Two sites on P-selectin (the lectin and epidermal growth factor-like domains) are involved in the adhesion of monocytes to thrombin-activated endothelial cells.

P-selectin, also known as GMP-140, PADGEM or CD62, is expressed on the surface of thrombin-activated platelets and endothelial cells (EC). It is a member of the selectin family of adhesion molecules that regulate leucocyte interactions with the blood vessel wall. In this study we have found that peptides derived from both the lectin (residues 19-34 and 51-61) and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like (residues 127-139) domains inhibit the adhesion of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), elutriated monocytes and a monocytic cell line (U937) to thrombin-activated EC. This inhibition occurred in a concentration-dependent manner and the peptide most active at the lowest concentrations was the one derived from the EGF-like motif (127-139). The scrambled forms of these peptides, identical in amino acid composition to the authentic peptides but with altered sequences, were not inhibitory. Thrombin-activated platelets supported adhesion of U937 cells and this adhesion was dramatically inhibited by the two peptides derived from the lectin-like domain (residues 19-34 and 51-61). All three peptides, when conjugated to BSA and coated on plastic plates, mediated U937 cell adhesion. This study shows, for the first time, that two sites on P-selectin, the lectin and EGF-like domains, are involved in the adhesion of monocytes to thrombin-activated EC.