Expression of inducible cell adhesion molecules in the normal human lung: immunohistochemical study of their distribution in pulmonary blood vessels.
The distribution of cell adhesion molecules in the normal human lung was investigated using antibodies to E-selectin, P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1(ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1). Lectin staining by Ulex europaeus type I agglutinin (UEA I) and immunohistochemistry for von Willebrand factor (vWF) was used to visualize a maximum of blood vessels per section. In the bronchial mucosa, staining for P-selectin was positive in ca 90%, and staining for E-selectin, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 was positive in 40-70% of the vessels stained with UEA I. In the pulmonary circulation (vasa publica) ca 90% of non-capillary vessels stained by anti-vWF expressed P-selectin, 54% VCAM-1, 41% E-selectin, and only ca 20% ICAM 1. The alveolar capillaries were stained consistently by UEA I, but not by the panel of antibodies tested. The alveolar epithelium and, inconstantly, basal cells of the bronchial epithelium were positive for ICAM-1. The distribution pattern of inducible adhesion molecules in normal human lung tissue suggests that a permanent low-grade endothelial activation may exist in particular in the mucosa of the airways, which could be due to the normal antigen exposure via inhaled air.
Feuerhake
F
F
Anatomische Anstalt, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Department of Cytology, Histology, and Microscopic Anatomy, Munich, Germany. feuerhake@anat.med.uni-muenchen.de
Füchsl
G
G
Bals
R
R
Welsch
U
U
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001980:Bronchi / Q000098:blood supply; D002196:Capillaries / Q000737:chemistry; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000032:analysis; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D037102:Lectins; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000032:analysis; D037121:Plant Lectins; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000098:blood supply; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis; D014680:Veins / Q000737:chemistry; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D037102:Lectins; D019007:P-Selectin; D037121:Plant Lectins; C036850:Ulex europaeus lectins; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1