LYMPHOCYTE ADHESION MOLECULE LIGANDS AND EXTRACELLULAR-MATRIX PROTEINS IN GLIOMAS AND NORMAL BRAIN - EXPRESSION OF VCAM-1 IN GLIOMAS

To identify antigenic differences between gliomas and normal brain. we have immunohistochemically studied the expression of lymphocyte adhes ion molecules (ICAM-1, ICAM-2. ICAM-3, VCAM-1, E-selectin and CD58), e pidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and extracellular matrix protei ns (collagen IV, fibronectin, laminin, merosin. tenascin and vitronect in) in these tissues. Gliomas expressed high levels of ICAM-1. CD58 (L FA-3), EGFR, tenascin and vitronectin, whereas only very low levels we re detected in normal brain, VCAM-1 expression was detected in 15 out of 25 gliomas but not in normal brain. The presence of VCAM-1 in gliom as was verified by immunoblotting and RNase protection assay: and in g lioma cell lines by Northern blotting. Expression of VCAM-1 in gliomas may partially explain lymphocytic infiltration, and anti-VCAM-1 antib odies may be of potential in antibody mixtures for targeted therapy of gliomas.