Expression of E-selectin, P-selectin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 during experimental murine listeriosis

The expression of adhesion molecules E-selectin, P-selectin, and intercellu lar adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was immunohistochemically investigated dur ing the course of experimental murine Listeriosis, Infection was monitored by microbiological count of blood, Liver, and spleen. After an early genera lized expression of P-selectin and ICAM-1, a later regulation occurred spec ifically to areas of inflammation. Expression of E-selectin was faint and i nconstantly detected in all of the studied organs. In the liver, typical le sions of murine Listeriosis were related to the expression of ICAM-1 on sin usoidal endothelial cells and the biliary system and to the de novo express ion of P-selectin in hepatic portal vessels. Inflammation in the spleen was related to the expression of ICAM-1 on red pulp sinusoidal cells, especial ly in the marginal sinus, High endothelial venules of inflamed lymph nodes also expressed P-selectin and ICAM-1, Lesions in the central nervous system appeared on day 3 after infection as a pyogranulomatous leptomeningitis as sociated with an intense expression of P-selectin and ICAM-1 in meningeal v essels, especially those in the hippocampal sulcus, suggesting a way throug h which inflammation initially reach the central nervous system during expe rimental murine Listeriosis, Leptomeningitis was followed by the presence o f ventriculitis, which was related to the upregulation of ICAM-1 on choroid plexus epithelial cells, periventricular vessels and ependymal cells. Up-r egulation of P-selectin and ICAM-1 during experimental murine listeriosis c ould play an important role in the recruitment of leukocytes, especially to the Liver, lymphoid organs, and central nervous system.