Cell interactions in the immune system are mediated by several different families of receptors on cell surface, and these adhesion molecules influence many diverse processes including, differentiation, migration and cellular activation. To understand in vivo significance of these molecules in various and immunological phenomenon, we have been mainly, focussing murine as well as rat experimental systems. We report the experimental results performed to understand the role of VLA-4, LFA-1, and ICAM-1 in cell migration and activation in rat and mouse experimental systems.
(1) Anti-rat VLA-4 mAb, which we established, could inhibit lymphocyte homing to Payeris patch selectively.
(2) Anti-rat VLA-4- mAb inhibited the infiltration of lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils but not neutrophils to inflamatory sites.
(3) Fibronectin acted costimulatory in FceRI-mediated activation of rat mast cells. This costimlatory effect was mainly mediated by VLA-4.
(4) Anti-VLA-4 mAb prevented the cardiac allograft rejection more strongly than anti-LFA-1 mAb.
(5) Mixed administration of inti-LFA-1 and anti-ICAM-1 mAbs caused specific cardiac allograft tolerance in both murine and rat systems.
[Publications] Tetsuya Nakamura: "Activation of a NK clone upon target cell binding via CD2." Eur,J.Immunol.
[Publications] Kazuhisa Takahashi: "Antigenーindependent T cell activation mediated by a VLAーlike extracellular matrix receptor" Eur,J.Immunol.