Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is induced during cytomegalovirus infection in vascular structures of heart allografts

Abstract This study was designed to investigate the expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and the counter-ligand VLA-4 (CD 49 d) in frozen sections of endomyocardial biopsies (EMBs) of heart allografts in relation to the onset of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection diagnosed by CMV antigenemia. Altogether, 105 EMBs were obtained from 21 heart transplant recipients. Serial EMBs from nine patients with CMV infection, from five patients with rejection, and from seven patients with a noncomplicated postoperative course were analyzed. Associated with CMV infection, capillary expression of VCAM-1 was significantly induced when compared to control biopsies (P < 0.0001). A striking difference in the expression of VCAM-1 during rejection and CMV infection was observed: in most rejecting biopsies only a few capillaries stained faintly for VCAM-1, whereas during CMV infection, multifocal intense staining was found (P < 0.0001).     

血管细胞粘附分子在人类狼疮肾炎和新月体肾炎中的表达

利用间接免疫荧光和膜免疫印迹方法，观察了血管细胞粘附分子（ＶＣＡＭ－１）在人类狼疮肾炎和新月体肾炎患者肾组织及血清中的表达。结果表明：狼疮肾炎（Ⅱ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ型）和新月体肾炎患者沿肾小球毛细血管壁可见ＶＣＡＭ－１特异性荧光；肾小球系膜区ＶＣＡＭ－１表达呈现增强的趋势；与轻度系膜增生性肾炎比较，狼疮肾炎（Ⅳ、Ⅱ型）患者血清中ＶＣＡＭ－１水平显著增加（Ｐ＜０．０１）。提示ＶＣＡＭ－１在狼疮肾炎和新月体肾炎的发生发展中可能具有重要作用。     

Glomerular cytokine expression in murine lupus nephritis

Background

Aberrant expression of T helper cell (Th) cytokines is believed to play a central role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). While the glomerulus is one of the major targets of lupus inflammation, little is known about the cytokine expression in glomeruli. The current study aimed to explore the profiles of Th cytokine gene expressions in isolated glomeruli of lupus-prone mice.

Methods

Glomeruli were purified from lupus-prone MRL/lpr mice using the magnetic microbead method. Expressions of cytokine genes representing the Th subset and FoxP3 were examined using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Serum levels of these cytokines were also measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. MRL/n mice were used as controls. Histologic glomerular damages were scored semiquantitatively. To examine the role of TNF-α in glomerular damage, we administered etanercept, a TNF-α antagonist, into the subjects.

Results

Glomerular gene expressions of TNF-α in lpr mice increased with week postpartum and reached statistically significant levels at 16 weeks compared with those of the glomeruli from control mice. Expressions of IFN-γ, IL-4 and FoxP3 also increased, but the difference was not significant. There was a significant increase in serum levels of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-17 and decrease in those of IL-4. Among the genes examined, TNF-α significantly correlated with glomerular damage score. Administration of etanercept did not affect glomerular cytokine expressions or proteinuria and failed to ameliorate histologic glomerular damages.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that Th1 cytokines, especially TNF-α, are dominantly expressed in the glomeruli of lupus-prone mice, but its pathophysiological role remains unclear.

     

Increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in rat cardiac allografts

This study was designed to investigate the role of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) during chronic cardiac allograft rejection. Wistar rats were used as donors, and SD rats as recipients heterotopic cardiac transplants. Recipients pretreated with inoculation of donor splenocytes (SPC) followed by cyclophosphamide (CP) were divided into 4 groups: (A) untreated group (n = 18) without immunosuppression; (B) SPC plus CP-treated group (n = 18) that were euthanized at 15-120 days posttransplantation; (C) CsA-treated group (n = 18) euthanized at 2-3 months posttransplantation; and (D) tolerance group (n = 18) treated with SPC plus CP and monitored for at least 1 year posttransplantation. Cardiac allografts were harvested at various times for immunohistochemical studies performed to evaluate the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Pretreatment of animals with SPC and CP induced long-term cardiac allograft survival. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated a low level of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression in cardiac allograft muscle and coronary arteries among Groups B and D. In contrast, the expressions of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in cardiac allografts of Groups A and C were significantly higher than those in Groups B and D. Our results suggested that the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 plays an important role during the development of chronic cardiac allograft rejection.     

Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 is induced on endothelium during acute rejection in human cardiac allografts.

An infiltration of mononuclear leukocytes into the myocardium of a cardiac allograft is diagnostic of transplant rejection. The presence of these leukocytes implies their adhesion to, and subsequent migration through, the vascular endothelium. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 are endothelial proteins that have been shown to be involved in the binding of mononuclear leukocytes to the endothelium in vitro. We investigated the induction of these proteins in a random series from 99 endomyocardial biopsy specimens obtained from 1 week to 4 years after cardiac allograft transplantation. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 was found to be expressed constitutively by the myocardial microvasculature in the recipient's original heart and in the posttransplantation biopsy specimens. No correlation was found between the presence or absence of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and cellular rejection. In contrast, no endothelial expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 was observed in the recipient heart or in endomyocardial biopsy specimens lacking cellular rejection. The presence of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 significantly correlated with the presence of mild or moderate rejection. The de novo induction of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 on the myocardial vasculature during periods of rejection, in addition to the recruitment of mononuclear leukocytes that are known to bind to this protein, suggests that the expression of this endothelial adhesion protein could be of use in diagnosing rejection.     

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression in human kidneys with glomerulonephritis.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) plays an important role in immune responses. Expression of this molecule was examined on cryostat sections of 15 normal human and 112 glomerulonephritic kidneys using a specific monoclonal antibody and the indirect immunoperoxidase staining technique. The expression of ICAM-1 on renal structures was compared to that of HLA-DQ, -DR, -DR/DP and -DP antigens. On normal kidneys ICAM-1 was observed on some Bowman's capsular cells and on single glomerular cells which probably represent endothelial and mesangial cells. ICAM-1 was present on peritubular capillaries and on vascular endothelium of large vessels as well as on fibroblasts, whereas no expression of ICAM-1 on proximal tubular epithelial cells (PTECs) was detected. In normal renal tissues the distribution of ICAM-1 was similar to that of HLA-DQ and -DP antigens. In kidneys with different forms of glomerulonephritis especially in association with interstitial inflammation, an abnormal expression of ICAM-1 on PTECs was frequently correlated with aberrant expression of HLA-DQ and -DP antigens. These results further support the hypothesis that PTECs may participate in cell-mediated immune reactions in glomerulonephritis.     

Mesangial expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in primary glomerulosclerosis.

Frozen sections of renal biopsy specimens from eight patients with primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and 10 patients with membranous nephropathy (MN) were stained in immuno-peroxidase with the intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) monoclonal antibody (MoAb), CL203.4. ICAM-1 was expressed by mesangial cells in six patients with FSGS. On the other hand, ICAM-1 was not detected in mesangial cells in patients with MN or in the non-affected portion of tumoral kidneys used to control normal renal expression of ICAM-1. De novo mesangial expression of ICAM-1 in FSGS suggests that sclerosis results from an inflammatory process, possibly associated with local release of cytokines.     

Autoreactive kidney-infiltrating T-cell clones in murine lupus nephritis.

T-cells have been implicated in autoimmune renal injury. To examine the role of T-cells in lupus nephritis we propagated T-cell clones from the cortical interstitium of MRL/lpr mice. All isolated kidney-infiltrating (KI) T-cell clones [6] express surface markers identical to the T-cells regulated by the lpr gene (Thy 1.2+, TCR alpha/beta +, Lyt-2-, L3T4-, B220+). Although KI T-cell clones have the same surface markers as lymph node-infiltrating (LNI) T-cells, they differ functionally. KI T-cells, but not LNI T-cells, are autoreactive and kidney-specific, exclusively proliferating to renal tubular epithelial (TEC) and mesangial cells. In addition, unlike LNI T-cell supernatants (SN), KI T-cell clones SN induce class II and ICAM-1 on cultured TEC. When KI T-cell clones are injected under the renal capsule, class II is increased on TEC. All clones transcribe mRNA for cytokines capable of inducing class II and ICAM-1 (IL-4, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma). Anti-IFN-gamma mAb prevents the induction of class II and ICAM-1 on cultured TEC. Since class II and ICAM-1 expression on TEC precedes renal injury, the ability to propagate autoreactive, kidney-specific T-cell clones that induce these molecules provides evidence for their role in initiating renal injury in MRL/lpr mice.     

Cell adhesion molecule expression in murine lupus-like nephritis induced by lipopolysaccharide

BACKGROUND: Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) are thought to play important roles in leukocyte recruitment to the kidney. We therefore chose to study mesangial cell adhesion molecule expression in vitro, and the role of these molecules in experimental lupus-like nephritis. METHODS AND RESULTS: When cultured murine mesangial cells were stimulated with interferon-gamma (IFgamma) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), mRNA levels for ICAM-1 and VCAM markedly increased. These molecules were detected at the cell surface by flow cytometry. Since lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates TNFalpha and IFgamma production in vivo, we treated mice with Streptococcus minnesota LPS in order to study renal adhesion molecule expression. LPS treatment induced mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis characterized by leukocyte infiltration, and increases in total glomerular cellularity, volume and matrix area. mRNA levels for ICAM-1 and VCAM were increased in the kidneys of LPS-treated versus control mice. ICAM-1 and VCAM molecules were constitutively expressed in renal vascular endothelium. At 3 and 5 weeks, this vascular staining intensified, and some ICAM-1 and VCAM expression was induced in the glomerular mesangium. ICAM-1 and VCAM induction occurred early and correlated in time with leukocyte infiltration. CONCLUSION: Interactions between cell adhesion molecules expressed by intrinsic glomerular cells and infiltrating leukocytes play a role in the initiation of LPS-induced lupus-like nephritis. These observations are potentially relevant to the understanding and treatment of certain types of human glomerulonephritis.     

Chemokine expression precedes inflammatory cell infiltration and chemokine receptor and cytokine expression during the initiation of murine lupus nephritis.

Lupus nephritis is characterized by immune complex deposition and inflammatory cell infiltration. Therefore, the initiation and progression of lupus nephritis in MRL/MpJ Fas(lpr/lpr) (MRL/lpr) mice were investigated, with a focus on the expression of several chemokines and chemokine receptors. Mice were monitored for proteinuria from 6 to 20 wk of age, and kidneys were examined every 2 wk by light microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunohistologic analyses. Furthermore, the expression of chemokines, chemokine receptors, and proinflammatory cytokines was analyzed in ribonuclease protection assays. MRL/lpr mice demonstrated increased expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, regulated upon activation, normal T cell-expressed and -secreted protein, inducible protein of 10 kD, and macrophage inflammatory protein-1beta at week 8. At that time point, levels of circulating and glomerular immune complexes were increased, and no proteinuria or histopathologic signs of renal damage could be observed. As assessed in immunohistochemical and in situ hybridization analyses, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and regulated upon activation, normal T cell-expressed and -secreted protein expression was preferentially located in the glomeruli and interstitium. Mononuclear cell infiltration of the kidney was observed by weeks 10 to 12. At week 12, the renal expression of chemokine receptor 1 (CCR1), CCR2, and CCR5 was increased, mice became proteinuric, and renal damage was histologically evident. Finally, the expression of proinflammatory cytokines was detected (weeks 12 to 14). In summary, (1) chemokines are upregulated before inflammatory cell infiltration, proteinuria, and kidney damage are observed; (2) chemokine generation is restricted to sites of subsequent inflammatory cell infiltration, i.e., glomeruli and interstitium; (3) chemokine receptor expression parallels mononuclear cell infiltration; and (4) proinflammatory cytokines are upregulated later, in parallel with inflammatory cell infiltration and the onset of proteinuria. These results support the hypothesis that chemokines initiate leukocyte infiltration and precede proteinuria and renal damage in MRL/lpr mice.     

Intercellular adhesion molecules and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and the kidney.

Adhesion molecules such as intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 are expressed in the kidney and are regulated by proinflammatory cytokines. These adhesion molecules play an important role in the binding and activation process of leukocytes and are of importance in inflammatory kidney diseases. This review article describes current knowledge regarding the structure, expression, and functional role of adhesion molecules and their significance in immune-mediated renal diseases.     

The influence of propofol on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) in reoxygenated human umbilical vein endothelial cells

BACKGROUND: Leucocytes are a pivotal component of the inflammatory cascade that results in tissue injury in a large group of disorders. Free radical production and endothelial activation promote leucocyte-endothelium interactions via endothelial expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) which augment these processes, particularly in the setting of reperfusion injury. Propofol has antioxidant properties which may attenuate the increased expression of these molecules that is observed. METHODS: Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to 20 h of hypoxia, then returned to normoxic conditions. Cells were treated with saline, Diprivan 5 microg mL(-1) or propofol 5 microg mL(-1), for 4 h after reoxygenation and were examined for ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression. RESULTS: Hypoxia did not increase the expression of ICAM-1/VCAM-1. ICAM-1 expression peaked 12 h after reoxygenation (21.75(0.6) vs. 9.6(1.3), P = 0.02). Propofol, but not Diprivan, prevented this increase (8.2(2.9) vs. 21.75(0.6), P = 0.009). VCAM-1 expression peaked 24 h after reoxygenation (9.8(0.9) vs. 6.6(0.6), P = 0.03). Propofol and Diprivan prevented this increase, with no difference between the two treatments observed (4.3(0.3) and 6.4(0.5) vs. 9.8(0.9), P = 0.001, 0.02, respectively). CONCLUSION: These effects are likely to be attributable to the antioxidant properties of propofol, and suggest that propofol may have a protective role in disorders where free radical mediated injury promotes leucocyte-endothelium adhesive interactions.     

S108抑制大鼠肾移植排斥反应时细胞间粘附分子-1的表达

观测细胞间粘附分子－１在大鼠移植肾的表达，旨在探索Ｓ１０８抗排斥作用的机理以及对ＩＣＡＭ－１的表达有无抑制作用。共分５个实验组：即同品系且，不用药对照组，短期单用环孢素Ａ组、小剂量ＣｓＡ联合Ｓ１０８组及单用Ｓ１０８组。     

Expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 in human renal allografts.

The expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in 11 human renal allograft biopsies and 3 normal kidney specimens was investigated by immunocytochemistry. VCAM-1 expression was correlated with the degree of CD3+ T cell infiltration and the clinicopathologic diagnosis of acute rejection. CD3+ infiltrates were seen in all biopsies with rejection, but not in normal biopsies or one with acute tubular necrosis, and were accompanied by CD68+ monocyte/macrophage infiltrates. In normal biopsies, VCAM-1 was present on occasional tubules, where its expression was patchy and restricted to the basolateral surface of cells with slight cytoplasmic staining. The total number of tubules expressing VCAM-1 significantly increased in specimens infiltrated with CD3+ T cells. Moreover, in these infiltrated biopsy specimens, VCAM-1 was present throughout the cytoplasm of tubular cells concentrated on the basolateral surface. VCAM-1 was also observed on vascular endothelial cells where its expression correlated with the degree of CD3+ infiltrate. Mean scores (0 to 3+) for endothelial VCAM-1 expression increased from 0 (CD3+ score, 0) to a mean score of 2.25 in association with CD3+ T cell infiltrates (CD3+ score, 3). Endothelial VCAM-1 was predominantly on vessels in areas of infiltrate, including peritubular capillaries, venules, and arterioles, but was notably absent on glomerular endothelium. VCAM-1 also stained mesangial cells in an occasional CD3+ infiltrated specimen. It was concluded that the expression of VCAM-1 is increased on renal tubules and renovascular endothelium in rejecting renal allografts in association with CD3+ infiltrates.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Tubular lesions and tubular cell adhesion molecules for the prognosis of lupus nephritis.

BACKGROUND: To assess the prognostic value of tubular lesions and cell adhesion molecules' expression, a retrospective study with immunohistochemistry was performed on 152 patients presenting lupus nephritis from January 1985 to December 1999. METHODS: The following clinical parameters were recorded: age, sex, race, time of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis, time of the biopsy, proteinuria, creatininemia, and renal function at the end of follow-up. All biopsies were re-evaluated according to a tubular grading, an inflammatory grading, the percentage of sclerosed glomeruli, the percentage of crescents, and the current WHO classification. Immunohistochemistry was performed with anti-CD40, anti-CD44, and anti-intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (anti-ICAM-1) antibodies. RESULTS: Patients were 136 women (89.5%) and 16 men with a mean age of 31.2 years +/- 12.8 at the time of biopsy. The mean follow-up period was 94.3 months +/- 64.1. Eighty-eight biopsies (58%) showed various degrees of tubular atrophy. Males (P = 0.001) and tubular grading (P = 0.0001) were linked with renal survival in univariate and multivariate analysis. CD40 (P = 0.01) and ICAM-1 (P = 0.001) tubular expressions were linked with renal survival. ICAM-1 tubular expression provided additional information for the prognosis of the patients with biopsies showing tubular atrophy (P = 0.005) or not (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that tubular lesions are good indicator of lupus nephritis outcome. Furthermore, tubular expression of cell adhesion molecules like ICAM-1 and CD40 also serves to predict the outcome.