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CD15 expression in human myeloid cell differentiation is regulated by sialidase activity

Nature Chemical Biology volume 4, pages 751–757 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

The glycan determinant CD15 (also known as Lewis x, or Lex) is a distinguishing marker for human myeloid cells and mediates neutrophil adhesion to dendritic cells. Despite broad interest in this structure, the mechanisms underlying CD15 expression remain relatively uncharacterized. Accordingly, we investigated the molecular basis of increasing CD15 expression associated with human myeloid cell differentiation. Flow cytometric analysis of differentiating cells together with biochemical studies using inhibitors of glycan synthesis and of sialidases showed that increased CD15 expression is not due to de novo biosynthesis of CD15, but results predominantly from induction of α(2-3)-sialidase activity, which yields CD15 from cell-surface sialyl-CD15 (also known as sialyl-Lewis x, sLex or CD15s). This differentiation-associated conversion of surface CD15s to CD15 occurs mainly on glycoproteins. Until now, modulation of post-translational glycan modifications has been attributed solely to dynamic variations in glycosyltransferase expression. Our results unveil a new paradigm by demonstrating a critical role for post-Golgi membrane glycosidase activity in the 'biosynthesis' of a key glycan determinant.

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Figure 1: Hypotheses for increased CD15 expression during myeloid differentiation.
Figure 2: CD44 ligation-induced changes in expression of CD15s and CD15.
Figure 3: CD44 ligation increases sialidase activity on myeloid cells.
Figure 4: CD44 ligation increases CD15 and decreases CD15s expression on glycoproteins of myeloid cells.
Figure 5: G-CSF treatment increases sialidase activity on myeloid cells.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to D. Floyd, S. Hamdan, C. Silvescu and C. Knoblauch for technical support, to J. Merzaban, N. Stamatos, C. Dimitroff and M. Burdick for helpful discussions of the manuscript, and to I. Galinsky, R. Stone, D. DeAngelo, M. Wadleigh and A. Sirulnik for assistance in procuring leukemia samples. This work was supported by US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute grant RO1 HL60528 (R.S.), US National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases grant R21 DK075012 (R.S.) and the Team Jobie Leukemia Research fund (R.S.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Samah Zeineb Gadhoum & Robert Sackstein

  2. Harvard Skin Disease Research Center, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Samah Zeineb Gadhoum & Robert Sackstein

  3. Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 75 Francis Street, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Robert Sackstein

  4. Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA

    Robert Sackstein

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Contributions

S.Z.G. designed the research, performed the experiments, analyzed the data and wrote the paper. R.S. conceived the study, designed the research, analyzed the data, wrote the paper, provided funding for the research and supervised all experimentation.

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Correspondence to Robert Sackstein.

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Gadhoum, S., Sackstein, R. CD15 expression in human myeloid cell differentiation is regulated by sialidase activity. Nat Chem Biol 4, 751–757 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchembio.116

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