CELL-ADHESION MOLECULE EXPRESSION IN CUTANEOUS LESIONS OF DERMATOMYOSITIS

Chronic inflammation seems to play a major role in skin and muscle cel l damage in dermatomyositis. Adhesion molecules and their ligands are fundamental in regulating inflammation, We have carried out an immunoh istochemical analysis of different activation-inducible adhesion marke rs in 15 biopsy specimens from dermatomyositis skin lesions, Consisten t findings were the increased expression of intercellular adhesion mol ecule-1 (ICAM-1) on endothelial cells, inflammatory cells and focally grouped keratinocytes in contact with subepidermal inflammatory infilt rates, Immunoreactivity for vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was predominant on endothelial cells of the upper reticular dermis an d dermal stellate-shaped cells. E-selectin (endothelial leukocyte adhe sion molecule-1) immunoreactivity was less extensive, detected mostly on segments of vessels of the papillary dermis and upper reticular der mis, and sometimes independent of inflammation, This pattern of adhesi on molecule expression is similar to that described in other immune-me diated dermatoses, The up-regulation of the adhesion molecules appears to play a role in the development and perpetuation of dermatomyositis skin lesions.