Expression of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (Icam-1) on Human Articular Cartilage Chondrocytes

Abstract

Monoclonal antibodies have been used to demonstrate the induction of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) on chondrocytes in human articular cartilage. ICAM-1 was found not to be constitutively expressed but could be induced by exogenous interleukin lα(ILl-α) at concentrations ranging from 0. 01 to 20ng/ml during in vitro culture. Maximum expression was observed with 2-5ng/ml. In time-course experiments ICAM-1 was not expressed after 4h in culture with IL1α. Expression was induced by 16h and was sustained for a minimum of 6 days in the continued presence of the cytokine. The endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule (ELAM-1) was not expressed on chondrocytes and was not induced by IL1-α.