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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2015 Mar 27.
Published in final edited form as: Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013 Feb;13(1):106–111. doi: 10.1097/ACI.0b013e32835b594a

The role of lung epithelial ligands for Siglec-8 and Siglec-F in eosinophilic inflammation

Takumi Kiwamoto a, Toshihiko Katoh b, Michael Tiemeyer b, Bruce S Bochner a
PMCID: PMC4376104  NIHMSID: NIHMS673885  PMID: 23160308

Abstract

Purpose of review

Siglec-8 and Siglec-F are single pass transmembrane inhibitory receptors found on the surface of human and mouse eosinophils, respectively, but very little is known about their physiologic glycan ligands. This article reviews the latest knowledge on this topic and outlines the strategies being used to further define the production and glycobiochemical nature of these molecules in the lung.

Recent findings

Both Siglec-8 and Siglec-F recognize the same glycan structure, namely 6′-sulfated sialyl Lewis X, as determined using glycan array technologies. Studies have identified α2,3-linked sialylated glycoprotein structures localized to mouse airway epithelium in tissue sections, where their constitutive expression requires the specific sialyltransferase St3gal3. Expression of these ligands in lung is enhanced during allergic inflammation and by cytokines such as IL-13, and is maintained in primary air–liquid interface cultures of mouse lung epithelium. Further characterization suggests that they are high molecular weight sialylated proteins, putatively mucins. By combining analytic glycomics, glycoproteomic mapping, and further in-vitro eosinophil experimentation including the ability of candidate structures to enhance eosinophil apoptosis, a finely detailed appreciation of the structural requirements for productive Siglec-8 and Siglec-F engagement should soon emerge.

Summary

An enhanced understanding of Siglec-F, Siglec-8, and their ligands should improve our understanding of endogenous lung pathways limiting the survival of eosinophils within the airway in diseases such as asthma. Knowledge of this biology may also result in novel opportunities for drug development involving glycans and glycomimetics that selectively bind to Siglec-8 and induce eosinophil death.

Keywords: 6′-sulfated sialyl Lewis X, apoptosis, glycan ligands, Siglec-8, Siglec-F

INTRODUCTION

The eosinophil was discovered almost 140 years ago [1], and although it is considered to adversely contribute to many disorders, the exact roles and contributions of this cell in diseases including asthma are still being determined [2,3■■]. Siglec-F and Siglec-8 are functional paralog inhibitory receptors on mouse and human eosinophils, respectively, that were discovered more than 10 years ago [4–6]. Because engagement of Siglec-F or Siglec-8 induces eosinophil apoptosis [5–7], pharmacologic exploitation of the Siglec-8 pathway may prove to be a novel therapy in eosinophilic diseases such as bronchial asthma.

Although both Siglecs are known to preferentially recognize the sialoside ligand 6′-sulfo sialyl Lewis X (6′-su-sLex) [4], the exact composition of their natural tissue ligands are still unknown. Here, we will review the recent findings regarding the natural tissue ligands for Siglec-F and Siglec-8, ongoing glycobiological and biochemical approaches for their characterization, and future clinical use of such ligands or ligand mimetics as therapy.

NATURAL TISSUE LIGANDS FOR SIGLEC-F AND SIGLEC-8 IN THE AIRWAY

As both Siglec-F and Siglec-8 are functional paralog inhibitory receptors on eosinophils, their natural tissue ligands are expected to function as key regulators of eosinophilic airway inflammation by engagement of infiltrating inflammatory eosinophils, resulting in their apoptosis and removal.

To characterize these unknown ligands, glycan array and immunohistochemical approaches using Siglec-F and Siglec-8 Ig fusion proteins (a fusion protein containing N-terminal domains of the Siglec with the human IgG1 Fc fragment) were the first to identify potential tissue distribution of these ligands [5,8■■,9–11]. Glycan array studies identified 6′-u-sLex (Fig. 1) as a unique, specific shared ligand for both Siglec-8 and Siglec-F, but it was immunohistochemical studies with these Ig fusion proteins that revealed the presence of ligands in the airway. Knowing that Siglec-F and Siglec-8 had the preference to recognize α2,3-linked sialic acid [10], the natural tissue ligands were expected to contain α2,3-linked sialic acid, and Siglec binding was expected to be eliminated by sialidase treatment of the tissue that would remove all sialic acid residues (Table 1). Indeed, studies found selective Siglec-F-Fc staining of mouse lung epithelium and goblet cells using Siglec-F-Fc as an immunohistochemical tool and confirmed that the staining was eliminated by mutating the arginine in the Siglec-F-Fc glycan-binding domain, or by pretreating the lung tissue with Maackia amurensis lectin (recognizing α2,3-linked sialic acid), sialidase, periodate, or proteinase K [5,8■■,12], suggesting that lung airway cells express α2,3-linked sialic acid-containing glycoprotein ligands for Siglec-F. Similar sialidase-sensitive, Siglec-F-binding molecules were detected in preliminary studies [13■–15■] using material derived from mouse primary tracheal epithelial cells (mTECs) and culture supernatants. Furthermore, preincubation of mouse lung tissue sections or mTEC with a novel anti-6′-su-sLex IgY antibody blocked Siglec-F-Fc binding [13■,15■]. As both Siglec-F and Siglec-8 bind to 6′-su-sLex [4], these preliminary study results also support the existence of natural Siglec-F ligands containing 6′-su-sLex or a related glycan in airway epithelial cells.

FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 1

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Structures of 6′-su-sLex and 6-su-sLex displayed with their various determinants using the suggested diagrammatic nomenclature (see legend) as outlined in the Essentials of Glycobiology textbook, second edition (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1908/). N-acetylneuraminic acid ¼ sialic acid; R ¼ the substituent to which the glycan is attached, for example, protein or lipid; Greek symbols with numbers represent the chemical linkages between each determinant.

Table 1.

Summary of currently available information on natural tissue ligands for Siglec-8 and Siglec-F

Question Human Siglec-8 ligand Mouse Siglec-F ligand
Where in the airway is it expressed? Submucosal glands Airway epithelial cells and
 some parenchymal cells
Is the ligand sialidase sensitive? Yes Yes
Does the ligand contain α2,3-linked sialic acid? Unknown Yes
Is it blocked by IgY antibody to 6′-su-sLe×? No Yes
Is ligand expression enhanced by any stimulus? Unknown Allergen sensitization and challenge,
 IL-4 and IL-13 stimulation
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Less is known about the mechanisms regulating Siglec-F ligand expression. The staining intensity for lung epithelial Siglec-F-Fc-binding material was increased following allergic lung inflammation in mice and sheep [5,9,12]. Interestingly, some peri-bronchial cells, glands, and mononuclear leucocytes seem to express Siglec-F-Fc-binding molecules under the conditions of allergic airway inflammation, but it is not known whether these ligands differ from those detected on the epithelium, nor is it clear exactly which nonepithelial cells express this ligand [5,12]. Increases in Siglec-F-Fc binding to airway epithelium were also observed after IL-4 or IL-13 stimulation, but not other cytokines such as TNF-α, in vivo and in vitro [9,14■,15■]. One knockout mouse study has helped to further delineate the enzymes responsible for Siglec-F ligand synthesis. In mouse lungs, there are several sialyltransferases which can add terminal α2,3-linked sialic acid to glycans. Lungs from one particular strain of sialyltransferase-deficient mice, St3gal3 null mice, but not St3gal2 null mice, lost virtually all Siglec-F-Fc staining [8■■], implicating the St3gal3 sialyltransferase in the generation of Siglec-F ligands. A preliminary in-vivo study [16■■] from our laboratory using St3gal3 heterozygous knockout mice finds more severe allergic eosinophilic lung inflammation than that of wildtype mice after ovalbumin sensitization and challenge. These results suggest that this Siglec-F-Fc-binding molecule is an α2,3-linked sialic acid-containing glycoprotein that increases under allergic inflammatory conditions and, when absent or reduced, results in enhanced eosinophilic inflammation.

Even less is known about natural tissue ligands for Siglec-8 in human airway. Unlike Siglec-F-Fc, Siglec-8-Fc does not appear to bind well to human lung epithelium in tissue sections. Instead, it prefers to bind airway glands and binding was poorly blocked by anti-6′-su-sLex IgY [13■]. Using Western blotting, Siglec-8-Fc recognized an approximately 500 kDa sialidase-sensitive band from supernatants of human bronchial explants [13■]. Although sialidase-sensitive high molecular weight (≈460–500 kDa) material was also recognized by Siglec-F-Fc from mTEC lysates, a lower molecular weight band (≈225 kDa) was detected only in the mTEC lysate using Siglec-F-Fc [13■]. On the basis of these early results from ongoing studies, lung ligands for Siglec-F and Siglec-8 may be different in their location of expression and perhaps in their glycan composition as well, but appear to find their way into the airway lumen where they may be capable of binding to eosinophils and induce their apoptosis (Fig. 2).

FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2

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Hypothetical paradigm for control of eosinophilic lung inflammation via endogenous glycans. Eosinophils (expressing Siglec-8) are preferentially recruited into the airways during many forms of asthma and other eosinophilic lung diseases (panel a). Once in the airways, selective binding of a high molecular weight glycan ligand, putatively a mucin expressing 6′-su-sLex, results in their apoptosis (panel b). Artwork provided by Jacqueline Schaffer.

Because mouse lungs lack submucosal glands except in the trachea [17], one possible reason to explain the discordance between mouse and human Siglec-F and Siglec-8 high molecular weight ligands could be that they are similar secreted glycoproteins such as mucins. Interestingly, previous study [18] reported that MUC2 has ligand activity for Siglec-3. It is known that there are at least 12 different MUC mRNA species detected in samples from the human lower airway [19■]. For example, goblet cells typically express MUC5AC mRNA and glycoprotein, while glandular mucosal cells express MUC5B, MUC8, and MUC19 mRNA and glycoprotein [20]. As MUC5B mRNA in human fetal tissue is typically expressed only in mucosal cells of the submucosal gland and not in goblet cells just the same as for Siglec-8 ligand expression [13■,21], perhaps MUC5B might contribute some role in the Siglec-8 and Siglec-F pathways as a natural tissue ligand. To detect these unknown ligand molecules, work is underway to purify and fully biochemically characterize glycoprotein ligands for Siglec-F and Siglec-8 (http://lidpeg.jhmi.edu/).

GLYCOMIC AND GLYCOBIOLGICAL APPROACHES FOR IDENTIFYING SIGLEC-F AND SIGLEC-8 LIGANDS

The glycan array developed by the Consortium for Functional Glycomics (CFG) (http://www.functio nalglycomics.org) has proven to be an extremely valuable resource for characterizing the binding specificities of many carbohydrate-binding proteins (CBPs) expressed by inflammatory cells [11,22]. More broadly, array screening has become a centerpiece of contemporary glycobiology research, allowing rapid and sensitive screening for new binding specificities. This tool has also opened up the glycobiology field to nonglycobiologists who may not have otherwise pursued glycan-based functions in their experimental systems. As the CFG glycan array has grown from a presentation of 172 glycans to now over 600 structures, new details regarding fine structural specificities have been revealed for many CBPs. As described previously, Bochner et al. [11] took advantage of this resource to identify candidate ligands for Siglec-8 using the 172 glycan version. Only one glycan on this array was recognized, NeuAcα2–3(6-O-Su)Galβ1–4(Fucα1–3)GlcNAcβ1, called 6′-su-sLex (Fig. 1). The selectivity of the binding was very high, such that, for example, loss of sulfate ester (sLex) or alteration in the position of the sulfate ester to the 6-position of GlcNAc (6-su-sLex) (Fig. 1) eliminated Siglec-8-Fc binding. These findings were validated by surface plasmon resonance (SPR), which gave an apparent Kd for binding of dimeric Siglec-8-Fc to 6′-su-sLex of 2–2.5 μM. Subsequently, glycan array screening for the candidate ligands for Siglec-F-Fc demonstrated that the mouse paralog also recognizes 6′-su-sLex [4]. Subsequently, it was shown that the α1–3 fucose of 6′-su-sLex is dispensable for Siglec-F and Siglec-8 binding, which was recently confirmed by using the latest 610 glycan version of the CFG glycan (Kiwamoto et al., unpublished observation).

Although the diversity of glycans on the current CFG array is remarkably broad and highly representative of major glycan epitopes, new structures continue to be identified in biological materials and subtle postsynthetic modifications of already known structures can induce tremendous changes in glycan binding. Therefore, while glycan array technology provides powerful leads, subsequent searches for endogenous glycan ligands and for the protein (or lipid) carriers that present these glycans must be undertaken using biological tissues. The arsenal of tools available for purification and characterization of endogenous glycans and glycoconjugates has seen rapid growth in sensitivity and utility over the last 10 years. These advances are most notable in the application of various mass spectrometric approaches for characterizing glycan structures and for mapping specific glycan structures to precise glycosylation sites on glycoprotein backbones.

On the basis of the neuraminidase-sensitive detection of high molecular weight proteins by Western blot using Siglec-F-Fc described above, we have undertaken the glycomic and glycoproteomic analysis of these endogenous candidate ligands. We immunoprecipitated an approximately 500-kDa protein from mTEC lysates using Siglec-F-Fc. The precipitated proteins were resolved by SDS-PAGE and subjected to proteomic analysis by LC-MS/MS following in-gel trypsin digestion. We identified a mucin protein from the mTEC lysate and from immunoprecipitations from mTEC media, lung tissue lysate, and mouse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, but not from neuraminidase-treated control samples. Cross-immunoprecipitations with antimucin antibodies verified the identity of the endogenous candidate ligand. Using recently developed and optimized methods for directly releasing N-linked and O-linked glycans from glycoproteins resolved in SDS-PAGE gels, it will be possible to characterize the diversity of glycan structures presented by the identified mucin. Detecting 6′-su-sLex on the glycoproteins immunoprecipitated by Siglec-F-Fc will strongly support a function for secreted mucins as endogenous Siglec-F ligands. However, the mucin domains of mucin proteins are characterized by dense O-linked glycosylation [23]. Thus, these molecules have the capacity to present lower affinity glycans in high density, complicating the definition of a best ligand. Fortunately, specific chemical and enzymatic approaches can be brought to bear in order to assess the relative contribution of various glycan structural elements to Siglec-F interactions. Ultimately, it will be essential to return to the biology of Siglec-8 on eosinophils (and mast cells) in order to distinguish the candidate ligands of greatest relevance for the pathology of diseases such as asthma. Once purified from relevant biological sources, the apoptotic potency associated with specific modifications (sulfation, glycan branching, sialylation, fucosylation, etc.) on candidate glycoconjugate ligands can be assessed. By combining analytic glycomics, glycoproteomic mapping, and eosinophil challenge, a finely detailed appreciation of the structural requirements for productive Siglec engagement should emerge.

POSSIBLE CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS REGARDING SIGLEC-8 AND ITS LIGANDS

There is only one published study examining the genetic association between sequence variants in Siglec-8 and the diagnosis of asthma. A significant association with asthma was observed for various single-nucleotide polymorphisms among African American, Japanese, and Brazilian populations [24]. As genetic linkage studies of asthma and related phenotypes have previously implicated chromosome 19q13.33–q13.41, where many Siglec genes including Siglec-8 are located [25,26], Siglec-8 might play a role in the pathogenesis of asthma.

Eosinophils obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage from asthmatic patients have similar levels of surface Siglec-8 when compared to their blood counterparts (unpublished observations), so it appears that Siglec-8 is not shed during eosinophil extravasation into the lung. However, these primed cells are particularly susceptible to undergoing apoptosis with Siglec-8 engagement, as is also seen following cytokine priming in vitro [6,27]. This suggests that activated eosinophils at the sites of inflammation may be particularly susceptible to Siglec-8-directed therapies. A separate study [28■] found increased levels of a soluble form of Siglec-8 in a small number of human serum samples from donors with hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) or lymphocytic HES (LHES) patients, but not in other conditions associated with eosinophilia or in normal serum, so perhaps soluble Siglec-8 levels might prove useful as a biomarker in certain eosinophilic diseases.

Several animal studies using anti-Siglec-F antibody demonstrated benefits. For example, administration of anti-Siglec-F reduced the number of eosinophils in blood and bronchoalveolar lavage after ovalbumin sensitization and challenge [29]. This treatment reduced markers of airway remodeling, in particular subepithelial fibrosis [29]. Anti-Siglec-F reduced mouse intestinal and esophageal eosinophilic inflammation and disease activity [30,31■■]. In mouse models of HES and eosinophilic leukemia, anti-Siglec-F antibody administration also showed efficacy [7]. Although the function of alveolar macrophage Siglec-F is still unknown [32], this may not be relevant to human lung inflammation because human lung macrophages do not express Siglec-8.

CONCLUSION

Much biological research focuses on how responses are initiated, often with less emphasis on how responses are terminated. Yet, there are numerous examples of cellular processes that are specifically designed to dampen or eliminate reactions. Indeed, there are many such ‘inhibitory receptors’ on the surface of cells, including Siglecs, and they presumably function in this capacity. The work reviewed here sought to answer two important key questions: ‘What are the glycan ligands for Siglec-F and Siglec-8?’ and ‘Where do these ligands exist, and in what form, in vivo?’ Recent and ongoing broadly collaborative work combining cell biology, biochemistry, animal modeling, glycoproteomics, and glycobiological approaches, supported by the National Institutes of Health (http://pegnac.ucsd.edu and http:// www.functionalglycomics.org), has resulted in great progress toward answering these and other questions related to the roles played by glycans and their lectin counter receptors in a wide range of biological responses. Data generated to date indicate a negative regulatory role via Siglec-F during eosinophilic airway inflammation and suggest that natural sialoside ligands from epithelial cells and in the airways play a key role in downregulating eosinophilic airway inflammation (Fig. 2). Whether airway epithelial dysfunction and structural changes that are part of ‘airway remodeling’ might induce dysfunction of the Siglec-F and Siglec-8 ligand pathways remains to be determined. Further studies across many areas of expertise will be needed to fully elucidate the role of natural tissue ligands for Siglec-F and Siglec-8 in disease control and pathophysiology.

KEY POINTS.

  • Siglec-8 in humans and Siglec-F in mice, both preferentially expressed on eosinophils, recognize the identical sialoside, namely 6′-sulfo-sialyl Lewis X, but not closely related structures such as 6-sulfo-sialyl Lewis X or sialyl Lewis X.

  • Using a Siglec-F-Fc fusion protein as a probe in histology and Western blotting, it has been shown that lung epithelium is a major source of endogenous ligands for Siglec-F.

  • Expression and secretion of these endogenous glycoprotein lung ligands are enhanced under Th2-type inflammatory conditions.

  • Preliminary characterization suggests that these ligands are mucins.

  • Sialoside ligands for eosinophil Siglecs may exist in the airway at least in part to serve as a mechanism for inducing apoptosis in order to help eliminate eosinophils that have accumulated in the airway during Th2-type inflammation.

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the grants AI72265 (to B.S.B.) and HL107151 (to B.S.B. and M.T.) from the National Institutes of Health. Dr Bochner also received support as a Cosner Scholar in Translational Research from Johns Hopkins University. The authors thank Jacqueline Schaffer for her outstanding artwork.

Footnotes

Conflicts of interest

Dr Bochner is a co-inventor on existing and pending Siglec-8-related patents. Dr Bochner may be entitled to a share of royalties received by Johns Hopkins University on the potential sales of such products. Dr Bochner is also a cofounder of, and owns stock in, Allakos, Inc., which makes him subject to certain restrictions under University policy. The terms of this arrangement are being managed by the Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies. Dr Bochner has current or recent consulting or scientific advisory board arrangements with Sanofi-Aventis, Merck, TEVA, and Allakos, and holds stock options in Glycomimetics, Inc. The other authors have no conflicts of interest.

REFERENCES AND RECOMMENDED READING

Papers of particular interest, published within the annual period of review, have been highlighted as:

■ of special interest

■■ of outstanding interest

Additional references related to this topic can also be found in the Current World Literature section in this issue (pp. 123–124).

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