Circulating leukocyte integrin expression in Wegener's granulomatosis.

Leukocyte adhesion and infiltration are important in the pathogenesis of Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). We tested the hypothesis that the expression of the beta 1-chain integrin VLA-4 (CD49d/CD29) and the beta 2-chain integrins LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18), Mac-1 (CD11a/CD18), and gp150,95 (CD11c/CD18) is increased on leukocytes in patients with active WG. Fifteen patients with active WG as defined by positive antineutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody (cANCA) titers and biopsy, 30 patients with WG in remission as defined by negative cANCA titers and/or immunosuppressive therapy, 25 normal control subjects, and 12 patients with other inflammatory renal and systemic diseases were studied. Surface expression of LFA-1, Mac-1, p150, 95, and VLA-4 on neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes was measured by fluorescent antibody cell sorting with monoclonal antibodies against CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, CD18, CD49d, and CD29 respectively. Immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy were also utilized. beta 1 (CD29) and beta 2 (CD18) integrin subunit expression on neutrophils, monocytes, and lymphocytes from patients with acute WG was significantly increased compared with healthy persons and compared with patients with treated vasculitis. Furthermore, the alpha-integrin subunit CD11b expression was increased on granulocytes and monocytes, but not on lymphocytes. Finally, the alpha-integrin subunit CD11a expression was increased on monocytes. Immunocytochemistry showed that the increased immunoreactivity on neutrophils was evenly distributed on the plasma membrane and in the cytosol. Immunosuppression resulted in decreased expression of the beta 1 and beta 2-integrin subunits. It was concluded that the integrin adhesion molecules, particularly Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18), are upregulated on leukocytes in active WG. This finding suggests a role for integrin expression in the pathogenesis of WG and a possible clue for treatment.