Mite antigens enhance ICAM-1 and induce VCAM-1 expression on human umbilical vein endothelium.
Although sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy has been proved to be effective in the treatment of allergic diseases, controversy surrounds the means by which such a local therapy can induce systemic immunological changes. Adhesion molecules are critical in the regulation of leukocyte traffic. It has been hypothesized that allergenic extract, administered locally, may induce an up-regulation of the mucosal vessel vascular adhesion molecules (CAMs) resulting in local recruitment of circulating inflammatory cells. In the present study we investigated whether the mite antigens, Der p1 and Der p2, can modulate CAM expression of human endothelial cells (HEC). To do this, slices of whole human umbilical cord vein underwent short-term (8 hours) cultures in the presence or absence of mite antigen (baseline, unstimulated controls). Cryostatic sections of the specimens were then evaluated immunohistochemically for expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) molecules. The results revealed that while Der p1 is capable of significantly up-regulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on HEC, Der p2 antigen moderately up-regulates ICAM-1 expression but is ineffective in modulating VCAM-1. Although preliminary, these results clearly support the hypothesis that at least some of the effects of sublingual immunotherapy may derive from inflammatory cell recruitment at the site of allergen release.
Mastrandrea
F
F
Allergy Operative Unit, AUSL TA1, SS Annunziata Hospital, Taranto, Italy.
Nicotra
M R
MR
De Vita
L
L
Coradduzza
G
G
Minardi
A
A
Scarcia
G
G
Manelli
M
M
Cadario
G
G
Parmiani
S
S
Natali
P G
PG
D000286:Administration, Sublingual; D000818:Animals; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology*; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D003888:Desensitization, Immunologic; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008925:Mites / Q000276:immunology*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D014471:Umbilical Veins; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000209:etiology
D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; C451163:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 2; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1