ADHESION MOLECULES IN IRIS BIOPSY SPECIMENS FROM PATIENTS WITH UVEITIS

Background/aims-Earlier studies on intraocular tissue have demonstrate d that T lymphocytes play a major role in the pathogenesis of uveitis. Adhesion molecules are immunoregulatory molecules for the interaction between T lymphocytes and vascular endothelium and they play an impor tant role in the recruitment of specific T lymphocytes from the circul ation into inflamed tissue. In uveitis an increased expression of some of these adhesion molecules may be expected. Methods-The presence of adhesion molecules was investigated in iris biopsy specimens from 11 p atients with uveitis and eight controls (patients with primary open an gle glaucoma) immunohistochemically with a panel of monoclonal antibod ies: LECAM (CD 62L), ICAM-1 (CD 54), LFA-1 (CD 11a/18), VCAM-1 (CD 106 ), VLA-4 (CD 49d), and HECA-452, a marker for high endothelial venules . Results-Positive staining for ICAM-1, LFA-1 and VCAM-1 was found in the iris in a significantly higher number of uveitis patients than in controls. The remaining adhesion molecules were also found in a higher number of uveitis patients than in controls, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion-An increased expression of adhesion molecules was found in the iris of patients with uveitis, indicating an immunoregulatory function for adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of uveitis.