148.

Threshold levels of fluid shear promote leukocyte adhesion through selectins (CD62L,P,E)

Leukocyte adhesion through L-selectin to peripheral node addressin (PNAd, also known as MECA-79 antigen), an L-selectin ligand expressed on high endothelial venules, has been shown to require a minimum level of fluid shear stress to sustain rolling interactions (Finger, E.B., K.D. Puri, R. Alon, M.B. Lawrence, V.H. von Andrian, and T.A. Springer. 1996. Nature (Lond.). 379:266-269). Here, we show that fluid shear above a threshold of 0.5 dyn/cm2 wall shear stress significantly enhances HL-60 myelocyte rolling on P- and E-selectin at site densities of 200/microm2 and below. In addition, gravitational force is sufficient to detach HL-60 cells from P- and E-selectin substrates in the absence, but not in the presence, of flow. It appears that fluid shear-induced torque is critical for the maintenance of leukocyte rolling. K562 cells transfected with P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1, a ligand for P-selectin, showed a similar reduction in rolling on P-selectin as the wall shear stress was lowered below 0.5 dyn/cm2. Similarly, 300.19 cells transfected with L-selectin failed to roll on PNAd below this level of wall shear stress, indicating that the requirement for minimum levels of shear force is not cell type specific. Rolling of leukocytes mediated by the selectins could be reinitiated within seconds by increasing the level of wall shear stress, suggesting that fluid shear did not modulate receptor avidity. Intravital microscopy of cremaster muscle venules indicated that the leukocyte rolling flux fraction was reduced at blood centerline velocities less than 1 mm/s in a model in which rolling is mediated by L- and P-selectin. Similar observations were made in L-selectin-deficient mice in which leukocyte rolling is entirely P-selectin dependent. Leukocyte adhesion through all three selectins appears to be significantly enhanced by a threshold level of fluid shear stress.

Variation in the velocity, deformation, and adhesion energy density of leukocytes rolling within venules

Leukocyte rolling along the endothelium in inflammation is caused by continuous formation and breakage of bonds between selectin adhesion molecules and their ligands. We investigated trauma-induced leukocyte rolling in venules (diameter, 23 to 58 microns; wall shear stress, 1.2 to 35 dyne/cm2) of the exteriorized rat mesentery using high-resolution intravital microscopy. While rolling, the leukocytes deformed into a tear-droplike shape. Deformation continued to increase with shear stress up to the highest values observed (35 dyne/cm2). Successive leukocytes had similar rolling velocities at the same axial positions along each vessel, suggesting that heterogeneity of endothelial adhesiveness is responsible for velocity variation. Adhesion energy density varied inversely with instantaneous rolling velocity and directly with instantaneous deformation. Adhesion energy density reached a maximum of 0.36 dyne/cm, similar to values found for lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1-dependent adhesion of stimulated T cells to isolated intercellular adhesion molecule-1. We conclude that selectin-mediated adhesion during rolling produces adhesion energy densities comparable to those observed for integrin-mediated adhesion events in other experimental systems.

Leucocyte adhesion under flow conditions: principles important in tissue engineering

An understanding of inflammatory responses is important in a wide variety of tissue engineering applications. This review describes the current understanding of a central aspect of inflammatory responses, the adhesion of leucocytes to blood vessel walls prior to their emigration into tissues. These highly specific adhesive interactions are mediated by three main families of receptors: the selectins, integrins, and members of the immunoglobulin superfamily. Under flow conditions, the various receptors make distinct contributions to a multistep process of adhesion in which leucocytes roll, adhere firmly, and eventually transmigrate. Two examples in which these principles are important in tissue engineering research, lymphocyte adherence in transplant rejection and monocyte adherence in atherosclerosis, are discussed in the last part of the paper.

Initiation of platelet adhesion by arrest onto fibrinogen or translocation on von Willebrand factor

We have identified two distinct mechanisms initiating the adhesion of flowing platelets to thrombogenic surfaces. The intergrin alpha IIb beta 3 promotes immediate arrest onto fibrinogen but is fully efficient only at wall shear rates below 600-900 s-1, perhaps because of a relatively slow rate of bond formation or low resistance to tensile stress. In contrast, glycoprotein Ib alpha binding to immobilized von Willebrand factor (vWF) appears to have fast association and dissociation rates as well as high resistance to tensile stress, supporting slow movement of platelets in continuous contact with the surface even at shear rates in excess of 6000 s-1. This eventually allows activated alpha IIb beta 3 to arrest platelets onto vWF under conditions not permissive of direct binding to fibrinogen. The coupling of these different functions may be crucial for thrombogenesis.

P-selectin must extend a sufficient length from the plasma membrane to mediate rolling of neutrophils

Under physiological shear stress, neutrophils roll on P-selectin on activated endothelial cells or platelets through interactions with P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1). Both P-selectin and PSGL-1 are extended molecules. Human P-selectin contains an NH2-terminal lectin domain, an EGF domain, nine consensus repeats (CRs), a transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail. To determine whether the length of P-selectin affected its interactions with PSGL-1, we examined the adhesion of neutrophils to CHO cells expressing membrane-anchored P-selectin constructs in which various numbers of CRs were deleted. Under static conditions, neutrophils attached equivalently to wild-type P-selectin and to constructs containing from 2-6 CRs. Under shear stress, neutrophils attached equivalently to wild-type and 6 CR P-selectin and nearly as well to 5 CR P-selectin. However, fewer neutrophils attached to the 4 CR construct, and those that did attach rolled faster and were more readily detached by increasing shear stress. Flowing neutrophils failed to attach to the 3 CR and 2 CR constructs. Neutrophils attached and rolled more efficiently on 4 CR P-selectin expressed on glycosylation-defective Lec8 CHO cells, which have less glycocalyx. We conclude that P-selectin must project its lectin domain well above the membrane to mediate optimal attachment of neutrophils under shear forces. The length of P-selectin may: (a) facilitate interactions with PSGL-1 on flowing neutrophils, and (b) increase the intermembrane distance where specific bonds form, minimizing contacts between the glycocalyces that result in cell-cell repulsion.

A stochastic model of leukocyte rolling

Selectin-mediated leukocyte rolling under flow is an important process in leukocyte recruitment during inflammation. The rolling motion of individual cells has been observed to fluctuate randomly both in vivo and in vitro. This paper presents a stochastic model of the micromechanics of cell rolling and provides an analytical method of treating experimental data. For a homogeneous cell population, the velocity distribution is obtained in an analytical form, which is in good agreement with experimentally determined velocity histograms obtained previously. For a heterogeneous cell population, the model provides a simple, analytical method of separating the contributions of temporal fluctuations and population heterogeneity to the variance of measured rolling velocities. The model also links the mean and variance of rolling velocities to the molecular events underlying the observed cellular motion, allowing characterization of the distribution and release rate of the clusters of molecular bonds that tether the cell to substratum. Applying the model to the analysis of data obtained for neutrophils rolling on an E-selectin-coated surface at a wall shear stress of 1.2 dyn/cm2 yields estimations of the average distance between bond clusters (approximately micron) and the average time duration of a bond cluster resisting the applied fluid force (approximately 0.5 s).

Soluble P-selectin is released into the coronary circulation after coronary spasm

BACKGROUND

The glycoprotein P-selectin is an adhesion molecule involved in the property change of leukocytes at the initiation of the inflammatory process. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether acute myocardial ischemia induced by coronary spasm causes an acute inflammatory response in the coronary circulation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We examined plasma soluble P-selectin levels in the coronary sinus and the aortic root simultaneously in 16 patients with coronary spastic angina before and after left coronary artery spasm induced by intracoronary injection of acetylcholine and in 15 patients with stable exertional angina before and after acute myocardial ischemia induced by rapid atrial pacing. Ten control patients with chest pain but normal coronary arteries and no coronary spasm also received intracoronary acetylcholine. Plasma soluble P-selectin levels were increased significantly in the coronary sinus (32.8 +/- 3.6 to 52.8 +/- 5.9 ng/mL, P < .001) and in the aortic root (34.6 +/- 3.7 to 41.9 +/- 4.4 ng/mL, P < .05) after the attacks in the coronary spastic angina group but remained unchanged in the stable exertional angina group after the attacks and in the control group after the administration of acetylcholine. Furthermore, the coronary sinus-arterial difference of soluble P-selectin increased significantly after the attacks in the coronary spastic angina group (-1.8 +/- 2.2 to 10.9 +/- 2.7 ng/mL, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicate that soluble P-selectin is released into the coronary circulation after coronary artery spasm. We conclude that coronary artery spasm may induce the leukocyte adhesion in the coronary circulation and may lead to myocardial damage.

P-selectin expression in myocardium of children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass

Cardiopulmonary bypass is a planned support technique that results in a period of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion. In addition, it is associated with an inflammatory response likely involving endothelial cell activation. In previous studies, we showed that E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) are increased in human myocardium after cardiopulmonary bypass. We have now examined the expression of P-selectin mRNA by ribonuclease protection in paired atrial biopsy specimens from 12 patients before and after cardiopulmonary bypass. By means of immunocytochemistry, we have also examined the endothelial cell surface expression of P-selectin protein, as well as that of E-selectin and ICAM-1 in three additional patients. Patient ages ranged from 1 day to 8.5 years (median 12 months), and cardiopulmonary bypass times ranged from 46 to 196 minutes (median 144 minutes). By ribonuclease protection, there was marked variability in the expression of P-selectin in biopsy specimens before bypass. However, when compared with prebypass levels, P-selectin mRNA decreased modestly in 10 of 12 patients after bypass (median decrease 1.5-fold, p = 0.016). As seen with immunocytochemistry, P-selectin protein was distributed diffusely through the vascular bed on large vessels and small vessels before bypass but was virtually absent on capillaries in specimens taken after bypass. E-selectin, which was absent in prebypass biopsy specimens, was induced in one of the three specimens after bypass, but no change in ICAM-1 protein expression above baseline was noted. We also find that cultured human endothelial cells treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha in doses which induce ICAM-1 mRNA simultaneously decrease their expression of P-selectin mRNA as compared with untreated cells. These observations suggest that endothelial P-selectin is transcriptionally downregulated after cardiopulmonary bypass at times when E-selectin and ICAM-1 are induced. Furthermore, we find that E-selectin and ICAM-1 are expressed at times and at sites where P-selectin is absent. Although it is possible that P-selectin may have been induced and lost at early times before reperfusion, these data suggest that endothelial P-selectin plays a limited role in the inflammatory response that ensues after cardiopulmonary bypass.

PAF mediates neutrophil adhesion to thrombin or TNF-stimulated endothelial cells under shear stress

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is known to modulate polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) adhesion to endothelial cells cultured under static conditions and activated by thrombin. In contrast, there are no data on the role of PAF in PMN adhesion to cells exposed to flow conditions and activated by stimuli other than thrombin. Here we used the PAF receptor antagonist L-659,989 to evaluate PMN adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in basal conditions or upon challenge with thrombin or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Experiments were performed under dynamic flow using a parallel-plate flow chamber and a computer-based image analysis system. Rolling and adhesion of PMNs to endothelial cells significantly increased upon stimulation with thrombin. Thrombin-stimulated HUVEC also synthesized higher amounts of PAF than untreated cells. Pretreatment of PMNs with L-659,989 significantly reduced their rolling and adhesion to thrombin-activated HUVEC. Stimulation of HUVEC with TNF-alpha significantly increased the number of rolling and adherent PMNs as compared with untreated cells. Adhesion of PMNs to and migration across TNF-alpha-stimulated HUVEC were reduced by L-659,989, whereas cell rolling was unchanged. We conclude that PAF mediates leukocyte interaction under flow conditions with HUVEC activated by inflammatory stimuli.

Leukocyte trafficking mediated by selectin-carbohydrate interactions

The selectins have attracted intense interest because of their carbohydrate-recognition properties and their pivotal roles in leukocyte trafficking. Future studies will center on the mechanisms for regulating the expression of the selectins and their ligands, the molecular details of selectin binding to glycoprotein ligands and small carbohydrates, and the biophysical principles that selectins employ to mediate attachment and rolling of leukocytes under flow.

Lifetime of the P-selectin-carbohydrate bond and its response to tensile force in hydrodynamic flow

Selectins tether to the blood vessel wall leukocytes that are flowing in the bloodstream and support subsequent labile rolling interactions as the leukocytes are subjected to hydrodynamic drag forces. To support this rolling, selectins have been proposed to have rapid bond association and dissociation rate constants, and special mechanical properties linking tensile forces and bond dissociation. We have visualized transient tethering and release of neutrophils in hydrodynamic flow on lipid bilayers containing densities of P-selectin below those required to support rolling. We report here that transient tethers had first-order kinetics and other characteristics suggesting a unimolecular interaction between P-selectin and its glycoprotein ligand (PSGL-1). The unstressed dissociation constant (off rate) was 1 s-1. Hydrodynamic shear stresses of up to 1.1 dyn cm-2, corresponding to a force on the bond of up to 110 pN, increased the off rate only modestly, to 3.5 s-1. The data was adequately matched by a proposed equation relating off rate to the exponential of tensile force on the bond and the bond interaction distance, and gave a bond interaction distance of 0.5 A. This distance is compatible with hydrogen and metal coordination bonds between P-selectin and PSGL-1. Fast on and off rates, together with the high tensile strength of the selectin bond, appear necessary to support rolling at physiological shear stresses.

Sequential contribution of L- and P-selectin to leukocyte rolling in vivo

Leukocyte recruitment into inflammatory sites is initiated by a reversible transient adhesive contact with the endothelium called leukocyte rolling, which is thought to be mediated by the selectin family of adhesion molecules. Selectin-mediated rolling precedes inflammatory cell emigration, which is significantly impaired in both P- and L-selectin gene-deficient mice. We report here that approximately 13% of all leukocytes passing venules of the cremaster muscle of wild-type mice roll along the endothelium at < 20 min after surgical dissection. Rolling leukocyte flux fraction reaches a maximum of 28% at 40-60 min and returns to 13% at 80-120 min. In P-selectin-deficient mice, rolling is absent initially and reaches 5% at 80-120 min. Rolling flux fraction in L-selectin-deficient mice is similar to wild type initially and declines to 5% at 80-120 min. In both wild-type and L-selectin-deficient mice, initial leukocyte rolling (0-60 min) is completely blocked by the P-selectin monoclonal antibody (mAb) RB40.34, but unaffected by L-selectin mAb MEL-14. Conversely, rolling at later time points (60-120 min) is inhibited by mAb MEL-14 but not by mAb RB40.34. After treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha for 2 h, approximately 24% of all passing leukocytes roll in cremaster venules of wild-type and P-selectin gene-deficient mice. Rolling in TNF-alpha-treated mice is unaffected by P-selectin mAb or E-selectin mAb 10E9.6. By contrast, rolling in TNF-alpha-treated P-selectin-deficient mice is completely blocked by L-selectin mAb. These data show that P-selectin is important during the initial induction of leukocyte rolling after tissue trauma. At later time points and in TNF-alpha-treated preparations, rolling is largely L-selectin dependent. Under the conditions tested, we are unable to find evidence for involvement of E-selectin in leukocyte rolling in mice.

E-selectin-mediated dynamic interactions of breast- and colon-cancer cells with endothelial-cell monolayers

The molecular mechanisms involved in the dynamic interaction of human breast carcinoma cells with the endothelial cell lining of lymphatic vessels and post-capillary blood venules are largely unknown. In the present study, laminar flow assays were used to investigate the ability of various normal breast cells and of breast- and colon-tumor cells to adhere to human umbilical cord endothelial cell monolayers. MCF-10A breast, MCF-7 and T-47D breast-carcinoma and clone A, RKO, and HT-29 colon-carcinoma cells accumulated and rolled, in the presence of flow, on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-stimulated but not on unstimulated endothelial cell monolayers. Non-tumor and tumor cells continued to form transient adhesions with TNF-stimulated endothelial cells even when the flow rate was increased to levels found in arteries. Incubation of TNF-stimulated endothelial cells with an E-selectin-specific monoclonal antibody (MAb) partially or completely inhibited dynamic interactions and diminished adhesion strength, whereas integrin beta 1- and integrin alpha 6-specific MAbs had no effect. A set of highly invasive breast-carcinoma cells (MDA-231, BT-549, HS-578t) neither adhered to nor rolled on resting or TNF-stimulated endothelial cell monolayers. However, after 5 min of static incubation, a fraction of these cells attached strongly to resting and TNF-stimulated endothelial cells and this static adhesion could not be blocked by an E-selectin-specific monoclonal antibody. Our results suggest that E-selectin is a major homing receptor in the metastasis of some breast and colon cancers.

A two-step adhesion cascade for T cell/endothelial cell interactions under flow conditions

Neutrophil adherence to endothelial cells (ECs) under conditions of flow occurs in successive steps, including selectin-dependent primary adhesion and CD18-dependent secondary adhesion. We used a parallel-plate flow chamber to assess the steps in T cell adherence in vitro. On monolayers of L cells transfected with the EC adhesion molecules E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), or intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin was capable of mediating only primary adhesion, ICAM-1 was capable of mediating only secondary adhesion, and VCAM-1 was capable of mediating both primary and secondary adhesion. Studies using human umbilical vein EC monolayers stimulated for 24 h with IL-1 also revealed distinct primary and secondary steps in T cell adhesion under flow, and the secondary adhesion was inhibited > 90% by blocking both VCAM-1/alpha 4 beta 1 integrin and ICAM-1/CD18 integrin pathways. However, the primary adhesion under conditions of flow could not be attributed to any of the mechanisms known to support adhesion of leukocytes to ECs. Alone, this pathway was shown to mediate T cell rolling and was a necessary prerequisite for engagement of the two integrin pathways in this system. Thus, T cell adherence to 24-h IL-1-stimulated human umbilical vein ECs at venular wall shear stresses involves at least two successive steps, with clear molecular distinctions from the mechanisms accounting for neutrophil/EC adhesion.

Integrin alpha 6 beta 4 mediates dynamic interactions with laminin

We present here a novel form of dynamic adhesion in which both the integrin receptor and the ligand supporting dynamic adhesion have been identified. Laminar flow assays showed that laminin supported attachment of alpha 6 beta 4-positive cells in the presence of fluid shear stress (tau &lt; or = 2 dyn/cm2), indicating that these cells adhered to laminin within a fraction of a second. Further increases in flow rate (3.5 dyn/cm2 &lt; or = tau &lt; or = 100 dyn/cm2) initiated rolling of attached cells in the direction of flow, suggesting that rapidly formed adhesion is reversible and repeatable. Laminin fragment E8, which interacts with alpha 6 integrins, supported dynamic attachment and rolling but extracellular matrix glycoprotein fibronectin did not. In cell lines that express alpha 6 beta 4 but not alpha 6 beta 1 an anti-alpha 6 monoclonal antibody inhibited attachment to laminin in the presence of flow and following 5 minutes of static incubation. Infusion of this antibody onto cells adherent to laminin-coated slides led to rapid detachment of cells from the substratum. An anti-beta 1 monoclonal antibody diminished adhesion strength following static incubation but did not inhibit rapid attachment and flow-initiated rolling. These results indicate that in some alpha 6 beta 4-expressing epithelial and carcinoma cell lines, integrin alpha 6 beta 4 mediates rapidly formed dynamic interactions with laminin.

Transient intercellular adhesion: the importance of weak protein-protein interactions

Intercellular adhesion is a complex phenomenon central to the development, structure and functioning of all multicellular organisms. Adhesion is mediated by distinct families of cell-adhesion molecules (CAMs), and recent studies have identified key characteristics of CAMs that influence their function. Affinity and kinetic analyses using a novel technique based on surface plasmon resonance have shown that CAM interactions that mediate transient cell adhesion may have surprisingly low affinities and extremely fast dissociation rate constants.

Human cell-adhesion molecule CD2 binds CD58 (LFA-3) with a very low affinity and an extremely fast dissociation rate but does not bind CD48 or CD59

CD2 is a T lymphocyte cell-adhesion molecule (CAM) belonging to the immunoglobulin superfamily (IgSF) which mediates transient adhesion of T cells to antigen-presenting cells and target cells. Reported ligands for human CD2 include the structurally-related IgSF CAMs CD58 (LFA-3) and CD48 as well as, more controversially, the unrelated cell-surface glycoprotein CD59. Using surface plasmon resonance technology, which avoids several pitfalls of conventional binding assays, we recently reported that rat CD2 binds rat CD48 with a very low affinity (Kd 60-90 microM) and dissociates rapidly (koff > or = 6 s-1) [van der Merwe, P. A., Brown, M. H., Davis, S. J., & Barclay, A. N. (1993) EMBO J. 12, 4945-4954]. In contrast, a study using conventional equilibrium binding methods reported a much higher affinity (Kd 0.4 microM) for human CD2 binding CD58 which suggested that the weak binding of rat CD2 to CD48 may not represent a typical CAM interaction. In the present study we have used surface plasmon resonance to obtain definitive affinity and kinetic data on the interactions of a soluble, recombinant form of human CD2 with soluble forms of CD58, CD48, and CD59. Binding of CD2 to CD58 was readily detected but we were unable to detect any direct interaction between CD2 and either CD59 or CD48 under conditions in which very low affinity interactions (Kd approximately 0.5 mM) would have been detected. In contrast to previous reports we found that human CD2 bound CD58 with a very low affinity (Kd 9-22 microM) and dissociated with an extremely fast dissociation rate constant (koff > or = 4 s-1). The association rate constant (kon) could not be measured directly but was calculated to be > or = 400,000 M-1s-1. Taken together, these results provide conclusive evidence that CAM interactions can have very low affinities and extremely fast dissociation rate constants.

Dynamics of neutrophil rolling over stimulated endothelium in vitro

Prior to extravasation at sites of acute inflammation, neutrophils roll over activated endothelium. Neutrophil rolling is often characterized by the average rolling velocity. An additional dynamic feature of rolling that has been identified but not extensively studied is the fluctuation in the rolling velocity about the average. To analyze this characteristic further, we have measured the instantaneous velocity of bovine neutrophils interacting with lipopolysaccharide-stimulated bovine aortic endothelium at shear stresses of 1, 2, 3, and 4 dynes/cm2. The average velocities are quantitatively similar to those reported for human neutrophils rolling over reconstituted P-selectin at a surface density of 400 sites/microns 2. At all shear stresses tested, the population average variance in the instantaneous velocity is at least 2 orders of magnitude higher than the theoretical variance generated from experimental error, indicating that the neutrophils translate with a nonconstant velocity. Possible sources of the variance are discussed. These include "macroscopic" sources such as topological heterogeneity in the endothelium and microscopic sources, such as inherent stochastic formation and breakage of the receptor-ligand bonds that mediate the rolling. Regardless of the ultimate source of the variance, these results justify the use of mathematical models that incorporate stochastic processes to describe bond formation and breakage between the neutrophil and the endothelium and hence are able to generate variable velocity trajectories.

Rolling and stationary cytoadhesion of red blood cells parasitized by Plasmodium falciparum: separate roles for ICAM-1, CD36 and thrombospondin

Adhesion of parasitized erythrocytes to microvascular endothelium is a central event in the pathogenesis of severe falciparum malaria. We have characterized the adhesion of flowing parasitized red blood cells to three of the known endothelial receptors coated on plastic surfaces (CD36, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and thrombospondin (TSP)), and also to cells bearing these receptors (human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and platelets). All of the surfaces could mediate adhesion at wall shear stress within the physiological range. The great majority of adherent parasitized cells formed rolling rather than static attachments to HUVEC and ICAM-1, whereas static attachments predominated for platelets, CD36 and TSP. Studies with monoclonal antibodies verified that binding the HUVEC was mainly via ICAM-1, and to platelets via CD36. Adhesion via ICAM-1 was least sensitive to increasing wall shear stress, but absolute efficiency of adhesion was greatest for CD36, followed by ICAM-1, and least for TSP. TSP did not give long-lasting adhesion under flow, whereas cells remained adherent to CD36 or ICAM-1. We propose that the different receptors may have complementary roles in modulating adhesion in microvessels. Initial interaction at high wall shear stress may be of a rolling type, mediated by ICAM-1 or other receptors, with immobilization and stabilization occurring via CD36 and/or TSP.

Selectins

The selectins are three related receptors that initiate rolling of leukocytes on activated platelets or endothelium through Ca(2+)-dependent recognition of cell surface carbohydrates. Cell adhesion may be enhanced by a limited number of membrane glycoproteins that present high affinity carbohydrate ligands to specific selectins. The synthesis and surface display of the selectins is normally tightly controlled, but inappropriate expression may contribute to inflammatory disorders. Recent in vivo studies confirm the importance of the selectins in both physiological and pathological leukocyte recruitment.

1992 ALZA Distinguished Lecture: bioengineering and vascular biology

The vascular system is naturally dynamic; fluid mechanics and mass transfer are closely integrated with blood and vascular cell function. We are beginning to understand how local wall shear stress and strain modulate endothelial cell metabolism at the gene level. This knowledge may help explain the focal nature of many vascular pathologies, including atherosclerosis. Understanding mechanical control of gene regulation at the level of specific promoter elements and transcription factors involved will lead to development of novel constructs for localized delivery of specific gene products in regions of high or low shear stress or strain in the vascular system. In addition, recent research has shown how local fluid mechanics can alter receptor specificity in cell-to-cell and cell-to-matrix protein adhesion and aggregation. Knowledge of the specific molecular sequences involved in cell-to-cell recognition will allow development of targeted therapeutics, with applications in thrombosis, inflammation, cancer metastasis, and sickle-cell anemia. Bioengineers are uniquely qualified to be leaders in this field, because advances require a synthesis of cell and molecular biology with systems analysis, transport phenomena, and quantitative modeling. Rapid progress in tissue engineering applications will require this new kind of biomedical engineer, which represents both a challenge and an opportunity for our profession.

P-selectin mediates neutrophil rolling on histamine-stimulated endothelial cells

In postcapillary venules, marginating neutrophils (PMNs) are often seen rolling along the vessel wall prior to stopping and emigrating. There is substantial evidence in vitro and in vivo that the adhesion receptors E- and L-selectin participate in this phenomenon on cytokine-stimulated endothelium, and recent evidence has shown that a closely related adhesion receptor, P-selectin, is capable of mediating neutrophil rolling on an artificial membrane. Here we demonstrate and characterize PMN rolling on monolayers of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated with histamine to induce surface expression of P-selectin. Peak association of PMNs with the HUVECs occurs 10 min after histamine stimulation, and at a postcapillary venular wall shear stress of 2.0 dyn/cm2 the rolling velocity is 14 microns/s. Approximately 95% of the PMNs roll on the endothelial cells, 5% adhere firmly, and none migrate beneath the endothelial monolayer. Monoclonal antibody (MAb) G1, which binds P-selectin and blocks its adhesive function, completely prevents association of the PMNs with histamine-stimulated HUVEC, whereas the nonblocking anti-P-selectin MAb S12 does not. Treatment of PMNs with the anti-L-selectin MAb DREG56 reduces PMN adherence by approximately 50%. Anti-CD54 MAb R6.5 and anti-CD18 MAb R15.7 have little effect on the number of PMNs rolling on the HUVECs but completely prevent PMNs from stopping and significantly increase rolling velocity. Nonblocking control MAbs for R6.5 (CL203) and R15.7 (CL18/1D1) lack these effects. Rolling adhesion of PMNs on histamine-stimulated HUVECs therefore appears to be completely dependent on endothelial cell P-selectin, with a minor adhesion-stabilizing contribution from intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and beta 2 integrins. The partial inhibition of rolling with DREG56 suggests that L-selectin may also play a role in neutrophil interactions with histamine-stimulated endothelium. We further characterize these interactions by determining the effects of the various MAbs and wall shear stresses on adhesion patterns, rolling velocities, and distributions of rolling velocities.

Granulocyte-endothelium initial adhesion. Analysis of transient binding events mediated by E-selectin in a laminar shear flow

The adhesion of moving cells to receptor-bearing surfaces is a key step to many important biological processes. Attachment was subjected to extensive modeling. However, the numerical values of kinetic bonding parameters relevant to realistic models of cell adhesion remain poorly known. In this report, we describe the motion of human granulocytes to interleukin-1-activated endothelial cells in presence of a low hydrodynamic drag (a few piconewtons) estimated to be much weaker than a standard ligand-receptor bond. It was thus expected to visualize the formation and rupture of individual bonds. We observed multiple short-time cell arrests with a median duration of 2.43 s. Stop frequency, not duration, was significantly inhibited by anti-E-selectin antibodies. Binding efficiency exhibited an almost linear relationship with the inverse of cell velocity. The distribution of arrest duration was determined: results were consistent with the view that these arrests reflected the formation/dissociation of single ligand-receptor bonds with a spontaneous dissociation rate of 0.5 s-1. The rate of bond formation was on the order of 0.04 s-1 when cells were freely rolling (mean velocity: 19 microns/s) and it exhibited an approximately 10-fold increase after the formation of a first adhesion.