2Glyco-chain Functions Laboratory, Supra-biomolecular System Group, Frontier Research System, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Saitama, 351-0198, Japan; 3Wellcome Trust Biocentre at Dundee, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 5EH, Scotland, United Kingdom; and 4Sphingolipid Expression Laboratory, Supra-biomolecular System Group, Frontier Research System, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN), Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
Received on October 19, 2001; revised on December 27, 2001; accepted on January 11, 2001.
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Abstract |
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Key words: lymph node/macrophage/sialoadhesin/Siglec-1
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Introduction |
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Although all of the 10 currently known Siglecs are readily detected at the cell surface using specific antibodies, sugar-dependent binding activity is often undetectable (Razi and Varki, 1998, 1999; Crocker and Varki, 2001b
). The presence of endogenous sialoglycoconjugates may block or mask the sugar binding sites of Siglecs through a cis-type interaction. Sialic acids may also reduce cellcell interactions nonspecifically through charge-repulsion effects. There is some in situ evidence that Sn expressed by splenic marginal zone macrophages is partially masked because sialidase treatment significantly enhanced the Sn-dependent binding of red blood cells to marginal zone macrophages (Barnes et al., 1999
). To gain insight into the potential adhesive functions of Sn, it is important to measure the amount of Sn masked by the endogenous ligands as a function of the total amount of Sn present on native macrophages. To detect the binding activity of Sn, we previously developed a streptavidin-based glycoprobe carrying more than 100 oligosaccharide chains from GT1b (NeuAc
2-3Galß1-3GalNAcß1-4[NeuAc
2-8NeuAc
2-3]Galß1-4Glcß1-1Cer) ganglioside, which contains N-acetylneuraminyl
2-3galactose at the nonreducing terminus (Hashimoto et al., 1998
). This high avidity complex only detects the unmasked forms of Sn; masked forms are detectable after a sialidase treatment. This novel binding assay provides a method for estimating both the level of masking and the binding activity of Sn at the cell surface.
In the present study we have utilized the GT1b probe to estimate the activity of Sn on native macrophages isolated from rat secondary lymphoid organs. We demonstrate the existence of macrophages expressing unmasked forms of Sn at high levels in lymph node compared to spleen.
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Results |
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The Bmax value of GT1b probe binding to lymph node macrophages is higher than that of splenic macrophages
Saturation isotherm for GT1b probe binding to lymph node macrophages is shown in Figure 6A. Scatchard analysis revealed that the Bmax value of lymph node macrophages is 1.4 fmole/1 x 104 cells (Figure 6B), whereas that of splenic macrophages is 0.01 fmole/1 x 104 cells (Scatchard plot for the latter is not shown). The Kd value of GT1b probe binding to lymph node macrophages is approximately 1 nM (Figure 6B), which is indistinguishable from the value of splenic macrophage binding (12 nM). These data suggests that the high activity of lymph node macrophages depends on high levels of Sn.
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Discussion |
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We also detected similar macrophages in mouse lymphatic organs; lymph node macrophages had a higher binding activity than the splenic macrophages. These activities were abolished by the addition of an mAb specific for mouse Sn, 3D6 (data not shown). It should be noted that mouse splenic macrophages comprises of several subsets, and their expression levels of Sn are quite different (Crocker and Gordon, 1989; Crocker et al., 1997
). In spleen, monocytes do not express Sn, nor do tingible body macrophages. Red pulp macrophages, which make up the majority of macrophages in spleen, express low levels of Sn. The highest levels are found on most marginal metallophils and some marginal zone macrophages. These cells may have similarly high binding activity as lymph node macrophages. To investigate this further, we would need a sensitive method for detecting Sn binding activity at the single-cell level.
High expression of Sn on rat lymph node macrophages was substantiated by western blot analysis and flow cytometry. The total amount of Sn in lymph node macrophage lysates is 25-fold higher than that in splenic macrophages by western blot analysis. In addition, the cell surface expression of Sn on the former is higher than that of the latter, as assessed by flow cytometry. The Sn present on the lymph node cells is not masked by endogenous ligands, in contrast to splenic macrophages, as evidenced by binding assays with or without sialidase treatment. Thus we have identified macrophages expressing high levels of unmasked Sn in rat lymph nodes.
Sn (Siglec-1), a member of Siglec family of proteins, exhibits lectin activity toward sialoglycoconjugates. The lectin activities observed for this family have often been demonstrated in overexpression systems, in which the Siglec cDNA was transfected into COS or Chinese hamster ovary cells. Siglecs expressed on the cell surface under these conditions exhibit no or poor lectin activity without sialidase treatment prior to the activity assay; that is, endogenous sialoglycoconjugates mask the binding sites of Siglecs through cis-type interactions. This masking is also observed on native cells, which physiologically express Siglecs. For example, CD22 (Siglec-2) expressed on resting peripheral blood B cells is naturally masked by endogenous sialoglycoconjugates; the binding of glycoprobes to CD22 was observed after the removal of the cis-competing sialic acid by sialidase treatment (Razi and Varki, 1998; Floyd et al., 2000
). Unmasking of CD22 was also seen to occur following activation of B cells with anti-IgM and anti-CD40 antibodies (Razi and Varki, 1998
). Human blood leukocytes express a wide range of Siglecs that also appear to be masked by cis-interactions with sialic acids (Razi and Varki, 1999
). These observations suggest that Siglec masking is a commonly used in vivo mechanism controlling lectin activity and cellcell binding properties. For instance, Floyd et al. (2000)
) recently reported that a minor subset of murine B cells, enriched in the bone marrow, expresses unmasked forms of CD22. Together with their previous observations that the bone marrow sinusoidal endothelium expresses CD22 ligands, the unmasked forms of CD22 are implicated as receptors that control homing of B cells to the bone marrow (Nitschke et al., 1999
). Thus unmasked forms of Siglecs may mediate the physiological tissue distribution of lymphohematopoietic cells through interactions with oligosaccharide ligands.
Barnes et al. (1999) demonstrated that the activity of Sn is partially masked on splenic macrophages, and they hypothesized that this masking on splenic macrophages results from the modification with sialic acid on the Sn molecule. The molecular mechanisms governing the unmasking of Sn on lymph node macrophages remain unknown, although the possibilities include the absence of endogenous ligands, poor accessibility of the ligands, or the presence of a large excess of Sn over endogenous ligands. These unmasked forms are available for Sn-dependent adhesive processes, recognizing ligands on neighboring cells or the substratum. The heavily sialylated mucin MUC1 on breast cancer cells was recently shown to be a potential counterreceptor for Sn (Nath et al., 1999
). Similarly, CD43, an extended molecule carrying multiple O-linked glycans, was shown to function as a counterreceptor for Sn on T lymphocytes. The interaction of CD43 with Sn may promote the initial physical contacts between T cells and macrophages and play a role in the antigen-presentation functions of these cells (Van den Berg et al., 2001
).
In conclusion, we have identified the macrophage populations expressing large quantities of unmasked Sn. These macrophages may interact with other hematopoietic cells, including T cells, which express CD43. Like the unmasked CD22, unmasked forms of Sn may contribute to both the physiological and pathological tissue distribution of macrophages and other cell types through the interactions with their oligosaccharide ligands localized on both interstitial cells and the substratum in lymph nodes. Future studies will seek to clarify the function of this interesting populations of macrophages.
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Materials and methods |
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Animals
Eight- to 14-week-old Male Wistar rats, maintained in specific pathogen-free or germ-free conditions, were purchased from the Shizuoka Agricultural Cooperative Association for Laboratory Animals (Shizuoka, Japan). Fischer strain germ-free rats were the generous gift of Dr. Yoshinori Umezaki (Yakuruto Institute, Kunitachi, Japan).
Cell preparation
Following sacrifice of rats by deep ether anesthesia, the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, axillar lymph nodes, inguinal lymph nodes, and Peyers patches were removed. A single cell suspension was prepared from these organs in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) supplemented with 2% fetal calf serum (FCS) and 0.05% sodium azide. To remove contaminating erythrocytes if present, the cell suspensions were subjected to osmotic lysis using a hypotonic ammonium chloride solution. In the preparation of splenic macrophages, spleens were treated with or without collagenase (0.5% solution of type III collagenase in Hanks balanced salt solution) in an attempt to recover macrophages that were deeply embedded in the stroma. In a comparison of the macrophage recoveries under these conditions, collagenase treatment increased the percent of isolated macrophages from 6% to 79% but did not affect the binding activity. Therefore the collagenase digestion was not employed for the standard protocol.
Either T cells, B cells, or macrophages were depleted from the total lymph node cells by magnetic cell sorting using a MACS system, according to the manufacturers protocol (Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany). Briefly, 57 x 107 lymph node cells suspended in 2% FCS-PBS containing 0.05% sodium azide were incubated for 30 min at 4°C with either a biotinylated anti-rat T cell receptor mAb (0.5 µg/106 cells; Pharmingen, San Diego, CA), a biotinylated anti-rat panB mAb (1 µg/106 cells; Seikagaku kogyo, Tokyo) or a biotinylated anti-rat CD11b/c mAb (0.5 µg/106 cells, Pharmingen). Following two subsequent washes in 2% FCS-PBS, the cells were resuspended in 90 µl (per 107 cells) staining buffer (PBS containing 2 mM ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) and 0.01% sodium azide) with 10 µl (per 107 cells) additional streptavidin-MicroBeads (Miltenyi Biotec). Following a 15-min incubation at 4°C, the cells were washed in staining buffer and suspended in 0.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA)-PBS containing 2 mM EDTA and 0.01% sodium azide. To remove T cells, B cells, or macrophages, the cells were applied to a MACS LS+ column. The pass-through fraction was then subjected to the GT1b probe binding assay.
Preparation of GT1b probe
The GT1b probe was prepared as previously described (Hashimoto et al., 1998). Briefly, GT1b oligosaccharides were coupled to streptavidin by reductive amination. The resulting oligosaccharyl streptavidin (GT1b-streptavidin) was mixed with biotinylated BSA, radioiodinated prior to mixing. The components formed a complex based on the streptavidinbiotin interaction, composed of 1 molecule of [125I] biotinylated-BSA and 11 molecules of GT1b-streptavidin. The complex carried approximately 140 GT1b oligosaccharides. After the purification by Sephacryl S-200 (Amersham Pharmacia Biotech AB, Uppsala, Sweden) column chromatography, the complex was utilized as a probe (GT1b probe) in the binding assays.
GT1b probe binding assay
The binding of GT1b probe to the cells was measured according to the standard assay method for cytokine receptor activity. Briefly, 23 x 106 cells, prepared from various lymphoid tissues, were mixed with [125I]GT1b probe (2.5 nM) in 30 µl of 1% FCS-PBS containing 0.05% sodium azide (incubation buffer). After a 90-min incubation at room temperature, the mixture was overlaid in a plastic tube (3 mm ID x 45 mm) onto 200 µl of an oil mixture (dibutyl phthalate/bis[2-ethylhexyl] phthalate) (3:2, v/v) and centrifuged for 2 min at 7000 rpm. The plastic tube was cut at the center of oil layer to isolate the lower part of the tube containing pelleted cells. The radioactivity associated with the pelleted cells was measured with a gamma counter. The specific binding activity was defined as the total binding, performed in the absence of GT1b ganglioside, minus the nonspecific binding in the presence of 330 µM of GT1b ganglioside.
Western blot analysis
Macrophage-enriched fractions were subjected to western blot analysis. We utilized the MACS positive selection to enrich the percentage of macrophages from either total splenocytes or lymph node cells. Briefly, either 4 x 108 splenocytes or 5 x 108 lymph node cells were incubated with phycoerythrine (PE)-conjugated -anti-rat CD11b/c mAb (0.5 µg/106 cells, Pharmingen), on ice for 30 min. After washing with 1% FCS-PBS containing 0.05% sodium azide, cells were stained at 4°C for 15 min with anti-PE mAb-MicroBeads (10 µl/107 cells, Miltenyi Biotec) in 90 µl (per 107 cells) staining buffer (PBS containing 2 mM EDTA and 0.01% sodium azide). The labeled cells were enriched using a MACS LS+ positive selection column. After washing, the cells retained in the column were eluted in staining buffer by removing the column from the magnetic field. Cells (about 5 x 106 cells) were then washed with PBS and lysed in 600 µl of buffer containing 1% octyl glucoside, 30 mM TrisHCl (pH 7.3), 5 mM EDTA, and 120 mM NaCl with a protease inhibitor cocktail (Roche, Mannheim, Germany). Lysates, isolated by centrifugation for 10 min at 10,000 x g, were stored at 20°C until use. An aliquot of the lysate was subjected to sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on a 520% gel, followed by electrophoretic transfer onto a nitrocellulose membrane (BioRad, Melviller, NY). The membrane was blocked by an incubation with 0.1% TweenPBS containing 0.3% milk for 1 h. The membrane was further incubated with a rabbit anti-Sn polyclonal antibody at 1 µg/ml in 0.05% TweenPBS containing 0.3% milk for 1.5 h and followed by incubation with a peroxidase-conjugated anti-rabbit IgG [F(ab')2] as a second antibody (1:1500; Amersham). Between each incubation, the membrane was washed several times with 0.1% TweenPBS. Sn was visualized by an enhanced chemiluminescence using SuperSignal (Pierce, Rockford, IL). The levels of Sn were estimated using CoolSaver (ATTO, Tokyo).
Flow cytometry
Positive selection could not be employed for flow cytometry, because the macrophages eluted from the positive selection column had already been labeled with a mouse antibody, which prevented further staining with another mouse antibody. Negative selection was therefore employed for flow cytometry. Briefly, 5 x 107 cells in 2 ml of 2% FCS-PBS containing 0.05% sodium azide were incubated for 30 min with both a biotinylated anti-rat panB mAb (100 µl, Seikagaku kogyo) and a biotinylated anti-rat CD3 mAb (30 µl, Seikagaku kogyo) at 4°C. The cells were then washed twice with 2% FCS-PBS and resuspended in 450 µl of staining buffer (PBS containing 2 mM EDTA and 0.01% sodium azide). Fifty microliters streptavidin-MicroBeads (Miltenyi Biotec) were then added for a 15-min incubation at 4°C. After washing in staining buffer, the cells were resuspended in 700 µl 0.5% BSA-PBS, containing 2 mM EDTA and 0.01% sodium azide, and applied to a MACS VX negative selection column for magnetic separation. T and B lymphocytes remained trapped in the column; the macrophages were recovered in the flow-through fractions. Macrophages were enriched to 12.6% in the mesenteric lymph node fraction and to 21.9% in the splenic fraction. A single-cell suspension of the macrophage-enriched fraction (5 x 105 cells) was incubated with either 15 µg/ml of anti-Sn mAb, ED3, or an irrelevant mouse IgG2a (Sigma) in 2% FCS-PBS containing 0.05% sodium azide. Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-anti-mouse IgG mAb (5 µg/ml, Serotec) was used as second antibody. PE-anti-rat CD11b/c mAb (5 µg/ml, Serotec) were also utilized to stain the cells. The cells were analyzed on a FACSCaliber flow cytometer using Cellquest software (Becton Dickinson, Franklin Lakes, NJ). Macrophages were tentatively defined as double positive cells for the FITC-anti-rat CD11b/c mAb (1 µg/106cells, Pharmingen) and the PE-anti-rat CD4 mAb (1 µg/106 cells, Pharmingen) (Jefferies et al., 1985). These double-positive cells carried almost all the sugar-binding activity on lymph node cells. Macrophages are not defined as CD11b/c single-positive cells because in the spleen this population contains significant numbers of granulocytes.
Sialidase treatment
Sialidase treatment of spleen and lymph node cells was performed by the method described by Barnes et al. (1999) with the following modifications. Briefly, 6 x 107 cells were incubated at 37°C for 30 min with 0.6 U Vibrio cholerae sialidase (EC 3.2.1.18, Calbiochem, Darmstadt, Germany) in 2% BSA-PBS. Cells were then washed with 2% FCS-PBS and subjected to the GT1b probe binding assay.
Adhesion assay of sheep erythrocytes
Frozen cryostat sections (7 µm) of the mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen were placed on glass slides and air-dried for 60 min. These sections were washed three times with PBS and then cold PBS containing 2 mM EDTA. Sheep erythrocytes suspended in EDTA-PBS were placed on the sections. After the incubation at 4°C for 30 min, the sections were washed three times with cold EDTA-PBS to remove unbound erythrocytes. The binding was immediately examined by light microscopy. Sialidase treatment was performed as follows: a cryostat section washed with PBS was incubated at 37°C for 60 min with 0.02 U V. cholerae sialidase (Calbiochem) in 200 µl of PBS. Antibody blocking studies were performed as follows: a lymph node section or a sialidase-treated spleen section was preincubated with 100 µg/ml of anti-Sn mAb (ED3) in PBS at room temperature for 30 min and then incubated with sheep erythrocytes at 4°C in the presence of 30 µg/ml ED3.
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Acknowledgments |
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Abbreviations |
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Footnotes |
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References |
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