L-selectin directs neutrophils to sites of inflammation, and upon their activation, surface expression of the receptor is rapidly down-regulated by ectodomain shedding. Tumor necrosis factor-␣-converting enzyme (TACE, or ADAM17) is a sheddase of L-selectin; however, Adam17 gene targeting (ADAM17 ⌬Zn/⌬Zn ) in mice is perinatal lethal and its role in L-selectin shedding by mature neutrophils has not been determined. This was addressed here by using radiation-chimeric mice reconstituted with ADAM17 ⌬Zn/⌬Zn fetal liver cells. ADAM17-deficient neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes failed to shed L-selectin in response to PMA, as did neutrophils infiltrating the inflamed peritoneum. In addition, the absence of functional ADAM17 resulted in significantly increased levels of L-selectin surface expression by peripheral-blood leukocytes, indicating the sheddase also plays a role in the constitutive cleavage of L-selectin. Interestingly, not all manners of L-selectin turnover required ADAM17. Plasma L-selectin levels were similar between ADAM17 ⌬Zn/⌬Zn -chimeric and control mice, as was the shedding of L-selectin by neutrophils undergoing spontaneous apoptosis. The latter process, however, was diminished by a metalloprotease inhibitor, indicating the role of a sheddase other than ADAM17. Together, our data reveal that L-selectin's surface density on neutrophils is regulated by ADAM17, but homeostatic L-selectin cleavage is not.
IntroductionL-selectin (CD62L) is a type-1 transmembrane protein that is constitutively and uniformly expressed by neutrophils. It plays a critical role in directing these cells to sites of inflammation. L-selectin's adhesive role is diverse and includes facilitating direct and indirect neutrophil tethering along the vascular wall. 1 The latter process both accelerates and prolongs their accumulation. [2][3][4][5] Consistent with L-selectin's broad role in directing leukocyte accumulation, it is tightly regulated. This includes a rapid and efficient down-regulation from the surface of neutrophils upon their activation by various stimuli, with virtually all of the L-selectin molecules being released by a proteolytic process. 6 In addition to neutrophil activation, L-selectin shedding also occurs by these cells upon induced and spontaneous apoptosis. 7 The cleavage of L-selectin takes place proximal to the cell membrane, releasing an intact ectodomain fragment. 8,9 The soluble ectodomain portion of L-selectin is detected in the blood plasma, demonstrating that L-selectin shedding is a physiologic process. The functional relevance of L-selectin shedding is not yet fully understood. Studies involving gene-targeted mice expressing noncleavable L-selectin indicate that ectodomain shedding regulates surface L-selectin density, and this affects the efficiency of leukocyte adhesion and migration. 20 Homeostatic L-selectin cleavage accounts for high levels of the receptor in the plasma of healthy individuals and mice relative to other leukocyte membrane proteins, 10,11 and perhaps this process maintains an...