L-selectin in patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID): a comparative study with normal individuals

L-selectin is one of the key members of the selectin family of adhesion molecules and initiates leucocyte attachment to specialized high endothelial venules. The shed form, which retains functional activity, can be detected in biological fluids and is increased in diseases of many kinds. In the present study, we investigated L-selectin expression on leucocytes and measured the soluble form in the plasma of healthy individuals and patients with CVID. A significant loss of L-selectin expression is found on CVID B cells, which is marked by the presence of a substantial population of L-selectin-negative B cells in the peripheral blood of some CVID patients. On CD4⁺ T cells, the loss in L-selectin expression affects mostly the CD45RO⁺ population. Peripheral blood leucocytes other than lymphocytes express L-selectin molecule normally. Moreover, soluble L-selectin was detected in significantly increased levels in CVID plasma compared with healthy controls. Our data suggest that the loss of L-selectin expressed by lymphocytes may be due to increased or aberrant lymphocyte activation in CVID patients who remain immunodeficient, and down-regulation of L-selectin from these lymphocytes may significantly contribute to the elevated levels of soluble L-selectin in the plasma, which may in turn affect further lymphocyte trafficking.