Differential expression of E- and P-selectin in the microvasculature of sickle cell transgenic mice

There is a growing body of evidence that endothelial cells assume an inflammatory phenotype in sickle cell disease. The authors determined whether (1) the expression of E- and P-selectin differs between sickle cell transgenic (beta(S)) mice and their wild-type counterparts, and (2) blood platelets and/or neutrophils contribute to the altered selectin expression.

Expression of E- and P-selectin was measured in different regional vascular beds of wild-type and beta(S) mice (with or without thrombocytopenia or neutropenia) using the dual radiolabeled monoclonal antibody technique.

Constitutive expression of P-selectin was significantly increased in the heart, lungs, small bowel, large bowel, and penis of beta(S) versus WT mice. While thrombocytopenia reduced P-selectin expression in the small bowel and penis of beta(S) mice, neutropenia was associated with a reduction in P-selectin expression only in the penis. E-selectin expression was not significantly elevated in any vascular bed except the penis of beta(S) mice.

Sickle cell disease promotes an increased P-selectin expression in several vascular beds. An accumulation of platelets may explain the increased P-selectin expression observed in some vascular beds.