Polymorphonuclear leukocyte integrin profile in vascular atherosclerotic disease

Leukocyte-endothelial interactions could have a pathogenic role in atherogenesis. Adhesion molecules expressed by endothelial cells, such as intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), interact with leukocyte integrins mediating the firm adhesion of leukocytes to endothelium which is followed by their transendothelial migration. The aim of our research was to evaluate polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) integrin expression, at baseline and after activation, in a group of subjects with chronic vascular atherosclerotic disease (VAD). In 27 subjects with VAD we examined, at baseline and after in vitro activation with 4-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), the PMN integrin pattern (CD11a, CD11b…