title: Distribution of cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1, ELAM-1) in renal tissue during allograft rejection.
abstract: The tissue distribution of cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) was studied in specimens from 10 normal human kidneys and in 52 biopsies from kidney allografts with cell-mediated rejection. In addition to the vascular presence of ICAM-1, a common finding in normal kidneys, expression of ICAM-1 on tubular cells was observed in 22 graft biopsies. Compared with normal kidneys, where VCAM-1 was present on Bowman's capsules and few proximal tubular cells, a markedly enhanced expression of VCAM-1 in numerous tubuli (including distal tubular segments) was observed in 51 graft biopsies. In 41 graft specimens VCAM-1 appeared also in variable numbers of peritubular capillaries. Infiltrating leukocytes carrying VCAM-1 were observed in 7 grafts. ELAM-1 could not be found in normal kidneys but was restricted to some peritubular capillaries in 29 grafts. Comparable results were obtained with cultured renal tubular cells when stimulated by TNF-alpha. That the induced appearance of adhesion molecules was in fact related to actual cellular synthesis was demonstrated by Northern blot analysis. Thus, little ICAM-1 specific mRNA of 3.4-kb length could be detected in unstimulated cultured renal tubular cells, but hybridization was markedly increased after stimulation with TNF-alpha. A substantial amount of VCAM-1 specific mRNA of 3.2-kb length was present already in unstimulated renal tubular cells. Likewise, synthesis of VCAM-1 mRNA was enhanced by stimulation with TNF-alpha. TNF-stimulated endothelial cells also showed weak synthesis of VCAM-1 mRNA. The results provide further evidence that constitutive and inducible expression of cell adhesion molecules contributes to the process of allograft rejection.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Immunologie, University of Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brockmeyer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ulbrecht
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schendel
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hillebrand
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Burkhardt
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Land
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Gokel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Riethmüller
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Feucht
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D002102:Cadaver; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019040:E-Selectin; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007668:Kidney / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation / Q000276:immunology*; D007684:Kidney Tubules / Q000166:cytology; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D017493:Leukocyte Common Antigens