ROLE OF ICAM-1 AND LEUKOCYTE ELASTASE IN VASCULITIS ASSOCIATING RHEUMATIC DISEASES

Abstract

Vasculitis is a clinical and pathological process that may affect vessels of any size. Such vascular inflammation is a prominent component of virtually all of the systemic connective tissue diseases and commonly associates RA, SLE, SSe and BD.

ANCA play an amplifying role in the pathogenesis of vasculitis via activation of leukocytes, which express their sequestrated intragranular antigens as MPO and HLE on their surface. Ag-Ab coupling on the cell surface lead to tissue destruction and vascular injury.

Injury to the endothelium which occurs in vasculitis is the key initiating event in this hyposthesis, as its activation may lead to the induction of adhesion molecules which are responsible for the accumulation of inflammatory cells in the affected tissues.

This thesis was carried out to study the role of the adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) in situ, and anti-human leukocyte elastase antibody (as one of the ANCA subspecificities) in the pathogenesis of vasculitis associating some connective tissue diseases in an attempt to throw light on possible new strategies in the management of such complication.