ICAM-1 and α3β1 expression by bronchial epithelial cells and theirin vitromodulation by inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators

Background: Adhesion molecules are involved in inflammatory and repair processes of the bronchial epithelium. ICAM-1 is mainly involved in inflammatory reactions, whereas integrins, such as α3β1, are mainly involved in repair processes. Methods: Using bronchial biopsies from 10 asthmatics and eight controls, we first evaluated by immunohistochemistry expression of α3β1 and ICAM-1 in intact and damaged epithelium. Then, using the human pulmonary epithelial cell line WI-26 VA, we studied, by flow-cytometry, the modulation of ICAM-1 and α3β1 expression, and, by ELISA, the release of fibronectin by proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-5, and anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-4, TGF-β, an…