Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) mediates extravasation of circulating leukocytes into inflamed tissues, and presumably, plays a role in the immigration of cytotoxic effector lymphocytes into tumor metastases. Since metastases are rarely cleared by blood-borne cells from the immune system, we asked whether the tumor may escape host defense by interfering with the mechanism of effector cell extravasation. Here we show that in mice and humans, VCAM-1 expression is repressed on tumor-infiltrating vascular endothelial cells in the lungs. On lung blood vessels distant from the tumor, VCAM-1 is constitutively expressed. When melanoma and endothelioma cells were cultured on either side of a Nucleopore membrane, the expression of VCAM-1 on the endothelioma cells was inhibited and VCAM-1 gene transcription was suppressed. We propose that the downregulation of VCAM-1 is a mechanism by which vascularized melanoma and carcinoma avoid invasion by cytotoxic cells of the immune system.
Article|
February 01 1995
Endothelial vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 expression is suppressed by melanoma and carcinoma.
L Piali,
L Piali
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
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A Fichtel,
A Fichtel
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
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H J Terpe,
H J Terpe
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
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B A Imhof,
B A Imhof
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
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R H Gisler
R H Gisler
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
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L Piali
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
A Fichtel
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
H J Terpe
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
B A Imhof
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
R H Gisler
Basel Institute for Immunology, Switzerland.
Online Issn: 1540-9538
Print Issn: 0022-1007
J Exp Med (1995) 181 (2): 811–816.
Citation
L Piali, A Fichtel, H J Terpe, B A Imhof, R H Gisler; Endothelial vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 expression is suppressed by melanoma and carcinoma.. J Exp Med 1 February 1995; 181 (2): 811–816. doi: https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.181.2.811
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