Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Quantitation of Endothelial Cell Adhesiveness In Vitro
Published on: June 18, 2015
In vitro cell aggregation and cell adhesion molecules in Crohn's disease
L Mishra1, B B Mishra, M Harris
1Department of Gastroenterology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.
Background:
Lack of a suitable model has hindered efforts to understand inflammation and granuloma formation in Crohn's disease.
Methods:
Granulomalike aggregates of circulating mononuclear cells are produced in vitro by cultures of cells with polyacrylamide beads. To identify features of in vitro aggregates, which are similar to tissue granulomas of Crohn's disease, the gross morphology and immunohistological appearance of the aggregates produced with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with Crohn's disease were analyzed, and the size of in vitro aggregates was correlated with clinical activity of the disease. Blocking antibodies were used to evaluate the role of cell-adhesion molecules in the formation of in vitro aggregates.
Results:
The size of in vitro aggregates correlates very significantly with clinical activity (P < 0.001). In active Crohn's disease, in vitro aggregates show immunohistological features of hypersensitivity type granulomas. Blocking antibodies against leukocyte function associated antigen LFA-2 (CD2), LFA-3 (CD58), and Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) inhibit in vitro aggregate formation.
Conclusion:
In vitro aggregates model in vivo granulomas in size and organization. Cell adhesion molecules like CD2, CD58, and CD11b/CD18 may be involved in granuloma-formation of Crohn's disease.
Related Concept Videos
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily involved in a...
Drugs for Treatment of Crohn's Disease in IBD Using Biologic Agents: Anti-TNF
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Crohn's Disease
Inflammatory bowel disease, commonly known as IBD, refers to a collection of disorders that lead to persistent inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two types of IBD are ulcerative colitis, which impacts the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can involve any part of the gastrointestinal segment.
Crohn's disease
Crohn's disease is a chronic, systemic inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) that predominantly affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is marked by transmural...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease

