ANALYSIS OF EXPRESSION OF ADHESION MOLECULES (LFA-1, VLA-4, L-SELECTIN AND ICAM-1) ON PERIPHERAL BLOOD LYMPHOCYTES FROM CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH GRAVES’ DISEASE  AFTER  METHIMAZOLE THERAPY

Urban M.1, Bossowski A.1, Stasiak-Barmuta A. 2

12nd Department of Children’s Diseases, Medical Academy, Białystok, Poland

2 Department of Pediatric Allergology, Medical Academy, Białystok, Poland

 

Objective: The present study was performed to elucidate the role of adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of Graves’ disease.

Methods: The aim of the study was to estimate the expression of beta 1 integrin CD49d (VLA-4, very late antigen-4), beta 2 integrin CD11a (LFA-1, lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 alpha), L-selectin (CD62L) and ICAM-1 (CD54) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells in patients with Graves’ disease (GD). The expression of the lymphocyte adhesion molecules were analyzed by the two- or three-color flow cytometry.

Results: A decreased percentage of CD49d+ and CD11a+ lymphocytes was observed in untreated Graves’ patients (p<0.006, p<0.009 for CD49d, p<0.0001, p<0.0001 for CD11a) in comparison with healthy controls and euthyroid Graves’ patients. The analysis of CD62L and CD54+ antigen expression on peripheral blood lymphocytes revealed increased percentages of L-selectin and ICAM-1 positive cells in patients with Graves’ disease (p<0.004, p<0.049 for CD62L, p<0.006, NS for ICAM-1) before treatment compared to the controls and euthyroid Graves’ children after methimazole therapy.

Conclusion: The changes of the expression of adhesion molecules on peripheral blood lymphocytes could be an important markers of activity of autoimmune process in children and adolescents with Graves’ disease.

 

 
2444