Neovascular Expression of E-Selectin, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 in Human Atherosclerosis and Their Relation to Intimal Leukocyte Content

Abstract

In atherosclerotic plaques, the expression of all three leukocyte adhesion molecules was more prevalent on intimal neovasculature than on arterial luminal endothelium. Further, the presence on neovasculature and nonendothelial cells of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 was strongly associated with increased intimal leukocyte accumulation. These findings suggest that leukocyte recruitment through and/or activation of intimal neovasculature may play important roles in the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis.