The role of adhesion molecules in epithelial-T-cell interactions in thymus and skin.
Interaction of T lymphocytes with other cell types is important for normal T-cell development and function. Recently, a number of adhesion molecules important in T-cell interactions with other cell types have been defined. In this paper we review the role of two adhesion pathways, CD2/LFA-3 and LFA-1/ICAM-1, in T-cell interactions with epithelial cells of the thymus and skin. While thymic epithelium-T-cell interactions were mediated by both the LFA-1/ICAM-1 pathway and the CD2/LFA-3 pathway, epidermal-T-cell interactions were mediated primarily by the LFA-1/ICAM-1 pathway. Although ICAM-1 was not expressed in vivo on epidermal keratinocytes in normal skin, ICAM-1 was expressed by epidermal keratinocytes at the site of T-cell infiltration in inflammatory dermatitis. ICAM-1 was expressed in vivo on thymic epithelium. Both LFA-3 and ICAM-1 were expressed on epithelial cells of thymus and skin early on in fetal ontogeny. These antigen-independent adhesion molecules play an important role in the cell-cell interactions associated with T-cell differentiation and function.
Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
K H
KH
Singer
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Le
S M
SM
Denning
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Whichard
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Haynes
D000818:Animals; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000502:physiology; D018968:CD58 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D004817:Epidermis / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000502:physiology; D016028:Receptors, Leukocyte-Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D000954:Antigens, Surface; D018968:CD58 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D016028:Receptors, Leukocyte-Adhesion