Vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 ?CD106) on primary human articular chondrocytes: Functional regulation of expression by cytokines and comparison with intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (CD54) and very late activation antigen2

Abstract

VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and VLA-2 are constitutively expressed by human articular chondrocytes. Expression is regulated by cytokines. As shown for other chondrocyte genes, IL-1beta/TNFalpha and TGFbeta antagonistically modulate the expression of adhesion molecules. VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 contribute to adhesion of T lymphocytes to chondrocytes, and may thus participate in host defense mechanisms during inflammatory joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and after cartilage transplantation.