ADHESION MOLECULES IN NORMAL HUMAN CONJUNCTIVA - AN IMMUNOHISTOLOGICAL STUDY USING MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES

In this immunohistochemical light microscopic study we applied a panel of monoclonal antibodies to study the expression pattern of adhesion molecules in normal human conjunctiva from 15 patients. The molecules we analyzed included the VLA-family VLA-1-6, the leukocyte integrins L FA-1, Mac-1 and p150,95, the immunoglobulins LFA-3, CD2, ICAM-1 and VC AM-1 and the selectin ELAM-1. Our results show that only VLA-2, VLA-3, LFA-3, and the VLA-alpha6 subunit are expressed on the epithelium. A strongly basal accentuation of the VLA-alpha6 subunit indicates its po ssible relevance in anchoring the epithelium at the substantia propria . Intraepithelial T cells were VLA-1, VLA-5, LFA-1, and CD2 positive. Endothelial cells expressed VLA-1, VLA-2, VLA-3, VLA-5, VLA-alpha6, IC AM-1, and LFA-3. ELAM-1 was seen only in specimens from five patients. Interestingly, mast cells were positive for VLA-3 and VLA-5, both of which are receptors for fibronectin, indicating that these integrins p lay an important role in mast cell function. Our study builds the basi s for further investigations in adhesion molecules in conjunctival dis eases.