| Title | ICAM-1 on epithelial cells in allergic subjects: a hallmark of allergic inflammation. | ||
| Author | Canonica, G W; Ciprandi, G; Pesce, G P; Buscaglia, S; Paolieri, F; Bagnasco, M | ||
| Journal | Int Arch Allergy Immunol | Publication Year/Month | 1995-May-Jun |
| PMID | 7613226 | PMCID | -N/A- |
| Affiliation | 1.Department of Internal Medicine, DIMI, Genoa University, Italy. | ||
Allergen-specific challenge was first shown to induce ICAM-1 expression on epithelial cells (ECs) of conjunctiva in allergic patients. The data have also been confirmed in the nose. We then checked for the presence of ICAM-1 consequent to natural exposure to allergens. For both conjunctivitis and rhinitis due to pollen we confirmed, during the pollen season, the presence of ICAM-1 on ECs. We demonstrated the endogenous source of ICAM-1 by in situ hybridization both in vitro and in vivo. ICAM-1 could be an activation marker on ECs, or could, enhanced EC susceptibility to bind offending cells such as eosinophils (LFA-1+). ICAM-1 is also a receptor for the vast majority of rhinoviruses, which are known to provoke, mainly in children, asthma attacks. Since we found that mite allergens can induce ICAM-1 on ECs, even during clinical latency, allergy may be considered as a primary event leading to asthma (through rhinovirus infection) and non-specific hyperreactivity.