ICAM-1 expression in vaginal cells as a potential biomarker for inflammatory response
Abstract
This study aimed to elucidate the mechanisms that may lead to an efficient strategy to induce a suitable host response of the vaginal mucosa upon exposure to intravaginally delivered exogenous compounds. It was hypothesized that the upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 gene expression may reflect the inflammatory response evoked by exogenous compounds. Major emphasis was placed on ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) which was added as a synergistic agent to conventional spermicidal agents or anti-HIV drugs. The levels of ICAM-1 mRNA were examined as a surrogate marker for inflammatory response in human vaginal epithelial cells upon exposure to EDTA or interleukin (IL)-1beta (i.e. positive control, 25 mM). The effects of estrogen on EDTA-induced ICAM-1 expression were also evaluated for the estrogen involvement in the inflammatory process of the vaginal mucosa. ICAM-1 expression in human vaginal cells (VK2/E6E7 cells) increased as EDTA concentration added to human vaginal cell lines increased. The effects of estrogen on EDTA-induced ICAM-1 expression in human vaginal epithelial cells were estrogen-concentration dependent; estrogen at lower concentrations (approximately 1-10 nM) did not affect ICAM-1 expre...Continue Reading
References
Citations
Related Concepts
Related Feeds
Adhesion Molecules in Health and Disease
Cell adhesion molecules are a subset of cell adhesion proteins located on the cell surface involved in binding with other cells or with the extracellular matrix in the process called cell adhesion. In essence, cell adhesion molecules help cells stick to each other and to their surroundings. Cell adhesion is a crucial component in maintaining tissue structure and function. Discover the latest research on adhesion molecule and their role in health and disease here.