IL-1 and TNF independent pathways mediate ICAM-1/VCAM-1 up-regulation in ischemia reperfusion injury

In vitro studies have suggested that targeting interleukin (IL)-1 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) can be used to regulate intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and potentially treat kidney inflammation. We therefore evaluated ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 regulation in knockout (KO) mice deficient in both IL-1 receptor 1 (R1) and TNF-R1 during renal ischemia reperfusion injury. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA expression was measured with specific murine probes and Northern blotting (n =4/group). Protein expression was measured using immunohistochemistry. Serum creatinine (SCr), tubular histology, and neutrophil infiltration into postischemic kidneys were also quantified. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA expression increased in both wild-type (WT) and KO mice at 2, 6, and 24 h. Protein expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was also increased at 24 h postischemia. SCr levels and tubular necrosis scores were comparable in WT and KO mice at 24 and 48 h. Neutrophil migration in KO mice was decreased at 24 h but comparable to WT at 48 h. These data demonstrate that IL-1 and TNF are not essential for postischemic increases in ICAM-1 and VCAM-1.