A distinct glycoform of CD44 is an L-selectin ligand on human hematopoietic cells.

We previously have obtained operational evidence of a hematopoietic cell L-selectin ligand expressed on normal human hematopoietic cells and on leukemic blasts. Using a technique developed in our laboratory for analyzing and identifying adhesion molecules, we show here that hematopoietic cell L-selectin ligand is a specialized glycoform of CD44. This L-selectin ligand activity of CD44 requires sialofucosylated N-linked glycans and is sulfation-independent. These data provide important insights on the structural biology of CD44 and reveal a role for this protein as an L-selectin ligand on human hematopoietic cells.