Binding of LFA-1 (CD11a) to intercellular adhesion molecule 3 (ICAM-3; CD50) and ICAM-2 (CD102) triggers transmigration of human immunodeficiency virus type 1-infected monocytes through mucosal epithelial cells.

Transmigration of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected mononuclear cells through the genital mucosa is one of the possible mechanisms of sexual transmission of HIV. Here, we investigated the transmigration of cell-associated R5-tropic HIV type 1 (HIV-1) through a tight monolayer of human epithelial cells in vitro. We show that this process is dependent on an initial interaction between alphaLbeta2 integrin CD11a/CD18 on infected monocytic cells and intercellular adhesion molecule 2 (ICAM-2; CD102) and ICAM-3 (CD50) on the apical membrane of epithelial cells.