Intercellular adhesion molecule expression in the evolving human cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity reaction.
Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), putatively expressed by antigen-presenting or target skin cells, is a ligand for the lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA-1) present on circulating lymphocytes. Immunohistochemistry of normal adult human skin using monoclonal antiserum to ICAM-1 demonstrated focal reactivity restricted to endothelium lining the dermal microvasculature. Delayed hypersensitivity responses elicited with dinitrochlorobenzene in the skin of the same subject were evaluated sequentially over a 96 h period using immunohistochemical and ultrastructural techniques. The first alteration observed consisted of mast cell degranulation within perivenular foci in the superficial dermis at 4 h after antigen challenge. Sparse superficial perivascular T-cell infiltrates were present by 24 h. Progressive staining for ICAM-1 was observed in microvascular endothelium and in dermal dendritic cells between 24 and 48 h. ICAM-1 expression was documented focally within the lower epidermis at 48 h and diffusely within the lower and upper epidermal layers at 96 h. ICAM-1 expression by keratinocytes was consistently associated with T-cell migration into the epidermis, whereas migration was never observed in the absence of ICAM-1 reactivity. Immunoelectron microscopy confirmed ICAM-1 to be exclusively present on endothelial cells, dermal dendritic cells, mononuclear cells, and keratinocytes, and permitted characterization of the patterns of membrane reactivity. ICAM-1 expression by epidermal cells appears to be closely linked to the progressive migration of T cells from the dermis into the epidermis that characterizes cutaneous delayed hypersensitivity.
Lewis
R E
RE
Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
Buchsbaum
M
M
Whitaker
D
D
Murphy
G F
GF
D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002465:Cell Movement; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012867:Skin / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D013997:Time Factors
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules