Neutrophil tethering on E-selectin activates beta 2 integrin binding to ICAM-1 through a mitogen-activated protein kinase signal transduction pathway.

On inflamed endothelium selectins support neutrophil capture and rolling that leads to firm adhesion through the activation and binding of beta 2 integrin. The primary mechanism of cell activation involves ligation of chemotactic agonists presented on the endothelium. We have pursued a second mechanism involving signal transduction through binding of selectins while neutrophils tether in shear flow. We assessed whether neutrophil rolling on E-selectin led to cell activation and arrest via beta 2integrins. Neutrophils were introduced into a parallel plate flow chamber having as a substrate an L cell monolayer coexpressing E-selectin and ICAM-1 (E/I). At shears >/=0.1 dyne/cm2, neutrophils rolled on the E/I. A step increase to 4.0 dynes/cm2 revealed that approximately 60% of the interacting cells remained firmly adherent, as compared with approximately 10% on L cells expressing E-selectin or ICAM-1 alone. Cell arrest was dependent on application of shear and activation of Mac-1 and LFA-1 to bind ICAM-1. Firm adhesion was inhibited by blocking E-selectin, L-selectin, or PSGL-1 with Abs and by inhibitors to the mitogen-activated protein kinases. A chimeric soluble E-selectin-IgG molecule specifically bound sialylated ligands on neutrophils and activated adhesion that was also inhibited by blocking the mitogen-activated protein kinases. We conclude that neutrophils rolling on E-selectin undergo signal transduction leading to activation of cell arrest through beta 2 integrins binding to ICAM-1.