Overexpression of sICAM-1 in the alveolar epithelial space results in an exaggerated inflammatory response and early death in Gram negative pneumonia.

Background: A sizeable body of data demonstrates that membrane ICAM-1 (mICAM-1) plays a significant role in host defense in a site-specific fashion. On the pulmonary vascular endothelium, mICAM-1 is necessary for normal leukocyte recruitment during acute inflammation. On alveolar epithelial cells (AECs), we have shown previously that the presence of normal mICAM-1 is essential for optimal alveolar macrophage (AM) function.

Disparate mechanisms of sICAM-1 production in the peripheral lung: contrast between alveolar epithelial cells and pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells.

Membrane-associated intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (mICAM-1; CD54) is constitutively expressed on the surface of type I alveolar epithelial cells (AEC). Soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1) may be produced by proteolytic cleavage of mICAM-1 or by alternative splicing of ICAM-1 mRNA. In contrast to inducible expression seen in most cell types, sICAM-1 is constitutively released by type I AEC and is present in normal alveolar lining fluid.