P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1

P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 is a glycoprotein found on white blood cells and endothelial cells that binds to P-selectin (P stands for platelet). It is one of a family of selectins that includes E-selectin (endothelial) and L-selectin (leukocyte), and selectins are part of the broader family of cell adhesion molecules. PSGL-1 can bind to all three members of the family but binds best (with the highest affinity) to P-selectin.

Posttranslational modification
PSGL-1 protein requires two distinct posttranslational modifications to gain its selectin binding activity:
 * sulfation of tyrosines
 * the addition of the sialyl Lewis x tetrasaccharide (sLex) to its O-linked glycans

Function
PSGL-1 is expressed on all white blood cells and plays an important role in the recruitment of white blood cells into inflamed tissue.

White blood cells normally do not interact with the endothelium of blood vessels. However, inflammation causes the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAM) such as P-selectin on the surface of the blood vessel wall. White blood cells present in flowing blood can interact with CAM. The first step in this interaction process is carried out by PSGL-1 interacting with P-selectin and/or E-selectin on endothelial cells and adherent platelets. This interaction results in "rolling" of the white blood cell on the endothelial cell surface followed by stable adhesion and transmigration of the white blood cell into the inflamed tissue.