ABSTRACT
Studies of CEA family members suggest a potential adhesion function in vivo (Oikawa et al., 1989; Benchimol et al., 1989; Rojas et al., 1990; Pignatelli et al., 1990; Oikawa et al., 1991; Oikawa et al., 1992; Kuijpers et al., 1992; Zhou et al., 1993a; Kuijpers et al., 1993; Zhou et al., 1993b; Teixeira et al., 1994; Watt et al., 1994; Kuroki et al., 1991). CGM6 exhibits heterotypic adhesion with NCA and CEA while BGP, NCA and CEA exhibit both homotypic and heterotypic adhesion. The presence of Lex (CD15), and likely sialyl-Lex (CD 15s), on these molecules may modulate adhesive function (Kuijpers et al., 1992; Stocks et al., 1990; Skubitz et al., 1992), and BGP and NCA may be able to present CD 15s to ELAM-1 (E-selectin) in a functional way (Kuijpers et al., 1992). Further experiments revealed that soluble CEA-related antigens inhibit neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cells; this inhibition was eliminated by treatment of the antigens with sialidase (Oikawa et al., 1991). Importantly, some bacteria have been found to bind to neutrophils via CEA family members (Leusch et al., 1991; Sauter et al., 1991).
