title: Lack of expression of intercellular adhesion molecule ICAM-1 in lepromatous leprosy patients.
abstract: It is conceivable that an abnormal expression of cell-adhesion molecules can contribute to the poor inflammatory response seen in some inflammatory skin diseases. Adhesins are cell-surface molecules that are expressed by many cell types. The main function of adhesins appears to be the promotion of cellular interactions, such as those occurring between immune cells. The epidermis of patients with inflammatory skin diseases exhibits an increased expression of ICAM-1, and it has been postulated that such increased expression can be important in the genesis of cutaneous inflammation. The expression of cell-adhesion molecules (LFA-1, LFA-2, LFA-3 and ICAM-1) in skin lesions of leprosy patients was studied, as well as the in vitro expression of these molecules induced with gamma interferon (IFN-gamma). A lack of expression of ICAM-1 in the epidermis of lepromatous patients was noted; in addition, no expression of ICAM-1 was seen in the nearly normal skin from these patients incubated with IFN-gamma. A similar expression of the four molecules studies was noted in the dermis of both the lepromatous and tuberculoid types of leprosy. The epidermis of the lepromatous leprosy patients appears to have a defective expression of ICAM-1.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Central, School of Medicine of San Luis Potosi, México.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moncada
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Torres-Alvarez
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Amaro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fuentes-Ahumada
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Baranda
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018968:CD58 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004817:Epidermis / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000494:pharmacology; D015440:Leprosy, Lepromatous / Q000276:immunology*; D015441:Leprosy, Tuberculoid / Q000276:immunology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018968:CD58 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007371:Interferon-gamma