The adherence of endothelial cells to Dacron induces the expression of the intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1).

The intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) is a glycoprotein expressed by endothelial cells activated by cytokines. The lymphocyte-function-associated antigen (LFA-1) is an integrin expressed by activated white blood cells. Together, this receptor-ligand pair is responsible, in part, for the localization of neutrophils at sites of inflammation. Using an in vitro model, the authors studied the binding of antibodies against ICAM-1 by human saphenous vein endothelial cells (HSVEC) adherent to Dacron and control cultureware. After adherence to Dacron pretreated with fibronectin, 24% more HSVEC-bound antibody against ICAM-1 compared with HSVEC on controls. In contrast, 90% more HSVEC adherent to Dacron incubated with whole blood bound anti-ICAM-1 antibodies. These cells bound 17.7-fold greater amounts of antibody compared with HSVEC on controls. Pretreating Dacron with plasma resulted in no increase in antibody binding compared with control. Our studies suggest that the cellular components of blood in contact with Dacron create a microenvironment that activates HSVEC and enhances ICAM-1 expression. Induction of this adhesion molecule may play a pivotal role in the migration and localization of leukocytes at the site of the vascular prosthesis.