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Static Adhesion Assay for the Study of Integrin Activation in T Lymphocytes
09:14

Static Adhesion Assay for the Study of Integrin Activation in T Lymphocytes

Published on: June 13, 2014

Overlapping and selective roles of endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and ICAM-2 in lymphocyte

Joachim C U Lehmann1, Dorothee Jablonski-Westrich, Uta Haubold

  • 1Experimentelle Rheumatologie, Universitätsklinik Charité, Humboldt-Universität and Deutsches Rheumaforschungszentrum, Schumannstrasse 21/22, 10117 Berlin, Germany.

Journal of Immunology (Baltimore, Md. : 1950)
|August 21, 2003
PubMed

Insights

Intercellular Adhesion Molecules (ICAMs) play roles in lymphocyte movement. ICAM-1 is crucial for trapping lymphocytes in the lung and migration to inflamed skin, while ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 have overlapping functions in lymph node recirculation.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Cellular Biology
  • Molecular Medicine

Background:

  • Integrin LFA-1 (leukocyte function-associated antigen 1) interacts with ICAMs (Intercellular Adhesion Molecules).
  • ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 are expressed on endothelial cells and act as counterreceptors for lymphocytes.
  • Understanding their roles is vital for modulating lymphocyte trafficking in immune responses.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the distinct and overlapping roles of ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 in lymphocyte recirculation.
  • To determine their contribution to lymphocyte recruitment into the lung and inflamed skin.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized blocking monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against ICAM-1 and ICAM-2.
  • Employed mice genetically deficient for ICAM-1.
  • Analyzed lymphocyte entry into lymph nodes, lung trapping, and skin migration.

Main Results:

  • Lymphocyte entry into lymph nodes was not significantly affected by the absence of either ICAM-1 or ICAM-2 alone.
  • Combined blockade of ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 markedly reduced lymphocyte recirculation through lymph nodes.
  • ICAM-1 exclusively mediated LFA-1-dependent lymphocyte trapping in the lung.
  • ICAM-1, but not ICAM-2, was essential for T effector cell migration into inflamed skin.

Conclusions:

  • ICAM-1 and ICAM-2 exhibit redundant functions in lymphocyte recirculation via lymph nodes.
  • ICAM-1 plays a unique and critical role in LFA-1-mediated lymphocyte sequestration in the lung.
  • ICAM-1 is indispensable for T cell homing to sites of inflammation, such as inflamed skin.

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