Blocking platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM) inhibits disease progression and prevents joint erosion in established collagen antibody-induced arthritis.

Collagen antibody-induced arthritis is a robust murine model of arthritis that histologically recapitulates the inflammatory characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis including pannus formation and destruction of articular cartilage and bone. PECAM is a molecule expressed by both leukocytes and endothelial cells that has been shown to play a major role in the extravasation of leukocytes into sites of inflammation. Genetic deletion of many molecules will blunt the onset and progression of arthritis in murine models, as will administration of various anti-inflammatory therapies given prior to the onset of disease.

CD99 is essential for leukocyte diapedesis in vivo.

Recruitment of leukocytes into inflamed tissue requires migration of leukocytes from the blood stream across the endothelial lining and the basement membrane of the local blood vessels. CD99 in humans is a 32-kDa highly O-glycosylated cell surface protein expressed on most leukocytes. The authors recently found CD99 to be expressed in leukocytes and at human endothelial cell contacts.