Background: Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) is important in leukocyte adhesion-dependent events and some data suggest that ICAM-1 provides T cell costimulation. We anlayzed the role of the ICAM-1 and leukocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) interaction in human T cell alloreactivity in vitro.
Methods: Allo-antigen-induced T cell proliferation and cytotoxic T lymphocyte lytic activity were assessed by mixed lymphocyte reaction assay and 51 Chromium release assay, respectively. Immunostaining and flow cytometry were used to assess the expression of receptors on activated T cells.
Results: Alloantigen-induced T cell proliferation and cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity were markedly inhibited by antibodies to ICAM-1 and LFA-1. These antibodies had to be present at the time of initial T cell receptor/antigen engagement to inhibit proliferation. Neither IL-2 nor IL-4 were involved in the observed inhibition by antibodies. Inhibition was not associated with altered cell surface expression of receptors such as CD3, CD4, ICAM-1, LFA-1, CD25, and HLA-DR however, these antibodies did impede the ability of generation of functionally active T cells. Interestingly, these antibodies inhibited soluble, but not immobilized OKT3-induced proliferation of peripheral blood leukocytes. Antibody-mediated inhibition of proliferation failed to impair the ability of T cells to subsequently proliferate in response to stimulation by the original or third party alloantigen or mobilize [Ca++]i in response to CD3 or LFA-1 receptor ligation.
Conclusions: These data demonstrate that blockade of ICAM-1/LFA-1 binding at the time of allorecognition potently blocks initial T cell effector functions that could be due to lack of effective T cell/APC engagement.