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.