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Biologically active intercellular adhesion molecule-1 is shed as dimers by a regulated mechanism in the inflamed

Mario Melis1, Elisabetta Pace, Liboria Siena

  • 1Institute of Respiratory Physiopathology, Italian National Research Council, Palermo, Italy.

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|February 8, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) is released from cells in pleural effusions and can suppress immune responses by inhibiting cytotoxic lymphocyte adhesion.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is vital for cell interactions in immune responses.
  • Soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) can modulate immunoinflammatory processes.
  • Understanding sICAM-1 in disease is crucial for immune response modulation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the source, form, regulation, and function of sICAM-1 in pleural effusions.
  • Determine the cellular origins and release mechanisms of sICAM-1.
  • Assess the biological activity and immunosuppressive potential of sICAM-1.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of cells and pleural fluid from patients with cancer, tuberculosis, and heart failure.
  • Characterization of sICAM-1 conformation and cellular expression.
  • Investigation of sICAM-1 release mechanisms, including cytokine involvement.
  • Functional assays to evaluate sICAM-1's effect on immune cell interactions.

Main Results:

  • Dimeric sICAM-1 is locally released in tuberculous and malignant pleural effusions.
  • sICAM-1 is shed from pre-existing surface ICAM-1, with leukocytes, epithelial, and mesothelial cells as sources.
  • Pleural macrophages regulate sICAM-1 release via a tumor necrosis factor-alpha-dependent pathway.
  • Pleural sICAM-1 inhibits conjugate formation between LAK cells and K562 cells.

Conclusions:

  • sICAM-1 is shed in a regulated manner from multiple cell types within the pleural space.
  • Pleural sICAM-1 exhibits immunosuppressive activity by hindering cytotoxic lymphocyte adhesion.
  • sICAM-1 plays a significant role in modulating immune responses in pleural effusions.

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