Cloning and expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 3 reveals strong homology to other immunoglobulin family counter-receptors for lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1.

Based on protein sequence, we have isolated a cDNA for intercellular adhesion molecule 3 (ICAM-3), the most recently defined counter-receptor for lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1). Expression of the cDNA yields a product that reacts with monoclonal antibody to ICAM-3 and functions as a ligand for LFA-1. The deduced 518-amino acid sequence of the predicted mature protein defines a highly glycosylated type I integral membrane protein with five immunoglobulin (Ig)-like domains. The five Ig-like domains of ICAM-3 are highly homologous with those of human ICAM-1 (52% identity) and human ICAM-2 (37% identity).