A lymphocyte homing receptor (L-selectin) mediates the in vitro attachment of lymphocytes to myelinated tracts of the central nervous system.

K Huang; J S Geoffroy; M S Singer; S D Rosen

doi:10.1172/JCI115498

Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0452.

Find articles by Huang, K. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0452.

Find articles by Geoffroy, J. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0452.

Find articles by Singer, M. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0452.

Find articles by Rosen, S. in: PubMed | Google Scholar

Published in Volume 88, Issue 5 on November 1, 1991
J Clin Invest. 1991;88(5):1778–1783. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI115498.
© 1991 The American Society for Clinical Investigation

Published November 1, 1991 - Version history

Lymphocytes enter lymph nodes by first adhering to high endothelial venules, an adhesive event mediated by a lectinlike lymphocyte receptor (L-selectin). Previously, it was shown with an in vitro assay that lymphocytes preferentially adhere to myelin-rich regions in brain sections. Here, using a recombinant form of L-selectin as an immunohistochemical reagent, we demonstrate potential ligands for L-selectin in myelinated regions of the central but not the peripheral nervous system. Using several antibodies and phorbol ester downmodulation of the receptor, we establish that L-selectin on human lymphocytes has a primary involvement in lymphocyte adherence to the myelinated regions. On mouse lymphocytes, the contribution of L-selectin appears to be partial. These findings raise the possibility that leukocyte targeting to myelin-rich regions, via a L-selectin dependent mechanism, may be a factor in the pathogenesis of certain central nervous system demyelinating diseases.

Images.