The use of anti-PECAM reagents in the control of inflammation.

Platelet/endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1/CD31) is expressed on the surfaces of neutrophils and monocytes and concentrated at the junctional surfaces of vascular endothelial cells. Monoclonal antibodies against PECAM-1 and soluble recombinant PECAM-1 selectively block the passage of these leukocytes across the endothelial monolayer without interfering with earlier adhesion events in the emigration pathway. This block is seen both in vitro and in several in vivo models of acute inflammation. Since PECAM-1 appears to be crucial for a distinct step in the emigration of leukocytes into a focus of inflammation, PECAM-1 appears to be a new and potentially important target for anti-inflammatory therapy.