Characterization of a novel C-type lectin-like gene, LSECtin: demonstration of carbohydrate binding and expression in sinusoidal endothelial cells of liver and lymph node

J Biol Chem. 2004 Apr 30;279(18):18748-58. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M311227200. Epub 2004 Jan 7.

Abstract

A new C-type lectin-like gene encodes 293 amino acids and maps to chromosome 19p13.3 adjacent to the previously described C-type lectin genes, CD23, dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN), and DC-SIGN-related protein (DC-SIGNR). The four genes form a tight cluster in an insert size of 105 kb and have analogous genomic structures. The new C-type lectin-like molecule, designated liver and lymph node sinusoidal endothelial cell C-type lectin (LSECtin), is a type II integral membrane protein of approximately 40 kDa in size with a single C-type lectin-like domain at the COOH terminus, closest in homology to DC-SIGNR, DC-SIGN, and CD23. LSECtin mRNA was only expressed in liver and lymph node among 15 human tissues tested, intriguingly neither expressed on hematopoietic cell lines nor on monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs). Moreover, LSECtin is expressed predominantly by sinusoidal endothelial cells of human liver and lymph node and co-expressed with DC-SIGNR. LSECtin binds to mannose, GlcNAc, and fucose in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner but not to galactose. Our results indicate that LSECtin is a novel member of a family of proteins comprising CD23, DC-SIGN, and DC-SIGNR and might function in vivo as a lectin receptor.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • Binding Sites
  • Carbohydrate Metabolism*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chromosome Mapping
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19
  • Cloning, Molecular
  • Dendritic Cells / cytology
  • Endothelial Cells / chemistry*
  • Humans
  • Lectins, C-Type / analysis
  • Lectins, C-Type / genetics*
  • Lectins, C-Type / metabolism
  • Liver / chemistry
  • Liver / cytology
  • Lymph Nodes / chemistry
  • Lymph Nodes / cytology
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / genetics
  • Receptors, IgE / genetics
  • Tissue Distribution

Substances

  • CLEC4M protein, human
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • DC-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin
  • Lectins, C-Type
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Receptors, IgE