THE DISTRIBUTION OF ADHESION MOLECULES IN HUMAN ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Chronic inflammatory cells are a recognized component of atherosclerot ic plaques at all stages of development. As adhesion molecules play a fundamental role in inflammatory processes, we have carried out an imm unohistochemical investigation of the distribution of endothelial leuc ocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in human athe rosclerotic lesions. Autopsy specimens from abdominal aorta and corona ry arteries were obtained from 21 cases within 24 h of death. ELAM-1 a nd ICAM-1 were consistently expressed by the entire intimal endotheliu m of normal coronary arteries and also by the intimal endothelium over lying aortic fatty streaks. Both coronary artery and aortic lesions sh owed strong staining for ICAM-1 on and around macrophages. VCAM-1 was not detected on intimal endothelial cells, but strong staining of adve ntitial lymphoid aggregates for this molecule was seen. This work sugg ests a role for ELAM-1 and ICAM-1 in mononuclear cell recruitment duri ng atherogenesis.