MODULATION OF INTERCELLULAR-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 AND VASCULAR CELL-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 ON HUMAN CORONARY SMOOTH-MUSCLE CELLS BY CYTOKINES

Adhesion molecules have been demonstrated immunohistochemically on smo oth muscle cells in atherosclerotic plaques. In endothelial cells cyto kines are potent modulators of adhesion molecule expression. We theref ore investigated the effects of cytokines on adhesion molecule express ion on cultured human coronary and pulmonary smooth muscle cells by ce ll ELISA and confocal microscopy. Human coronary and pulmonary smooth muscle cells expressed ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 but not E-selectin. ICAM-1 ex pression was upregulated by TNF alpha, IL-1 beta and IFN-gamma. VCAM-1 expression was increased by TNF alpha and weakly by IL-1 beta. IFN-ga mma had no effect on VCAM-1 expression, Cytokine effects on ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were based on de novo synthesis. These results demonstrate tha t cytokines regulate ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression on human coronary an d pulmonary smooth muscle cells. These effects may play an important r ole in the immune mechanisms in atherosclerosis. (C) 1995 Academic Pre ss Limited