Expression of LFA-1/ICAM-1 in CNS lymphomas: possible mechanism for lymphoma homing into the brain.

We examined a possible role for the adhesion molecules LFA-1 and ICAM-1 in localizing central nervous system non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (CNS-NHLs) to the brain. Fresh frozen sections from 12 monoclonal CNS NHLs (11 primary, one secondary) were stained with monoclonal antibodies to LFA-1 alpha chain (CD11a), beta chain (CD18) and, ICAM-1 (CD54). Additional staining made use of rat monoclonal antibodies to the human and mouse high endothelial venule antigens HECA 452 and MECA 79 and mouse ICAM-1. The expression of these same molecules was also studied in mice with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice, bearing intracranial human lymphoblastoid cells. Eleven of the CNS-NHL tumors expressed LFA-1 alpha (one strongly, one intermediate, nine weakly). Nine of the tumors weakly expressed LFA-1 beta.. Nine of twelve tumors weakly expressed ICAM-1. In six of seven tumors definite blood vessels stained for ICAM-1. Non-tumor brain from two patients and non-tumor cerebral blood vessels showed no staining with CD11a, CD18 or CD54 antibodies. Strong expression of LFA-alpha and LFA-beta as well as ICAM-1 was noted in human lymphoblastoid cells (LCLs)/SCID mouse CNS lymphomas. Tumor blood vessels in these mice stained for mouse ICAM-1. Normal SCID mouse brains showed no staining with CD11a, CD18, CD54 or mouse ICAM-1 antibodies. Human, human/mouse CNS lymphomas, normal human, and mouse brains showed no staining with either HECA 452 or MECA 79.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)