INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA UP-REGULATES THE EXPRESSION OF SULFOGLUCURONOSYL PARAGLOBOSIDE, A LIGAND FOR L-SELECTIN, IN BRAIN MICROVASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

Treatment of cultured bovine brain microvascular endothelial cells (BM ECs) with interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta), an inflammatory cytokine, wa s shown to induce the accumulation of sulfoglucuronosyl paragloboside (SGPG), a glycolipid bearing the HNK-1 epitope. This resulted in the a ttachment of a greater number of human lymphocytes to the treated than to the untreated BMEC monolayers. Attachment of human lymphocytes to the IL-1 beta-activated BMEC cells could be blocked either by incubati on of the human lymphocytes with an anti-L-selectin antibody or by app lication of an anti-SGPG antibody to the BMECs. These results suggest that SGPG may act as an important ligand for L-selectin for the regula tion of the attachment of activated lymphocytes and their subsequent i nvasion into the nervous system parenchyma in inflammatory disorders o f the central and peripheral nervous systems.