Cell adhesion molecules in the development of inflammatory infiltrates in giant cell arteritis: inflammation-induced angiogenesis as the preferential site of leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the expression pattern of adhesion molecules involved in leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions in giant cell arteritis (GCA).


METHODS
Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on frozen temporal artery sections from 32 patients with biopsy-proven GCA and from 12 control patients with other diseases. Adhesion molecules identified were intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), ICAM-2, ICAM-3, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1), E-selectin, P-selectin, L-selectin, lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1), very late activation antigen 4 (VLA-4), Mac-1 (CD18/CD11b), and gp 150,95 (CD18/CD11c). Clinical and biochemical parameters of inflammation in the patients, as well as the duration of previous corticosteroid treatment, were prospectively recorded.


RESULTS
Constitutive (PECAM-1, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, and P-selectin) and inducible (E-selectin and VCAM-1) endothelial adhesion molecules for leukocytes were mainly expressed by adventitial microvessels and neovessels within inflammatory infiltrates. Concurrent analysis of leukocyte receptors indicated a preferential use of VLA-4/VCAM-1 and LFA-1/ICAM-1 at the adventitia and Mac-1/ICAM-1 at the intima-media junction. The intensity of inducible endothelial adhesion molecule expression (E-selectin and VCAM-1) correlated with the intensity of the systemic inflammatory response. Previous corticosteroid treatment reduced, but did not completely abrogate, the expression of the inducible endothelial adhesion molecules E-selectin and VCAM-1.


CONCLUSIONS
Inflammation-induced angiogenesis is the main site of leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions leading to the development of inflammatory infiltrates in GCA. The distribution of leukocyte-endothelial cell ligand pairs suggests a heterogeneity in leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions used by different functional cell subsets at distinct areas of the temporal artery.
Cid
M C
MC
University of Barcelona, Spain.
Cebrián
M
M
Font
C
C
Coll-Vinent
B
B
Hernández-Rodríguez
J
J
Esparza
J
J
Urbano-Márquez
A
A
Grau
J M
JM
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000276:immunology; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D013700:Giant Cell Arteritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000276:immunology; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000276:immunology*; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D013699:Temporal Arteries / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015703:Antigens, CD; D000943:Antigens, Differentiation; D018821:CD18 Antigens; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; C065289:ICAM2 protein, human; C483616:ICAM3 protein, human; D039041:Integrin alpha4beta1; D016023:Integrins; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D019007:P-Selectin; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D016201:Receptors, Lymphocyte Homing; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D019041:L-Selectin