Expression of cell adhesion molecules in primary renal disease and renal allograft rejection

Background. In vitro studies have demonstrated that inflammatory mediators such as the cytokines TNF alpha and IL-1 upregulate or induce de novo expression of cell adhesion molecules on endothelial and epithelial cells, in the present study the expression of the cell adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and PECAM-1 was investigated in renal biopsies from patients with primary renal diseases (n = 66) and from renal allograft recipients (n = 42), Methods. Expression of the cell adhesion molecules was determined by immunohistochemistry of frozen sections using monoclonal antibodies directed against PECAM-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and MHC class II molecules (APAAP method). Results and Conclusions. PECAM-1 and ICBM-1 were expressed in the renal vasculature and disappeared in obliterated glomeruli with endothelial cell destruction, ICAM-1 but not PECAM-1 was upregulated in renal endothelia in acute allograft rejection and inflammatory primary renal diseases. Tubular de novo expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 correlated with severe structural damage of the renal parenchyma including interstitial fibrosis, Vascular and/or glomerular VCAM-1 and E-selectin. expression was pronounced in severe acute allograft rejection and also reflected the intensity of inflammatory reactions in primary renal diseases with or without autoimmune disorders. De novo expression of VCAM-1 and E-selectin in renal vessels and/or glomeruli and overexpression of ICAM-1 are markers of acute and severe inflammatory processes in biopsies from allograft recipients and patients with primary renal diseases.