Trafficking of Th1 cells to lung - A role for selectins and a P-selectin glycoprotein-1-independent ligand

Trafficking of lymphocytes to lung is a critical component of pulmonary immune defense and surveillance. Selectins, expressed on vascular endothelium, regulate T lymphocyte emigration into tissues, such as skin, but the role of the selectins in trafficking of T cells to lung has not been well characterized. Here, we used a model of lung inflammation induced by adoptive transfer of alloreactive Th1 cells to analyze the role of P- and E-selectin in Th1 cell trafficking to lung in vivo. We found that both P- and E-selectin play an important role in Th1 lymphocyte migration to lung. We confirmed that the Th1 cells express P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1, which was functional in binding to P- and E-selectin in vitro. However, our studies reveal that a ligand distinct from P-selectin glycoprotein-1 also binds these selectins in vitro and appears to play a physiologic role in in vivo emigration of Th1 lymphocytes into the lung.