Sulfatide, a Specific Sugar Ligand for L-Selectin, Blocks CCl₄-induced Liver Inflammation in Rats

Abstract

The effects of sulfatide, which is a specific sugar ligand for L-selectin (LECAM-1), on CCl₄-induced liver inflammation was studied in rats. Intramuscular pretreatment with sulfatide suppressed the levels of serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) that were increased by CCl₄ injection, but galactosylceramide, a desulfated form of sulfatide, did not. A light-microscopic analysis found that the extent and the severity of lesions of the liver cells induced by CCl₄ injection were significantly less in the rats treated with sulfatide. These results show that sulfatide suppresses the CCl₄-induced liver inflammation by inhibiting the attachment of L-selectin expressing lymphocytes to their native sugar legends.