Vet. Res. 34 (2003) 57-70
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2002053

Analysis of selective mobilization of L-selectin and Mac-1 reservoirs in bovine neutrophils and eosinophils

Araceli Diez-Fraile^a, Evelyne Meyer^a, Max J. Paape^b and Christian Burvenich<sup>a

a</sup>  Department of Physiology, Biochemistry and Biometrics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, B-9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
^b  Immunology and Disease Resistance Laboratory, USDA-ARS, Beltsville, Md. 20705, USA

(Received 29 April 2002; accepted 8 July 2002)

Abstract
Following activation of granulocytes, L-selectin (CD62L) is generally shed from the cellular surface, whereas Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) expression is well known to increase. However, a number of studies in bovines and humans show that the expression of L-selectin may increase as well. This urged us to examine the possible existence of both L-selectin and Mac-1 reservoirs in bovine neutrophil and eosinophil populations through the use of flow cytometry in combination with an optimized method for cell membrane permeabilization. Augmented L-selectin and Mac-1 expression was detected in both granulocyte populations upon saponin treatment. Confocal microscopic studies indicated that both molecules exhibit a different pattern of subcellular localization. Incubation with sialidase revealed the existence of hidden L-selectin epitopes at the cell surface, while no additional Mac-1 epitopes were exposed. Platelet-activating factor stimulation decreased surface and total expression of L-selectin to the same extent in both populations, but solely affected Mac-1 surface expression on eosinophils. Moreover, cytoskeletal actin filaments and microtubules were found to be involved in the regulation of Mac-1 surface expression on bovine neutrophils and eosinophils. In marked contrast, expression of L-selectin was minimally affected by cytoskeleton perturbing agents. The present study indicates that L-selectin and Mac-1 adhesion molecules reside in distinctly located reservoirs in bovine granulocytes and can be selectively mobilized upon in vitro stimulation.

Key words: bovine granulocyte / adhesion molecule reservoir / platelet-activating factor / cytoskeleton / sialidase

Correspondence and reprints: Christian Burvenich tel. (32) 9 2647321; fax (32) 9 2647499;
    e-mail: christian.burvenich@rug.ac.be

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2003