lewis-x-antigen and Myositis

Adhesion molecules are suggested to play important roles in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases. We examined the expression of adhesion molecules in the muscles of human inflammatory myopathies.. We immunohistochemically studied the expression and distribution of two molecules in the selectin family (E- and P-selectin) and their common ligand sialyl Lewis X in 18 inflammatory myopathies, 13 disease controls, and 16 normal controls.. In inflammatory myopathies, E- and P-selectin were upregulated on the surface of blood vessels, especially on the endothelial cells of the venules. Sialyl Lewis X was upregulated in the blood vessels, infiltrating leukocytes, and the surface of some atrophic myofibers. Some control muscles also showed weakly positive staining with these molecules, however, expression of these molecules was most striking in the muscles of inflammatory myopathies.. The results suggested that these molecules are upregulated in inflammatory myopathies and might play a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory myopathies.

Topics: Cell Adhesion Molecules; E-Selectin; Humans; Lewis X Antigen; Myositis; Neuromuscular Diseases; Oligosaccharides; P-Selectin; Reference Values; Sialyl Lewis X Antigen; Up-Regulation

We examined the expression of cell adhesion molecules in 25 cases of inflammatory myopathies. Inflammatory myopathies showed upregulation of adhesion molecules. ICAM-1 was strongly expressed on endothelial cells as well as on fibroblasts and infiltrating leukocytes while the expression of VCAM-1, similar in its distribution, was much weaker. A few muscle fibers in polymyositis revealed sarcolemmal labeling for ICAM-1. ELAM-1 showed only weak expression on vessels. The inflammatory cellular infiltrates contained varying amounts of cells bearing the VCAM-1 ligand VLA-4 and the ELAM-1 ligand SLeX as well as large amounts of cells expressing LFA-1 alpha and beta, ligands of ICAM-1.

Topics: Cell Adhesion Molecules; E-Selectin; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Lewis X Antigen; Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; Myositis; Receptors, Very Late Antigen; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1