Bacterial uptake by phagocytic cells is a vital event in the clearance of invading pathogens such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. A major role of the P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) on leukocytes against invasive pneumococcal disease is described in this study. Phagocytosis experiments using different serotypes demonstrated that PSGL-1 is involved in the recognition, uptake and killing of S. pneumoniae. Co-localization of several clinical isolates of S. pneumoniae with PSGL-1 was demonstrated, observing a rapid and active phagocytosis in the presence of PSGL-1. Furthermore, the pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide and the main autolysin of the bacterium ―the amidase LytA― were identified as bacterial ligands for PSGL-1. Experimental models of pneumococcal disease including invasive pneumonia and systemic infection showed that bacterial levels were markedly increased in the blood of PSGL-1 −/− mice. During pneumonia, PSGL-1 controls the severity of pneumococcal dissemination from the lung to the bloodstream. In systemic infection, a major role of PSGL-1 in host defense is to clear the bacteria in the systemic circulation controlling bacterial replication. These results confirmed the importance of this receptor in the recognition and clearance of S. pneumoniae during invasive pneumococcal disease. Histological and cellular analysis demonstrated that PSGL-1 −/− mice have increased levels of T cells migrating to the lung than the corresponding wild-type mice. In contrast, during systemic infection, PSGL-1 −/− mice had increased numbers of neutrophils and macrophages in blood, but were less effective controlling the infection process due to the lack of this functional receptor. Overall, this study demonstrates that PSGL-1 is a novel receptor for S. pneumoniae that contributes to protection against invasive pneumococcal disease.

Objective. To define and characterize the progression of the spontaneous autoimmune disease that develops in mice in the absence of the leukocyte adhesion receptor P-selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL-1).Methods. Skin-resident immune cells from PSGL-1-deficient mice and C57BL/6 control mice of different ages were isolated and analyzed by flow cytometry. Biochemical parameters were analyzed in mouse serum and urine, and the presence of serum autoantibodies was investigated. Skin and internal organs were extracted, and their structure was analyzed histologically.Results. Skin-resident innate and adaptive immune cells from PSGL-1 ؊/؊ mice had a proinflammatory phenotype with an imbalanced T effector cell:Treg cell ratio. Sera from PSGL-1 ؊/؊ mice had circulating autoantibodies commonly detected in connective tissuerelated human autoimmune diseases. Biochemical and histologic analysis of skin and internal organs revealed skin fibrosis and structural and functional abnormalities in the lungs and kidneys. Furthermore, PSGL-1 ؊/؊ mice exhibited vascular alterations, showing loss of dermal vessels, small vessel medial layer remodeling in the lungs and kidneys, and ischemic processes in the kidney that promote renal infarcts.Conclusion. Our study demonstrates that immune system overactivation due to PSGL-1 deficiency triggers an autoimmune syndrome with characteristics similar to systemic sclerosis, including skin fibrosis, vascular alterations, and systemic organ involvement. These results suggest that PSGL-1 expression contributes to the maintenance of the homeostasis of the immune system and could act as a barrier for autoimmunity in mice.

An ERβ/ERα ratio under 0.85 indicated CD endoscopic activity. The determination of serum ERβ/ERα might be a useful noninvasive screening tool for CD endoscopic activity.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disorder with high morbidity and mortality, is difficult to diagnose early, and has no curative treatment. PSGL-1 is a leukocyte receptor whose deficiency in mice promotes an SSc-like disease. ADAM8, a metalloprotease that cleaves PSGL-1, is implicated in inflammatory processes. Our goal was to evaluate whether PSGL-1 and ADAM8 contribute to the pathogenesis of human SSc. We found that patients with SSc presented increased PSGL-1 expression on monocytes, dendritic cells, and T cells and decreased expression of PSGL-1 on B cells. PSGL-1 on monocytes from SSc patients failed to induce Syk phosphorylation or IL-10 production after interaction with P-selectin. Up to 60% of the IL-10-producing B cells expressed PSGL-1, pointing to a regulatory role for PSGL-1 in B cells, and PSGL-1 B cells from SSc patients had decreased IL-10 production. ADAM8 expression was increased on antigen-presenting cells and T lymphocytes of SSc patients. Patients treated with calcium antagonists had lower levels of ADAM8 on APCs and T lymphocytes. Multivariate analysis indicated that the high percentage of ADAM8-expressing plasmacytoid dendritic cells discriminated patients from healthy donors. High PSGL-1 expression on dendritic cells was associated with the presence of interstitial lung disease.

Objective Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), one of the major complications of systemic sclerosis (SSc), is a rare disease with unknown etiopathogenesis and noncurative treatments. As mice deficient in P‐selectin glycoprotein ligand 1 (PSGL‐1) develop a spontaneous SSc‐like syndrome, we undertook this study to analyze whether they develop PAH and to examine the molecular mechanisms involved. Methods Doppler echocardiography was used to estimate pulmonary pressure, immunohistochemistry was used to assess vascular remodeling, and myography of dissected pulmonary artery rings was used to analyze vascular reactivity. Angiotensin II (Ang II) levels were quantified by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, and Western blotting was used to measure Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R), AT2R, endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and phosphorylated eNOS expression in lung lysates. Flow cytometry allowed us to determine cytokine production by immune cells and NO production by endothelial cells. In all cases, there were 4–8 mice per experimental group. Results PSGL‐1−/− mice showed lung vessel wall remodeling and a reduced mean ± SD expression of pulmonary AT2R (expression ratio [relative to β‐actin] in female mice age >18 months: wild‐type mice 0.799 ± 0.508 versus knockout mice 0.346 ± 0.229). With aging, female PSGL‐1−/− mice had impaired up‐regulation of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and developed lung vascular endothelial dysfunction coinciding with an increase in mean ± SEM pulmonary Ang II levels (wild‐type 48.70 ± 5.13 pg/gm lung tissue versus knockout 78.02 ± 28.09 pg/gm lung tissue) and a decrease in eNOS phosphorylation, leading to reduced endothelial NO production. These events led to a reduction in the pulmonary artery acceleration time:ejection time ratio in 33% of aged female PSGL‐1−/− mice, indicating pulmonary hypertension. Importantly, we found expanded populations of interferon‐γ–producing PSGL‐1−/− T cells and B cells and a reduced presence of regulatory T cells. Conclusion The absence of PSGL‐1 induces a reduction in Treg cells, NO production, and ERα expression and causes an increase in Ang II in the lungs of female mice, favoring the development of PAH.