ELFT: a gene that directs the expression of an ELAM-1 ligand.

The LECCAMs are a family of cell adhesion molecules implicated in certain inflammatory processes. ELAM-1, a LECCAM found on the surface of activated endothelial cells, can mediate adhesion of neutrophils, monocytes, and certain cell lines to endothelial cells in vitro. No ligand for any LECCAM has yet been fully characterized. Here we report the cloning of a cDNA, ELFT (ELAM-1 ligand fucosyltransferase), that can confer ELAM-1 binding activity when transfected into nonbinding cell lines. ELFT encodes a 46 kd protein that has alpha(1,3)fucosyltransferase activity, suggesting that a fucosylated carbohydrate structure is an essential component of the ELAM-1 ligand. Furthermore, ELFT is expressed specifically in cell types that bind to ELAM-1, suggesting that this enzyme is an important regulator of inflammatory events in vivo.