STUDY OF INTERCELLULAR ADHESION MOLECULE-I IN DIFF£R£NT THYROID DISORDERS

Abstract

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), (CD54), a molecule bound to the cell surface membrane, mediates various cell-cell interactions in immunity and inflammation by binding to the leukocyte integrin adhesion receptors LFA-1 (CD11 a/CD18) and MAC-1 (CD11 b/CD18), is an important early marker of immune system activation and inflammatory response.

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 belongs to the immunoglobulin superfamily of adhesion molecules and is expressed on monocytes and endothelial cells. It is, however, highly inducible on various cells, as B-and T-lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and epithelial cells, during inflammation and immune response and is upregulated by several cyokines, as IFN-r and TNF-a. Therefore, ICAM-1 cells surface expression and up regulation are important in the regulation of immune responses.

Elevated expression of ICAM-1 has been shown in thyroid epithelial cells in patients with autoimmune thyroid disease, and in retroorbital connective tissue cells in patients with GD with ophthalmopahty.