A schiff base with mildly oxidized carbohydrate ligands stabilizes L-selectin and not P-selectin or E-selectin rolling adhesions in shear flow.

Selectins are a family of lectins, that mediate tethering and rolling of leukocytes on endothelium in vascular shear flow. Mild periodate oxidation of the L-selectin ligand CD34, or L-selectin ligands on leukocytes, enhanced resistance to detachment in shear and decreased rolling velocity equivalent to an 8-fold increase in ligand density, yet had little effect on the rate of tethering. Enhanced interactions were also seen with mildly oxidized sialyl Lewisa and sialyl Lewisx glycolipids. Enhancement was completely reversed by borohydride reduction, yielding a strength of interaction equivalent to that with the native ligands. No effect on the strength of P-selectin and E-selectin interactions was seen after mild oxidation of their ligands. Completeness of modification of sialic acid by mild periodate was verified with monoclonal antibody to sialyl Lewisx-related structures and resistance to neuraminidase. The addition of cyanoborohydride to leukocytes rolling through L-selectin on mildly oxidized but not native CD34 caused arrest of rolling cells and formation of EDTA-resistant bonds to the substrate, suggesting that a Schiff base was reduced. Cyanoborohydride reduction of mildly oxidized cells rolling on P-selectin and E-selectin also caused arrest and formation of EDTA-resistant bonds but with slower kinetics. These data suggest that interactions with a sialic acid aldehyde group on mildly oxidized ligands that include interconversion to a Schiff base can occur with three selectins yet only stabilize binding through the selectin with the fastest koff, L-selectin.