L-selectin, also known as CD62L, is a cell adhesion molecule found on the cell surface of leukocytes, and the blastocyst. It is coded for in the human by the SELL gene. L-selectin belongs to the selectin family of proteins, which recognize sialylated carbohydrate groups containing a Sialyl LewisX (sLeX) determinant. L-selectin plays an important role in both the innate and adaptive immune responses by facilitating leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion events. These tethering interactions are essential for the trafficking of monocytes and neutrophils into inflamed tissue as well as the homing of lymphocytes to secondary lymphoid organs. L-selectin is also expressed by lymphoid primed hematopoietic stem cells and may participate in the migration of these stem cells to the primary lymphoid organs. In addition to its function in the immune response, L-selectin is expressed on embryonic cells and facilitates the attachment of the blastocyst to the endometrial endothelium during human embryo implantation.
L-selectin is composed of multiple structural regions: an N-terminus C-type lectin domain, an adjacent epidermal growth factor-like domain, two to the consensus repeat units homologous to those found in C3/C4-binding proteins, an extracellular cleavage site, a short transmembrane domain, and a cytoplasmic tail. It is cleaved by ADAM17.
Ligands
The nature of the interactions between L-selectin and ligand depends on many circumstances, primarily the location of anatomically defined sites in the high vessel venules (perivascular, extravascular and intravascular).
Because of the diversity of L-selectin ligands, signals that propagate downstream of L-selectin provide information about the position of the leukocyte within the multistep adhesion cascade (binding, rolling, adhesion, and transmigration).
While L-selectin ligands on the apical side of the endothelium have long been characterized as receptors for binding and rolling, glycans enriched on the basolateral side and in the basement membrane likely control quite different signals. The binding lifetime of L-selectin with apical ligands will be on the order of milliseconds, so in contrast, L-selectin-dependent adhesion in a microenvironment without hydrodynamic shear stress (e.g., within transmigrating pseudopods) will take seconds to minutes.
GlyCAM-1, found in the high endothelial venules of the lymph nodes. CD34, found on endothelial cells. MadCAM-1, found on endothelial cells of gut-associated lymphoid tissue. PSGL-1, binds with low affinity.
Expression
L-selectin is expressed constitutively on most circulating leukocytes. Over time, these molecules are released through the process of ectodomain shedding and are replaced by newly synthesized L-selectin proteins. Ectodomain shedding is largely accomplished through cleavage by ADAM17.
The human L-selectin gene (sell) is located on the long arm of chromosome 1 (1q24.2), and is arranged in tandem with its family members (in the order: L-, P-, and E-selectin). Human sell consists of 10 exons and its transcription factor is FOXO 1, on the other hand the mouse sell gene is composed of 9 exons.
Subsequent splicing of exons into mature mRNA translates to a protein product with a predicted molecular mass of 30 kDa. L-selectin varies between cell types, has ranging molecular weight from 65 kDa in lymphocytes to 100 kDa in neutrophils, and is due to cell type-specific glycosylation. Most glycoproteins undergo either N- or O-linked glycosylation, and it is very likely that the type of L-selectin glycosylation determines the specific functions of individual cells, but this has not yet been investigated in detail.
L-selectin is expressed on naive T cells and is rapidly shed following T cell priming. L-selectin expression is re-activated in cytotoxic T cells once they exit the lymph node. Mature central memory T cells express L-selectin while effector memory cells do not. L-selectin is also expressed by naive B cells, with the loss of L-selectin distinguishing activated B cells destined to differentiate to antibody-secreting cells
L-selectin is expressed on circulating neutrophils and is shed following neutrophil priming. Expression of L-selectin in neutrophils decreases with neutrophil aging. Classical monocytes express high levels of L-selectin while in circulation. Shedding of L-selectin from monocytes occurs during trans-endothelial migration.