IFN-gamma regulation of ICAM-1 receptors in bronchial epithelial cells: soluble ICAM-1 release inhibits human rhinovirus infection.

Background: Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a critical target-docking molecule on epithelial cells for 90% of human rhinovirus (HRV) serotypes. Two forms of ICAM-1 exist, membranous (mICAM-1) and soluble (sICAM-1), both expressed by bronchial epithelial cells. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a crucial Th-1 immuno-regulatory mediator, can modulate mICAM-1 expression; however its simultaneous effects on mICAM-1: sICAM-1 levels and their consequent outcome on cell infectivity have not been previously explored.

Optical coherence tomography: real-time imaging of bronchial airways microstructure and detection of inflammatory/neoplastic morphologic changes.

Purpose: Current diagnostic imaging modalities for human bronchial airways do not possess sufficient resolution and tissue penetration depth to detect early morphologic changes and to differentiate in real-time neoplastic pathology from nonspecific aberrations. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) possesses the requisite high spatial resolution for reproducible delineation of endobronchial wall profiling.

Experimental Design: To establish whether OCT could differentiate between the composite microstructural layers of the human airways and simultaneously determine in situ morphologic changes, using a bench-top OCT system, we obtained cross-sectional images of bronchi from 15 patients undergoing lung resections for cancer.

Use of optical coherence tomography in delineating airways microstructure: comparison of OCT images to histopathological sections.

An ideal diagnostic system for the human airways should be able to detect and define early development of premalignant pathological lesions, to facilitate optimal curative treatment and prevent irreversible and/or invasive lung disease. There is great need for exploration of safe, repeatable imaging techniques which can run at real-time and with high spatial resolution. In this study, optical coherence tomography (OCT) was utilized to acquire cross-sectional images of upper and lower airways using fresh pig lung resections as a model system.

Human rhinovirus selectively modulates membranous and soluble forms of its intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) receptor to promote epithelial cell infectivity.

Human rhinoviruses are responsible for many upper respiratory tract infections. 90% of rhinoviruses utilize intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) as their cellular receptor, which also plays a critical role in recruitment of immune effector cells. Two forms of this receptor exist; membrane-bound (mICAM-1) and soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1).