Abstract
Members of the selectin family of adhesion molecules are predominantly responsible for mediating the binding of leukocytes to activated endothelium. This family of structurally related proteins contains three members: E-selectin, which is expressed by activated vascular endothelium; L-selectin, which is expressed by leukocytes, and P-selectin, which is expressed by activated endothelium and activated platelets. These adhesion molecules bind to multiple carbohydrate ligands which are presented to them by glycoproteins and/or glycolipids. Here, the currently proposed ligands of the selectins are reviewed.
