Blister development in bullous pemphigoid (BP) results from destruction of hemidesmosomes and basement membrane components within the dermoepidermal junction by autoantibodies. Adhesion molecules can take part in pathogenesis of this disease. The aim of the study was to determine the localization and expression of L- and E-selectins and beta1, beta3, and beta4 integrins by immunohistochemistry ...

Dermatitis herpetiformis (DH) and bullous pemphigoid (BP) are autoimmune diseases characterized by destruction of the basement membrane zone (BMZ) and anchoring fibres by autoantibodies and infiltration. Adhesion molecules can take part in these phenomena. Skin biopsies were taken from 13 patients with DH, 21 with BP, and from 10 healthy subjects. The localization and expression of E and L sele...

Selectins (L-, E- and P-selectin) are calcium-dependent transmembrane glycoproteins that are expressed on the surface of circulating leukocytes, activated platelets, and inflamed endothelial cells. Selectins bind predominantly to sialofucosylated glycoproteins and glycolipids (E-selectin only) present on the surface of apposing cells, and mediate transient adhesive interactions pertinent to inf...

Protein-carbohydrate interaction is exploited in cell adhesion mechanisms besides the recognition of peptide motifs. The sugar code thus significantly contributes to the intriguing specificity of cellular selection of binding partners. Focusing on two classes of lectins (selectins and galectins), it is evident that their functionality for mediation of adhesive contacts is becoming increasingly ...

Small minerals make strong bones Selectins with a catch ot content simply with a good fit, evolution has apparently designed adhesion molecules that stick optimally only when tugged upon. This property, may stop leukocytes and platelets from lingering in stagnant backwaters in the blood where there is little or no flow. Blood is a medium dominated by flow and shear forces. " If you think flow i...

The alpha1,3-fucosyltransferase, FucT-VII, is crucial for the formation of ligands for all three selectins, and its expression regulates the synthesis of these ligands. Short-term polarized T helper (Th)1, but not Th2 or naive CD4(+) T cells, can home to sites of inflammation, but the molecular basis for this difference has remained unclear. Here we show that naive CD4(+) T cells do not express...

Our objective was to test the hypothesis that endothelial selectins, P and E selectins, are necessary for leukocyte migration after muscle injury from unloading/reloading. Mice hindlimbs were suspended for 10 days followed by reloading periods of 6 or 24 h after which the soleus muscle was dissected. Light microscopic observations showed that macrophages, but not neutrophils, were able to invad...