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Endothelium adhesion molecules ICAM-1, ICAM-2, VCAM-1 and VLA-4 expression in leprosy

Juarez de Sousa1, Tinara Leila Sousa Aarão2, Jorge Rodrigues de Sousa3

  • 1Centro de Ciencias Biologicas e da Saude, Universidade do Estado do Para, Belem, Para, Brazil.

Microbial Pathogenesis
|January 16, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Leprosy involves complex immune responses where endothelium plays a key role. This study found higher expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and VLA-4 in tuberculoid leprosy, indicating their importance in immune cell migration to infected tissues.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Dermatology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Leprosy pathogenesis involves intricate host-pathogen immune interactions.
  • Endothelial cells are crucial in modulating immune cell trafficking to infection sites.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of endothelium in Mycobacterium leprae infection.
  • To correlate endothelial marker expression with cytokine patterns in leprosy.
  • To analyze the expression of ICAM-1, ICAM-2, VCAM-1, and VLA-4 in leprosy skin biopsies.

Main Methods:

  • Skin biopsy samples from 36 leprosy patients were analyzed.
  • Immunohistochemical analysis was performed using monoclonal antibodies against ICAM-1, ICAM-2, VCAM-1, and VLA-4.
  • Quantification of stained endothelial cells was conducted.

Main Results:

  • Tuberculoid leprosy showed significantly higher ICAM-1 expression (9.92 cells/mm²) compared to lepromatous leprosy (5.87 cells/mm²).
  • VCAM-1 and VLA-4 expression was notably higher in tuberculoid leprosy (18.28 and 22.46 cells/mm², respectively) than in lepromatous leprosy (10.67 and 16.04 cells/mm²).
  • No significant difference in ICAM-2 expression was observed between leprosy types.

Conclusions:

  • Increased expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and VLA-4 in tuberculoid leprosy highlights their critical role.
  • These molecules are important in the migration and selection of immune cells reaching M. leprae-infected tissues.
  • Endothelial cell behavior is significantly altered in different forms of leprosy.
Keywords:
EndotheliumImmunologyLeprosyMolecular adhesion

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