title: ICAM-1 on epithelial cells in allergic subjects: a hallmark of allergic inflammation.
abstract: Allergen-specific challenge was first shown to induce ICAM-1 expression on epithelial cells (ECs) of conjunctiva in allergic patients. The data have also been confirmed in the nose. We then checked for the presence of ICAM-1 consequent to natural exposure to allergens. For both conjunctivitis and rhinitis due to pollen we confirmed, during the pollen season, the presence of ICAM-1 on ECs. We demonstrated the endogenous source of ICAM-1 by in situ hybridization both in vitro and in vivo. ICAM-1 could be an activation marker on ECs, or could, enhanced EC susceptibility to bind offending cells such as eosinophils (LFA-1+). ICAM-1 is also a receptor for the vast majority of rhinoviruses, which are known to provoke, mainly in children, asthma attacks. Since we found that mite allergens can induce ICAM-1 on ECs, even during clinical latency, allergy may be considered as a primary event leading to asthma (through rhinovirus infection) and non-specific hyperreactivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, DIMI, Genoa University, Italy.
authors.forename: G W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: Canonica
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciprandi
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Pesce
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buscaglia
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paolieri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bagnasco
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002460:Cell Line; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006633:Histamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000502:physiology; D010850:Picornaviridae Infections / Q000150:complications; D012229:Rhinovirus / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D006633:Histamine Antagonists; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1