[The expression of ICAM-1 on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cell lines]

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is one of the cell adhesion molecules. This molecule is a glycoprotein of about 90 KDa belonging to the immunoglobulin (Ig) superfamily and is widely expressed by hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells which play a role in the immune system. ICAM-1 is also a ligand or counter-receptor for the leukocyte integrin lymphocyte-function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1). We investigated the expression of ICAM-1 on the surfaces of cells from fifteen head and neck squamous carcinoma cell lines and the modulation of ICAM-1 expression by IFN-gamma, using an immunohistochemical stain. We categorized four types of stain degree. (-): < 10% of cells positive (+/-): 10-40% of cells positive (+): < 40-70% of cells positive (++): > 70% of cells positive Four cell lines showed (-) type. Three cell lines: (+/-). One cell line: (+). Seven cell lines: (++). The primary site of cell lines and the degree of ICAM-1 expression were not detectable. Connection between pathological differentiation and the degreed expression were not apparent, either. IFN-gamma up-regulated the degree of ICAM-1. All cell lines, when stimulated by IFN-gamma, showed (++) type.