CD11/CD18 and ICAM-1 expression in a murine foreign body granulomatous lung model

The expression of leukocyte adhesion molecules (Leu-CAM; CD11/CD18 family) and ICAM-1 was studied on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells and lung tissue sections from a mouse lung granulomatous model. When foreign body lung granuloma were induced in mice by intratracheal injection of 1.5 x 10(4) Sephadex G-50 beads, total and differential BAL cell counts demonstrated a maximal recovery of macrophages and neutrophils at 3 days. Indirect immunoperoxidase staining patterns indicated that intratracheal challenge with beads activated BAL cells and upregulated expression of CD11b, ICAM-1, and CD18 antigenic markers on macrophages and neutrophils when compared with BAL cells from saline controls. Immunohistochemical staining also confirmed the presence of CD11b on activated macrophages and neutrophils around the beads and of the ICAM-1 antigen in the lung parenchyma of bead challenged mice.