[Role of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in the interaction between glomerular endothelial cells and granulocytes]

The present study was designed to investigate the role of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 in the interaction between glomerular endothelial cells (GEN) and granulocytes. Expression of ICAM-1 was promoted after stimulation with tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. This effect was dose- and time-dependent. Granulocytes attached to GEN in accordance with the increased expression of ICAM-1 on the cells stimulated with TNF-alpha. In addition, the adhesion of granulocytes to activated GEN with TNF-alpha stimulated specific [51Cr] release from the monolayers. Furthermore, monoclonal antibodies to TNF-alpha dose-dependently inhibited the adhesion of granulocytes to activated GEN. In summary, ICAM-1 is related to the glomerular endothelial cell injury induced by granulocytes activated with TNF-alpha, suggesting that ICAM-1 may play a role in the initiation of certain types of glomerulonephritis with granulocyte infiltration.