The Cutaneous Reverse Arthus Reaction Requires Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 and L-Selectin Expression

The deposition of immune complexes (IC) induces an acute inflammatory response with tissue injury. IC-induced inflammation is mediated by inflammatory cell infiltration, a process highly regulated by expression of multiple adhesion molecules. To assess the role of L-selectin and ICAM-1 in this pathogenetic process, the cutaneous reverse passive Arthus reaction was examined in mice lacking L-selectin (L-selectin−/−), ICAM-1 (ICAM-1−/−), or both (L-selectin/ICAM-1−/−). Edema and hemorrhage, which peaked 4 and 8 h after IC challenge, respectively, were significantly reduced in L-selectin−/−, ICAM-1−/−, and L-selectin/ICAM-1−/− mice compared with wild-type littermates. In general, edema and hemorrhage were more significantly inhibited in ICAM-1−/− mice than in L-selectin−/− mice, but were most significantly reduced in L-selectin/ICAM-1−/− mice compared with ICAM-1−/− or L-selectin−/− mice. Decreased edema and hemorrhage correlated with reduced neutrophil and mast cell infiltration in all adhesion molecule-deficient mice, but leukocyte infiltration was most affected in L-selectin/ICAM-1−/− mice. Reduced neutrophil and mast cell infiltration was also observed for all mutant mice in the peritoneal Arthus reaction. Furthermore, cutaneous TNF-α production was inhibited in each deficient mouse, which paralleled the reductions in cutaneous inflammation. These results indicate that ICAM-1 and L-selectin cooperatively contribute to the cutaneous Arthus reaction by regulating neutrophil and mast cell recruitment and suggest that ICAM-1 and L-selectin are therapeutic targets for human IC-mediated disease.