PMID: 11923257Mar 30, 2002Paper

Role of syndecan-1 in leukocyte-endothelial interactions in the ocular vasculature

Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science
Martin GötteMerton Bernfield

Abstract

Leukocyte endothelial interactions are a key feature of ocular angiogenesis but also play a role in nonproliferative vascular alterations as are found in early diabetes or uveitis. The adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells during inflammation is a multistep process that involves leukocyte rolling, adhesion, and extravasation mediated by selectins, cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), integrins, and chemokines. Heparan sulfate (HS) is known to bind to and modify the function of these molecules under physiological conditions. In this study, the role of the HS proteoglycan syndecan-1 in mediating leukocyte-endothelial interactions in the ocular vasculature was investigated. Mice carrying a deletion in the gene encoding the cell surface HS proteoglycan syndecan-1 (sdc1) were used to study the interactions of leukocytes and endothelial cells in vivo, using a perfusion technique with FITC-coupled ConA and intravital microscopy. In a retina perfusion model, Sdc1(-/-) mice showed increased leukocyte adhesion that was largely attributable to the leukocytes. Intravital microscopy studies revealed a dramatic increase in adhesion after tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha treatment of sdc1(-/-) mice compared with similarly treated wild-type ...Continue Reading

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