Premium
Differential expression of cell adhesion molecules in inflamed appendix: correlation with clinical stage
Author(s) -
Bittinger Fernando,
Brochhausen Christoph,
Köhler Holger,
Lehr HansAnton,
Otto Mike,
Skarke Carsten,
Walgenbach Siegfried,
Kirkpatrick Charles James
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1096-9896(199812)186:4<422::aid-path209>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - appendix , appendicitis , cell adhesion molecule , stage (stratigraphy) , pathology , context (archaeology) , medicine , e selectin , adhesion , vcam 1 , clinical significance , differential diagnosis , acute appendicitis , cell adhesion , biology , icam 1 , immunology , chemistry , general surgery , paleontology , organic chemistry
The diagnosis of ‘early inflamed’, ‘recurrent’ or ‘sub‐acute’ appendicitis is often difficult and accompanied by controversies between clinical data, histological findings, and their interpretation. The expression of the intercellular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (ICAM‐1), the vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐1), and E‐selectin has been studied in 61 appendicectomy specimens for possible use as a diagnostic tool. This study demonstrates a different expression of CAM by endothelial (EC) and mesothelial cells (MC) in the various stages of appendicitis, with early E‐selectin and ICAM‐1 expression in EC, followed by VCAM‐1 in EC and MC. Appendices from patients with prolonged clinical symptoms defined by clinicians as ‘chronic’ appendicitis showed VCAM‐1 expression and occasionally weak expression of E‐selectin in EC. In several cases, discrepancies were found between the pre‐operative ‘clinical’ diagnosis, the histomorphological findings, and the immunohistological results. In this context, the expression of E‐selectin and VCAM‐1 in comparison with the histological features has potential significance in the diagnosis of ‘early acute’, ‘sub‐acute’ or ‘recurrent’ appendicitis. In addition, a correlation was demonstrated between the histological stages of appendicitis and the kinetics of CAM expression. The study also indicates that the time course of E‐selectin expression in vivo is longer than is suggested from in vitro data. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.