Changes of adhesion molecule (LFA-1, ICAM-1) expression on memory T cells activated with cytomegalovirus antigen.

The expression of adhesion molecules (LFA-1, ICAM-1, CD29) on T cells activated with cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigen was investigated by three-color flow cytometry analysis. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from CMV-seropositive adults were cultured with CMV or control antigen for 6 days. After culture, the expression of LFA-1, ICAM-1, and CD29 on T cells in subpopulations defined as CD45RO+ or CD45RO- was analyzed. The population of cells that expressed LFA-1 at high levels (LFA-1high) among CD4+C-D45RO+ cells increased when cultured with CMV antigen compared to control antigen. The population of cells that expressed LFA-1high cells among CD8+C-D45RO+ cells was down-regulated by culture for 6 days; however, the population of LFA-1high cells among CD8+CD45RO+ cells cultured with CMV antigen was higher than when cultured with control antigen. The population of LFA-1high cells among CD4+CD45RO- and CD8+CD45RO- cells did not change after culture with CMV antigen. The intensity of CD29 and expression of ICAM-1 also increased on both CD4+CD45RO+ and CD8+CD45RO+ cells after culture with the CMV antigen. Up-regulation of adhesion molecules occurred on activated T cells by culture with the CMV antigen. This change was observed mainly on CD45RO+ T memory cells. The results suggested that these changes of adhesion molecules on activated T cells with CMV may contribute to some immune reaction or inflammatory change.