ENDOTHELIAL CELL ADHESION MOLECULES IN PSORIASIS

Skin biopsies from patients with psoriasis and normal controls were examined for the expression of cell adhesion molecules including intercellular adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1) endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule‐1 (ELAM‐1), HECA‐452 and 4D10, using an immunoperoxidase techique. This study demonstrates that psoriatic skin exhibits a wide variety of markers of endothelial cell activation which are either induced or increased expression (ICAM‐1, ELAM‐1 & 4D10). Moreover, ICAM‐1 & HECA‐452 are also on leukocytes. These antigens may facilitate the adhesion of inflammatory cells to endothelium and antigen‐presenting cells in psoriatic skin. Thus, they may play a role in faciliating the infiltration of leukocytes into psoriatic skin.