Expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and TNF-alpha on the endothelium of femoral and iliac arteries in thromboangiitis obliterans

Immunohistochemical light and electron microscopical analysis of surgical biopsies obtained from femoral and iliac arteries of patients with thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) were performed to investigate the presence of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and expression of the endothelial cell adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin. Expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin was increased on endothelium and some inflammatory cells in the thickened intima in all TAO patients. Ultrastructural immunohistochemistry revealed contacts between mononuclear blood cells and ICAM-1-, and E-selectin-positive endothelial cells. These endothelial cells showed morphological signs of activation. The present data indicate that endothelial cells are activated in TAO and that vascular lesions are associated with TNF-alpha secretion by tissue-infiltrating inflammatory cells, ICAM-1-, VCAM-1- and E-selectin expression on endothelial cells and leukocyte adhesion via their ligands. The preferential expression of inducible adhesion molecules in microvessels and mononuclear inflammatory cells suggests that angiogenesis contributes to the persistence of the inflammatory process in TAO.     

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) decreases ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 cell expression on bronchial epithelial cells

Activation of leucocytes during airway inflammatory reaction involves adhesion to bronchial epithelial cells (BEC), a process implicating specific interactions between glycoproteins with epithelial cell surface proteins, mainly intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). In this study, the effect of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), a growth factor involved in pulmonary epithelium repair, was evaluated on adhesion molecule expression with BEAS-2B cells and BEC and granulocyte adherence to BEAS-2B. The modulation by KGF of membrane and mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was studied on confluent cells stimulated or not with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) (200 UI/ml) or TNF and interleukin (IL)-4 (50 UI/ml and 10 ng/ml). Levels of soluble-(s)ICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were measured by ELISA. Although moderately, KGF significantly decreased membrane ICAM-1 expression in unstimulated BEAS-2B cells (24% inhibition at 100 ng/ml) or in TNF- or TNF + IL-4-stimulated cells (22.5 and 18.7% inhibition, respectively). Treatment with KGF tended to decrease VCAM-1 expression in TNF- and TNF + IL-4-stimulated BEAS-2B (P = n.s. and P < 0.05, 14 and 15% inhibition, respectively). In primary culture of BEC, adhesion molecule expression was also reduced. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA expression were also inhibited by KGF. Levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were not significantly increased in supernatants from KGF-treated cells (30% and 24% increase at 100 ng/ml, respectively) compared to controls. Moreover, KGF decreased by 31% the adherence of neutrophils to TNF-activated BEAS-2B. In conclusion, KGF decreases ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression and neutrophil adherence in BEC. These suggest its involvement in the resolution of the inflammatory reaction.     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha up-regulates the expression of CCL2 and adhesion molecules of human proximal tubular epithelial cells through MAPK signaling pathways

Both circulating and urinary tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha levels have been shown to increase in inflammatory chronic kidney diseases and TNF-alpha can induce secretion of other inflammatory mediators from many cell types. Chemokine, mononuclear chemoattractant protein-1 (CCL2/MCP-1), and cell surface adhesion molecules, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTEC) are important for promoting recruitment and adhesion of infiltrating macrophages and lymphocytes to inflamed renal tissue. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TNF-alpha on the expression of these inflammation-related molecules of human PTEC and the underlying intracellular mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) regulatory signaling mechanisms. Cytokine expression profile of TNF-alpha-activated PTEC was assayed by protein array. The concentration of CCL2 was analyzed by ELISA, while the expression of cell surface ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and intracellular phosphorylated p38 MAPK, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was assessed using flow cytometry. TNF-alpha could significantly induce CCL2, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression of PTEC. Selective inhibitors of p38 MAPK (SB203580), JNK (SP600125) and ERK (PD98059) could suppress TNF-alpha-induced CCL2 and ICAM-1 expression, while only p38 MAPK and ERK inhibitors could suppress TNF-alpha-induced VCAM-1 expression. JNK inhibitor was found to up-regulate VCAM-1 expression but did not elicit any additive effect with TNF-alpha on VCAM-1 expression. Moreover, p38 MAPK inhibitor was found to abrogate the TNF-alpha-induced ERK phosphorylation, suggesting that there was a one-way interaction between p38 MAPK and ERK pathways during the TNF-alpha activation. TNF-alpha can play a crucial role in the immunopathogenesis of nephritis by the induction of CCL2, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression via the activation of the intracellular MAPK signaling pathway, which may contribute to macrophage and lymphocyte infiltration.     

溶血磷脂酰胆碱对内皮细胞表面粘附分子表达的影响

大量的单核细胞募集是动脉粥样损伤形成的早期表现之一,相关的内皮细胞粘附分子在其中具有积极作用。本文研究了溶血磷脂酰胆碱（Ｌｙｓｏｐｈｏｓｐｈａｔｉｄｙｌｃｈｏｌｉｎｅ,Ｌｙｓｏ－ＰＣ）对培养的人脐静脉内皮细胞（ＨＵＶＥＣｓ）膜上细胞间粘附分子－（Ｉｎｔｅｒｃｅｌｌｕｌａｒ ａｄｈｅｓｉｏｎ ｍｏｌｅｃｕｌｅ－１,ＩＣＡＭ－１）、Ｅ选择素（Ｅｎｄｏｔｈｅｌｉａｌ－ｌｅｕｋｏｃｙｔｅ ａｄｈｅｓｉｏｎ     

Expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in human crescentic glomerulonephritis

AIMS: In glomerulonephritis, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) may play important roles in the formation of crescents. These studies are designed to evaluate the expression patterns of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in human crescentic glomerulonephritis and to determine the cellular origin of adhesion molecules in the crescentic lesions. METHODS AND RESULTS: We examined the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 proteins in renal biopsies with cellular (n=7), fibrocellular (n=9) or fibrous (n=4) crescentic glomerulonephritis, and six controls by immunohistochemistry. mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was further evaluated by RNA in-situ hybridization. Cytokeratin or CD68 immunohistochemistry was performed on the same sections, where in-situ hybridization had been carried out. In cellular crescents, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 proteins were over-expressed to a similar extent. Of the three types of crescents, the extent of ICAM-1 immunopositivity was the greatest in the cellular crescents and decreased towards the fibrous crescents (P < 0.05). Yet the extent of VCAM-1 immunoreactivity was not different between the types. Fibrous crescents still contained some epithelial cells and showed only VCAM-1 expression. In the glomeruli with cellular or fibrocellular crescents, the extent of ICAM-1 immunopositivity in the glomerular tufts was significantly larger than that of VCAM-1 (P < 0.05). In an in-situ hybridization study, the mRNA expression patterns of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 paralleled their protein expressions. A double-labelling study showed that the signal for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNAs was mainly present in cytokeratin-positive and CD68-negative cells in the crescentic lesions. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that glomerular parietal epithelial cells in cellular crescents up-regulate both ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, and that some epithelial cells retained in fibrous crescents persistently over-express VCAM-1, but not ICAM-1. They also suggest that ICAM-1 is involved in early leucocyte recruitment into glomeruli in crescentic glomerulonephritis.     

转录因子NF-κB在内毒素休克中的作用

目的探讨内毒素休克大鼠组织炎性介质的表达特征及其和核转录因子NFκB(nuclearfactorkappaB)的关系。方法应用免疫组织化学技术检测脂多糖(lippolysaccharice,LPS)内毒素休克大鼠肝肾组织转录因子NFκB、炎性介质ICAM1、VCAM1、iNOS的表达。结果LPS内毒素休克大鼠肝肾组织转录因子NFκBp65,炎性介质ICAM1、VCAM1、iNOS阳性细胞率高于正常对照组;炎性介质ICAM-1、VCAM-1、iNOS阳性细胞率与NF-κBp65阳性细胞率成正相关。用吡咯烷二硫氨基甲酸(pyrrolidinedithiocarbmate,PDTC)抑制转录因子NFκB的内毒素休克大鼠炎性介质ICAM1、VCAM1、iNOS阳性细胞率低于LPS组。结论核转录因子NFκB在LPS引起的大鼠内毒素休克炎性介质的表达中起调节作用。     

Morphological analysis of leucocyte transmigration in the pleural cavity

The role that pleural mesothelial cells play in leucocyte transmigration into the pleural cavity was investigated in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mice. Changes in mesothelial cell morphology and changes in expression of adhesion molecules on mesothelial cells and leucocytes were analysed by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and immuno-scanning electron microscopy (immuno-SEM). After stimulation, the mesothelial cells separated completely from one another before leucocyte penetration across the mesothelial layer occurred. These changes occurred primarily in the immediate vicinity of ribs, where a large number of leucocytes accumulated. Immuno-SEM showed that the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) on the parietal pleural mesothelial cells was significantly up-regulated by lipopolysaccharide stimulation, and that of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was induced. Both were restricted to the microvilli of the mesothelial cells. By contrast, expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-2 (ICAM-2), platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1), endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1), peripheral node addressin (PNAd) and fibronectin were not detected. Lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1), macrophage-1 molecule (Mac-1) and very late appearing antigen-4 (VLA-4), all ligands of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, were present on the transmigrated neutrophils and macrophages. These findings demonstrate that the immediate vicinity of ribs is a source of leucocyte migration into the pleural space.     

The distribution of adhesion molecules in human atherosclerosis

Chronic inflammatory cells are a recognized component of atherosclerotic plaques at all stages of development. As adhesion molecules play a fundamental role in inflammatory processes, we have carried out an immunohistochemical investigation of the distribution of endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1)*, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in human atherosclerotic lesions. Autopsy specimens from abdominal aorta and coronary arteries were obtained from 21 cases within 24 h of death. ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 were consistently expressed by the entire intimal endothelium of normal coronary arteries and also by the intimal endothelium overlying aortic fatty streaks. Both coronary artery and aortic lesions showed strong staining for ICAM-1 on and around macrophages. VCAM-1 was not detected on intimal endothelial cells, but strong staining of adventitial lymphoid aggregates for this molecule was seen. This work suggests a role for ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 in mononuclear cell recruitment during atherogenesis.     

EXPRESSION OF ICAM-1 AND VCAM-1 IN HUMAN MALIGNANT MESOTHELIOMA

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are cytokine-inducible adhesion molecules which recognize ligands that are highly expressed on leukocytes. Expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was investigated in tissue sections of 16 cases of malignant mesothelioma (seven epithelial, eight biphasic, and one sarcomatoid) using immunohistochemistry. Neoplastic cells were diffusely and intensely stained for ICAM-1 in all cases. VCAM-1 was detected in 14 of 16 cases. The percentage of VCAM-1-positive tumour cells was more than 50 per cent in eight cases and the staining was observed mainly in epithelial-like cells. VCAM-1 was rarely expressed in other malignant tumours of epithelial origin, being present in only 1 of 58 cases of carcinoma originating from different anatomical sites. At the cellular level, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 appeared co-distributed, the staining for both being cytoplasmic with a membrane reinforcement. The regulation of VCAM-1 expression by neoplastic mesothelial cells was investigated in vitro using 14 mesothelioma cell lines. ICAM-1 was expressed by cultured cells of all mesothelioma cell lines, even in the absence of cytokines. VCAM-1 was detected in 10–50 per cent of the cells in three non-stimulated mesothelioma cell lines (mero-95, mero-96, and mero-134), and was absent or poorly expressed in the remaining 11. Exposure of a negative cell line (mero-48a) to an optimal concentration of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) or interleukin-13 (IL-13) for 6–18 h resulted in the induction of VCAM-1 mRNA synthesis and in VCAM-1 expression at the membrane level in 60–70 per cent of the cells. These findings are consistent with the possibility that TNFα, IL-13, or other activating signals are released in the tumour micro-environment and regulate the expression of VCAM-1 in malignant mesothelioma cells.     

Effect of ultraviolet light on the expression of adhesion molecules and T lymphocyte adhesion to human dermal microvascular endothelial cells

In order to determine the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on the cell adhesion molecules expressed in human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMEC), the cells were exposed to varying UVR doses and the cell surface was examined for expression of intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM- 1), and E-selectin. The effect of UVB irradiation on the binding of T lymphocytes to HDMEC was also examined. UVA irradiation did not affect the surface expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, or E-selectin on the HDMEC. However, following UVB exposure, ELISA demonstrated a significant increase in the baseline ICAM-1 cell surface expression on the HDMEC. However, no induction of either E-selectin or VCAM-1 was noted. UVB also significantly augmented ICAM-1 induction by IL-1alpha and TNF-alpha. VCAM-1 was induced by stimulating HDMEC with IL-1alpha following a UVB irradiation dose of 100 mJ/cm2. Flow cytometric analysis of the HDMEC stimulated with IL-1alpha for 24h demonstrated that 12% of the cells expressed VCAM-1 but either IL-1alpha or UVB irradiation alone failed to induce VCAM-1 expression. Enhancement of T cell-HDMEC binding by IL-1alpha or TNF-alpha treatment was not significantly affected after UVB irradiation. This study demonstrated that UVB irradiation can alter ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression on the HDMEC surface and that augmentation of ICAM-1 expression and the IL-1alpha-dependent induction of VCAM-1 following UVB exposure might be important steps in the pathogenesis of sunburn.     

Adhesion of Epstein-Barr virus-positive natural killer cell lines to cultured endothelial cells stimulated with inflammatory cytokines

Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection (CAEBV) is characterized by chronic recurrent infectious mononucleosis-like symptoms. Approximately one-fourth of CAEBV patients develop vascular lesions with infiltration of EBV-positive lymphoid cells. Furthermore, EBV-positive natural killer (NK)/T cell lymphomas often exhibit angiocentric or angiodestructive lesions. These suggest an affinity of EBV-positive NK/T cells to vascular components. In this study, we evaluated the expression of adhesion molecules and cytokines in EBV-positive NK lymphoma cell lines, SNK1 and SNK6, and examined the role of cytokines in the interaction between NK cell lines and endothelial cells. SNKs expressed intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) at much higher levels than those in EBV-negative T cell lines. SNKs produced the larger amount of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, which caused increased expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in cultured human endothelial cells, than that from EBV-negative T cell lines. Furthermore, SNKs exhibited increased adhesion to cultured endothelial cells stimulated with TNF-alpha or interleukin (IL)-1beta, and the pretreatment of cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells with anti-VCAM-1-antibodies reduced cell adhesion. These indicate that the up-regulated expression of VCAM-1 on cytokine-stimulated endothelial cells would be important for the adhesion of EBV-positive NK cells and might initiate the vascular lesions.     

厄贝沙坦对实验性糖尿病大鼠肾脏保护作用及对ICAM-1与VCAM-1表达的影响

目的:从影响细胞间粘附分子-1(ICAM-1)和血管细胞粘附分子-1(VCAM-1)表达的角度,探讨厄贝沙坦对实验性糖尿病大鼠肾脏的保护作用及其可能机制。方法:Wistar大鼠24只,随机分为对照组、模型组、药物组,每组8只。链脲佐菌素(STZ)诱导糖尿病大鼠模型,药物组大鼠每日给予厄贝沙坦150mg/kg灌胃,持续8周。8周后抽血测空腹血糖(FBG)、糖化血红蛋白(HbA1c)、尿素氮(BUN)、肌酐(Scr);测定24h尿微量白蛋白(mAlb),计算尿白蛋白排泄率(UAER)。处死Wistar大鼠,取其肾脏,计算肾脏肥大指数,用免疫组化方法检测ICAM-1,蛋白质印迹法(Westernblot)检测VCAM-1蛋白表达水平。结果:模型组和药物组的FBG、HbA1c、BUN、Scr均高于对照组,上述指标在模型组与药物组之间无统计学差异。模型组UAER高于对照组,而药物组则低于模型组。药物组ICAM-1与VCAM-1蛋白表达量低于模型组。结论:厄贝沙坦对实验性糖尿病大鼠的肾脏有保护作用,其机制可能是通过抑制ICAM-1与VCAM-1在肾脏的表达来实现的。     

补肾宁心方对人单核-血管内皮细胞粘附的影响

目的:探讨补肾宁心方对人单核-血管内皮细胞粘附的影响及机理。方法:以培养人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVECs)作为靶细胞,在内皮细胞培养基中加入氧化的低密度脂蛋白(ox-LDL)或在试验体系中加入灌服补肾宁心方的兔血清,以孟加拉玫瑰红活细胞染色法测定人单核细胞系U937与HUVECs的粘附,并用流式细胞仪检测内皮细胞表面粘附分子细胞间粘附分子-1(ICAM-1)、血管细胞粘附分子-1(VCAM-1)以及E-选择素的表达。结果:ox-LDL显著增强单核U937细胞与内皮细胞之间的相互粘附,如在试验体系中加入灌服补肾宁心方的动物血清,则粘附率明显降低(P＜0.01)。流式细胞仪分析结果显示ox-LDL能明显促进内皮细胞表面ICAM-1、VCAM-1以及E-选择素的表达,补肾宁心方中药灌服血清可显著下调内皮细胞表面ICAM-1、VCAM-1以及E-选择素的表达(P＜0.01)。结论:补肾宁心方含药血清可能通过下调内皮细胞表面粘附分子的表达抑制单核-血管内皮细胞粘附,从而发挥对血管内皮细胞的保护作用。     

Human papillomavirus-16-E7 oncoprotein enhances the expression of adhesion molecules in cervical endothelial cells but not in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVES: E7 is one of the oncoproteins encoded by human papillomavirus-16 (HPV-16), the major etiologic factor responsible for cervical cancer. Human papillomavirus-16-E7 expressed by human uterine cervix carcinoma cells is also released in the extracellular compartment where it induces immune suppression. We investigated whether E7 was also responsible for the enhanced endothelial adhesiveness required in cancer progression. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS: We treated cervical microvascular endothelial cells (CrMVEn) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with E7, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and measured the expression of E-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) by fluorescent-activated cell sorter analysis. RESULTS: E7 strongly induced the expression of E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 in CrMVEn, but not in HUVEC. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha further increased the endothelial expression of adhesion molecules in CrMVEn. Hydrogen peroxide pre-treatment resulted in an enhanced ICAM-1 and a decreased E-selectin and VCAM-1 expression. We also show indirect effects when endothelial cells were stimulated with the supernatant of E7-pretreated macrophages. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that HPV-16-E7 oncoprotein strongly induces adhesion molecules expression in organ-specific endothelial cells.     

Expression of adhesion molecules on cord-blood-derived, cultured human mast cells and effect of dexamethasone on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression on the mast cells treated by phorbol myristate acetate

BACKGROUND: Increase in mast-cell number at sites of allergic inflammation has been observed, and glucocorticoids applied to the sites have been shown to result in a significant reduction in mast cells. However, the expression of adhesion molecules on cultured human mast cells and their regulation by glucocorticoids is poorly understood. METHODS: Cultured human mast cells were raised from human umbilical cord-blood cells, and the expression of adhesion molecules on the mast cells was analyzed by flow cytometry. The cells were also incubated with 10 ng/ml phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) for the indicated time, and the effect of dexamethasone on adhesion molecule expression on PMA-treated, cultured human mast cells was examined. RESULTS: Cord-blood-derived, cultured human mast cells constitutively expressed intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), very late antigen-4 (VLA-4), and macrophage-1 antigen (Mac-1). Weak expression of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) was observed on the cells, whereas they failed to express vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Kinetic studies showed that after a transient downregulation reaching a minimum at 8 h, the expression of ICAM-1 was markedly upregulated on PMA-treated mast cells after a 24-h incubation. In contrast, the expression of VLA-4 and Mac-1 was decreased after the incubation with PMA for 24 h. The PMA-induced upregulation of ICAM-1 was inhibited by dexamethasone in a concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that cord-blood-derived, cultured human mast cells constitutively express integrins and ICAM-1, but not VCAM-1, and demonstrate for the first time that dexamethasone inhibits the upregulation of ICAM-1 on PMA-treated, cultured human mast cells.     

Soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 as markers of endothelial activation

Activated endothelium releases the soluble adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1). Measurement of fluid-phase adhesion molecules is therefore used to quantify endothelial activation, but it is unclear which is the better marker. The aims of the study were to compare the relationships between mRNA, surface and total expression and released VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in endothelial cell cultures during activation, and to compare human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) with the microvascular cell line HMEC-1. sVCAM-1 better represented mRNA and surface expression changes in HUVEC undergoing endotoxin stimulation than did sICAM-1. Very little VCAM-1 was released from endotoxin-stimulated HMEC-1, and sICAM-1 seemed a better activation marker for these cells. During incubation of HUVEC in media with glucose concentrations of 5.6, 10.6 or 20.6 m m , VCAM-1 was released to the media in a dose-dependent way without changes in surface expression. ICAM-1 was not influenced by the glucose concentration. There are situations when VCAM-1 concentrations in the media do not mirror the surface expression on HUVEC in culture, indicating that measurements of soluble adhesion molecules may not necessarily be representative of the conditions on the cell surface. Endothelium from different locations showed varying responses with respect to VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 liberation upon endotoxin stimulation. Thus, both sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 should be quantified in clinical studies of endothelial activation until their characteristics are better clarified.     

The anti-TNF-α antibody infliximab indirectly regulates PECAM-1 gene expression in two models of in vitro blood cell activation

Chronic inflammatory bowel diseases can be successfully treated with antibodies against the acute phase mediator TNF-α. The process of activation and of extravasation of inflammatory cells from the blood into the 'stressed' tissue site is controlled by cytokines and chemokines, which attract leukocytes and by adhesion molecules, which mediate their attachment and transmigration toward the affected cell(s). The changes in the gene expression of adhesion molecules taking place in those cells before attachment have been less investigated. Changes of PECAM-1, ICAM-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) gene expression were studied in phytohaemagglutinin (PHA)- and lipolysaccharide (LPS)-treated human peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs), granulocytes and the human monocyte cell line U-937. Cells were treated either with PHA or with LPS in the presence or absence of infliximab and incubated with TNF-α, IFN-γ and/or transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) and treated as above. Activation of PBLs by PHA or LPS treatment triggered a sharp upregulation of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 gene expression and a time-dependent downregulation of PECAM-1 gene expression reaching a minimum 4?h from start of the experiment. The anti-TNF-α antibody infliximab, by neutralizing TNF-α and IFN-γ production, completely reversed PECAM-1 mRNA downregulation and ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 upregulation. Immunostaining of PBLs cytospins with antibodies against PECAM-1 and ICAM-1 confirmed RT-PCR and western blot results. PBLs IFN-γ or TNF-α treatment downregulated PECAM-1 in parallel with the upregulation of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 gene expression, whereas TGF-β upregulated PECAM-1- and downregulated ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 gene expression counteracting the effect of TNF-α or IFN-γ. Similar results were obtained in human U937 cells and in granulocyte cultures by TNF-α or IFN-γ treatment. Taken together, these results suggest that infliximab, blocking TNF-α and IFN-γ production, exerts its anti-inflammatory effect through inhibiting downregulation of PECAM-1 gene expression and upregulation of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in leukocytes of the peripheral blood. These results also suggest that TGF-β may thus be of therapeutic importance as an anti-inflammatory agent.     

Expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in fibroblastlike synoviocytes after stimulation with tumor necrosis factor.

Rapid expression of mRNA encoding vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in fibroblast-like cells obtained from synovial tissue. Both alternatively spliced forms of VCAM-1 mRNA were detected by polymerase chain reaction in TNF-stimulated fibroblast-like synoviocytes. Western blotting analysis showed that two distinct proteins, reactive with an anti-VCAM-1 anti-sera, were expressed by 2 hours of TNF stimulation in both synoviocytes and human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). The majority of HUVEC and synoviocytes displayed VCAM-1 surface expression after several hours of TNF stimulation. In contrast, dermal fibroblasts upregulated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) but not VCAM-1 expression in response to TNF. These results indicate that VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression can be differentially regulated and suggest tissue specific regulation of VCAM-1 expression. Furthermore, these findings may provide an explanation for the chronic retention and activation of long-lived lymphocytes and monocytes, which express VLA-4 (the receptor for VCAM-1), in the synovium in rheumatoid arthritis.