[Structures, synthesis and functions of sialyl Le(a)/sialyl Le(x) antigens]

Sialyl Lewis a/sialyl Lewis x antigens, which panels of monoclonal antibodies can recognize, are synthesized by a series of glycosyltransferases. Especially, alpha (1,3)/(1,4) fucosyltransferases and/or alpha(2,3)sialyltransferases regulate expression patterns temporally and spatially, such as in epithelium of digestive systems or in leukocytes. The carbohydrate ligands of P-selectin and E-selectin have been identified as sialyl Lewis x expressed on granulocytes, monocytes, and natural killer cells. Expression of sialyl Lewis x on these cells is mainly determined by Fuc-TVII, but as for the counterparts of sialyl-transferases, there remains much uncertainty. P-selectin-dependent adhesion of tumor cells and E-selectin-dependent adhesion of tumor cells to endothelial cells play some role for tumor cell aggregation leading to microembolism and hematogenous metastasis of cancers. We have found expression of some fucosyltransferases (Fuc-TIII, VI, VII) and a sialyltransferase (ST3O) are increased in colon cancer tissues coincidentally with sialyl Lewis a antigens, with which E-selectin can interact. As already started in many laboratories, genetic manipulation of glycosylation pathways in gene-targeted animals has an outstanding potential to yield clues to oligosaccharide function.