title: Biodefense function of omental milky spots through cell adhesion molecules and leukocyte proliferation.
abstract: To evaluate the immunological functions of the greater omentum in the peritoneal cavity, the localization of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) on mesothelial cells and leukocytes in the omental milky spots were studied in normal and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mice by means of immunoelectron microscopy. The milky spots featured numerous leukocytes among the dome-shaped mesothelial cells, even in the normal stable state. Leukocyte integrins LFA-1, Mac-1, and VLA-4 were preferentially localized to microvilli and ruffles of macrophages and lymphocytes. The mesothelial cells of the milky spots showed higher ICAM-1 levels than did those of other omental regions, and fibronectin was detected in the stomata. The number of leukocytes markedly increased following an increase in proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells in the milky spots after LPS stimulation. The mesothelial cells contained VCAM-1 newly restricted to the microvilli and increasing amounts of ICAM-1. These results show that the omental milky spots are active sites for leukocyte migration and peritoneal leukocyte supply because of the presence of adhesion molecules and active cell proliferation. Proliferative active leukocytes and those that have migrated from vessels pass through the stomata via an interaction of VLA-4 and fibronectin, adhere to the microvilli of the activated mesothelial cell surface as the result of an interaction between ICAM-1/VCAM-1 and integrins, and exude into the peritoneal cavity. Much of the exudation and adhesion of leukocytes seen in the milky spots of LPS-stimulated mice may be attributable to an increase in cell proliferation and in the amounts of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Organ Transplants, Reconstructive Medicine and Tissue Engineering, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto 390-8621, Japan. cui@sch.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Kohei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Johkura
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Ruifeng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ogiwara
authors.forename: Yasumitsu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okouchi
authors.forename: Kazuhiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asanuma
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D002455:Cell Division; D004926:Escherichia coli; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009852:Omentum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1