ENDOTHELIAL-CELL ICAM-1 STAINING IN HUMAN CAROTID ARTERIES

In this study human carotid artery specimens from 18 patients were exa mined by an en face technique to demonstrate the endothelial cell stai ning of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Endothelial cells about the carotid bifurcation and within the post-stenotic region of t he internal carotid artery were predominately polyhedral in shape with heterogenous but often intense ICAM-1 staining. Endothelium lining th e partially stenosed lumen of the intern carotid orifice were elongate d with ICAM-1 staining often polarized at the proximal end of the cell . There were two dominant pat terns of ICAM-1 staining associated with polyhedral endothelial cells, cell border, and cell surface/nuclear p rofile staining. Polyhedral cells at the proximal end of the internal carotid artery stenosis appeared to have both patterns while those at the distal end were most often observed with only the cell surface exp ression pattern. Adherent leukocytes were mostly observed in associati on with polyhedral endothelial cells especially in the post-stenotic i nternal carotid and were uncommon within stenoses. These results indic ate heterogeneity not only of endothelial cell morphology but also in the intensity and pattern of staining of ICAM-1 about atherosclerotic lesions. This may be indicative of different functional properties for ICAM-1 depending on anatomical localization and consequent hemodynami c stresses. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc.