What is the function of selectins?
Abstract. The selectins are cell surface lectins that have evolved to mediate the adhesion of white blood cells to endothelial cells and platelets under flow. They recognize fucosylated, sialylated and in some cases sulfated ligands expressed on scaffold glycoproteins serving as functional counter-receptors.
How are selectins activated?
The selectin ligand PSGL-1 redistributes to the uropod and captures activated platelets by interacting with P-selectin. Platelet–neutrophil interactions transduce signals that facilitate intraluminal crawling.
What produces selectins?
The selectins are expressed in low amounts at the cell surface. When the cells are activated by inflammatory stimuli, P-selectin is released from storage bodies of endothelial cells and is mobilized to the external plasma membrane.
What is the role of selectins in inflammation?
During inflammation, selectins enable the initial attachment of leukocytes from the bloodstream, which causes their downstream movement along the endothelium via adhesive interactions referred to as leukocyte rolling.
What do cadherins do?
Cadherins are transmembrane proteins that mediate cell–cell adhesion in animals. By regulating contact formation and stability, cadherins play a crucial role in tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis.
How many types of selectins are there?
Three selectins
Selectins are cell surface lectins that have evolved to mediate the adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells and platelets under flow. Three selectins have been identified: L-selectin (leukocyte selectin), P-selectin (platelet selectin), and E-selectin (endothelial selectin).
What are P and E selectins?
P- and E-selectins are adhesion molecules mediating the first step in leukocyte extravasation. Because their function in leukocyte adhesion is overlapping, we hypothesized that there might be a combined effect of these selectins on the development of atherosclerotic lesions.
How are cadherins activated?
(A) Productive cadherin ligation in newly forming contacts (1) activates Rac signaling at the plasma membrane via a PI3 kinase–dependent intermediary step (2) and possibly also a pathway independent of PI3 kinase (3).
What are the different types of cadherins?
The five different cadherins include N-cadherin, P-cadherin, T-cadherin, V-cadherin, and E-cadherin. Cytoplasmic domains of cadherins may interact with proteins of the cytoskeleton.