Soluble ICAM-1 levels in serum during acute infectious mononucleosis

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) has been reported as a T-cell, B-cell or macrophage/monocyte activation antigen. We investigated whether soluble ICAM-1 levels in serum increased during the acute stage in 11 patients with infectious mononucleosis (IM). Serum ICAM-1 levels were measured by a double determinant immunoassay using 2 monoclonal antibodies in the FAST system. Serum ICAM-1 levels in patients with IM increased during the acute stage. There was a positive correlation between serum ICAM-1 levels and absolute counts of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our results suggest that the elevated serum ICAM-1 levels are based on the increased counts of activated peripheral blood mononuclear cells and that ICAM-1 is a part of the regulatory system of immune reactions during acute IM.