alpha-Neup5Ac-(2--3)-beta-D-Galp-(1--4)-[alpha-L-Fucp-(1--3)]-D-GlcpNAc and Polymyositis

The expression of three pairs of adhesion receptors and ligands was examined in 22 consecutive muscle biopsies showing morphological signs of inflammation.. The following groups were studied: patients with polymyositis (PM) (n=7), patients with myositis that did not fulfil criteria for PM, i.e. suspected PM (n=5), patients with other diseases, with no clinical signs of inflammatory myopathy (n=6), and a small group of non-PM inflammatory myopathies (n=4). The endothelial expression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin was evaluated, as was the cellular expression of LFA-1, VLA-4 and SLex. In addition, the expression of MHC class I and II was studied.. The ratio between the number of cells expressing LFA-1 and VLA-4 showed significant differences between the groups, with the lowest values in PM.. The LFA-1/VLA-4 ratio should be suitable for diagnostic purposes. Our findings also indicate that the VLA-4/VCAM-1 system is important for chronic T cell inflammation in muscle, in line with findings in other "hidden" organs like joints and the central nervous system.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Biopsy; Capillaries; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cell Count; E-Selectin; Female; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Integrin alpha4beta1; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Leukocytes; Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; Male; Middle Aged; Muscle, Skeletal; Oligosaccharides; Polymyositis; Predictive Value of Tests; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1