A SV-40 immortalized murine endothelial cell line from peripheral lymph node high endothelium expresses a new α-L-fucose binding protein

Summry— Endothelial cells from mouse peripheral lymph nodes were immortalized by cationic liposome-mediate transfection using a plasmid construct containing both the gene coding for the large T antigen of simian virus 40 and a geneticin resistance gene suitable for selection. A cell line (HECal10) was isolated on the basis of its capacity to specifically bind fucoside carrying glycoconjugates; these cells present the main characteristics of endothelial cells: production of angiotensin converting enzyme and of factor VII-related antigen. Upon stimulation, they express E-selectin which binds oligosaccharides containing the Lewis^x determinant (Fucα3Galβ4 GlcNacβ3Galβ) and the MECA 79 addressin which is characteristics for the peripheral lymph node high endothelium and is a L-selectin. HECa10 cells, as well as peripheral lymph node high endothelial cells in primary culture, express a second fucoside binding protein which differs from E-selectin. Indeed, this new fucoside-binding protein is constitutively expressed on unstimulated cells while E-selectin is not. Furthermore, HECa10 cells mediate selective lymphoid cells adhesion in a selectin/addressin-dependent mechanism, mainly inhibited by MECA 79 antibody and, in a fucose-binding lectin-dependent manner, mainly inhibited by the specifc neoglycoprotein.