Circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as an early and sensitive marker for virus-induced T cell activation.
The effect of systemic virus infection on the level of circulating ICAM-1 (cICAM-1) in serum, and the role of virus-activated T cells in this context, were studied using the murine lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus infection as primary model system. A marked virus-induced elevation in cICAM-1 in serum was revealed, the presence of which coincided with the phase of virus-induced T cell activation. However, high levels of cICAM-1 in serum were observed well before maximal T cell activation could be demonstrated. No increase in cICAM-1 was observed in the serum of infected T cell-deficient nude mice, clearly demonstrating that T cells were mandatory. Analysis of MHC class I and MHC class II-deficient mice revealed that either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells alone are sufficient, despite a markedly reduced inflammatory exudate in the former animals. These results indicate that virus-activated T cells induce shedding of ICAM-1 into the circulation, and this parameter may be used as an early and sensitive marker for immune activation.
Christensen
J P
JP
Institute of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Johansen
J
J
Marker
O
O
Thomsen
A R
AR
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008216:Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis / Q000276:immunology*; D008217:Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D012995:Solubility; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014721:Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1