ICAM-1 PROMOTES THE ABNORMAL ENDOTHELIAL CELL PHENOTYPE IN CHRONIC THROMBOEMBOLIC PULMONARY HYPERTENSION

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND- Pulmonary endothelial cells play a key role in the pathogenesis of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension (CTEPH). Increased synthesis and/or release of Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 1 (ICAM-1) by pulmonary endothelial cells of patients with CTEPH has been recently reported, suggesting a potential role for ICAM-1 in CTEPH. METHODS- We studied pulmonary endarterectomy specimens from 172 patients with CTEPH and pulmonary artery specimens from 97 controls undergoing lobectomy for low-stage cancer without metastasis. RESULTS- ICAM-1 was overexpressed in vitro in isolated and cultured endothelial cells from endarterectomy specimens. Endothelial cell (EC) growth and apoptosis resistance were significantly higher in CTEPH specimens than in controls (P CONCLUSIONS ICAM-1 contributes to maintaining the abnormal endothelial cell phenotype in CTEPH.