P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 negatively regulates T-cell immune responses

J Immunol. 2009 Dec 1;183(11):7204-11. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.0902173. Epub 2009 Nov 4.

Abstract

Cell surface sialomucins often act as antiadhesive molecules by virtue of their extended structure and negative charge. CD43 is one such sialomucin, expressed on most leukocytes. P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) is another sialomucin expressed by leukocytes. It serves as a major selectin ligand, but no antiadhesive role for it has been described. In this study, we showed that PSGL-1-deficient T cells, like CD43-deficient T cells, exhibited increased adhesion and proliferation compared with wild-type cells. The loss of both PSGL-1 and CD43 led to a further increase in T cell adhesion and proliferation. The reexpression of full-length PSGL-1 or CD43 in double-deficient CD4(+) T cells reversed their increased adhesion and proliferation phenotype. Using chimeric constructs of human CD8 and either PSGL-1 or CD43, we demonstrated that the intracellular domain of PSGL-1 or CD43 is required for suppressing proliferation but not adhesion. Furthermore, in a mouse model of inflammatory bowel disease induced by the adoptive transfer of naive T cells into RAG-deficient hosts, a PSGL-1 deficiency exacerbated the development of inflammation. These results reveal a novel regulatory role for PSGL-1 in T cell adhesion and proliferation and suggest that PSGL-1 negatively regulates T cell immune responses in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • CD8 Antigens / genetics
  • CD8 Antigens / immunology
  • Cell Adhesion / immunology*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Leukosialin / immunology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / immunology*
  • Membrane Glycoproteins / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic

Substances

  • CD8 Antigens
  • Leukosialin
  • Membrane Glycoproteins
  • P-selectin ligand protein