title: The role of cell adhesion molecules in allograft rejection after penetrating keratoplasty in mice. Clinical and immunohistochemical study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It has been reported that adhesion molecules play an important role in immunological rejection after organ transplantation. In the present study, we examined the role of ICAM-1/ LFA-1 adhesion molecules in corneal allograft rejection and evaluated the immunological specificity of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in preventing allograft rejection in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The allografted mice were intraperitoneally injected with 100 micrograms/day of the following mAbs: a control mAb, anti-ICAM-1 mAb, anti-LFA-1 mAb, or a mixture of anti-ICAM-1 and anti-LFA-1 mAbs from 1 day before to 7 days after surgery. The expression of ICAM-1 and LFA-1 molecules in the grafted cornea was studied immunohistochemically. The corneas from a syngeneic donor or a third-party strain were transplanted 4 weeks after the initial keratoplasty onto the mice treated with both anti-ICAM-1 and anti-LFA-1 mAbs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The allografts treated with anti-LFA-1 mAb alone or both anti-ICAM-1 and anti-LFA-1 mAbs remained transparent for more than 2 weeks, and the survival rate at 8 weeks was 40% in both groups. ICAM-1 was expressed on the mononuclear cells, keratocytes and endothelial cells in the allografts without treatment. The second corneal grafts syngeneic to the initial donor remained transparent at 2 weeks, whereas those from the third party were rejected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ICAM-1 and LFA-1 adhesion molecules play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of corneal transplant rejection. The immunosuppressive effects of anti-ICAM-1 and anti-LFA-1 mAbs are highly allospecific. The administration of mAbs to the adhesion molecules represents a new means of suppressing allograft rejection after penetrating keratoplasty.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Jichi Medical School, Tochigi, Japan.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Yamagami
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Tsuru
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Isobe
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Obata
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Suzuki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003315:Cornea / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006084:Graft Rejection / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D015948:Keratoplasty, Penetrating / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1