Interactions between epithelial cells and T lymphocytes: role of adhesion molecules.
Cell-cell interaction is critical for normal T cell development and function. A number of adhesion molecules important in T cell interactions with other cell types have been defined. This paper reviews 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 are mediated by both the LFA-1/ICAM-1 pathway and the CD2/LFA-3 pathway, epidermal-T cell interactions are mediated primarily by the LFA-1/ICAM-1 pathway. Although ICAM-1 is not expressed in vivo on epidermal keratinocytes in normal skin, ICAM-1 is expressed by epidermal keratinocytes at the site of T cell infiltration in inflammatory dermatitis. ICAM-1 is expressed in vivo on thymic epithelium. 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.
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Singer
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000502:physiology*; D002450:Cell Communication; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004848:Epithelium / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D012879:Skin Physiological Phenomena; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules