EXPRESSION OF ADHESION MOLECULES IN POSTSTREPTOCOCCAL GLOMERULONEPHRITIS

Because adhesion properties of leukocytes are important for the influx and localization of leukocytes in sites of inflammation, we studied, the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), lymphocy te-function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1), vascular cell adhesion molec ule- 1 (VCAM-1) and CD 11b in 14 kidney biopsies of PSGN patients, arb itrarily divided into early biopsies (less than 15 days after onset of PSGN) and late biopsies (17-90 days). In PSGN, intraglomerular ICAM-1 expression was increased in early biopsies (score 3.1+/-SEM 0.2; P<0. 005) and decreased with time; in late biopsies the score (2.0+/-0.2) w as similar to that of normal kidney (1.3 +/- 0.3). In the interstitium ICAM-1 was increased (early PSGN = 836+/-56 positive cells/mm2, late = 552 +/- 60.0; versus normal = 364 +/- 12.4; P < 0.05). LFA-1 express ing cells in glomeruli were also increased in early biopsies (10.0 +/- 2.1 positive cells per glomerular cross-section (gcs), versus normal 2.9 +/- 1.4; P < 0.05). In the interstitium, LFA-1 positive cells were increased (early PSGN = 221 +/- 79.6 cells/mm2, late PSGN = 134.5 +/- 45.1, normal = 21 +/- 8.7; P < 0.05). VCAM-1 in glomeruli and interst itium was not increased in PSGN. Our studies demonstrate increased exp ression of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and LFA-1 in the kidney of PSGN p atients, and these findings were more pronounced in early biopsies; ad hesion molecules are probably involved in the inflammatory infiltratio n of this disease.