Alternatively spliced isoform of P-selectin is present in vivo as a soluble molecule.

To demonstrate the presence of a soluble isoform of P-selectin predicted from cDNA sequencing (Johnston, G.I., Bliss, G.A., Newman, P.J., and McEver, R.P. (1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 21381-21385), we immunoisolated and compared structurally P-selectin from fresh frozen human plasma with that from washed intact platelets. Plasma P-selectin was reactive with rabbit antiserum to a synthesized peptide (residues 762-774 of mature P-selectin) but was significantly less reactive with antibody to a peptide (residues 747-760). In contrast, platelet P-selectin reacted with both antibodies. S-Pyridylethylated plasma P-selectin was fractionated by reversed phase-high performance liquid chromatography into two major species. From platelets, two virtually identical species were separated. Sequential digestion with Achromobacter protease I and then Staphylococcus V8 protease produced peptides assigned to the tail region of the protein including the putative spliced site. From the more hydrophilic species in both plasma and platelets, a peptide completely lacking the sequence of the putative spliced site was identified. In contrast, the more hydrophobic species yielded a peptide with an intact transmembrane sequence. Hence, these results provide direct evidence that the previously predicted soluble isoform of P-selectin is actually synthesized in vivo and is present as a circulating molecule.