ABSTRACT
Allergic conjunctivitis is a common disease characterized by typical clinical features caused both by mediator release from activated mast cells and by an inflammatory reaction consequent to cytokines released by inflammatory cells. The main event in allergic inflammation is the migration of inflammatory cells to the site of the allergic reaction. Epithelial expression of adhesion molecules can facilitate interaction with offending inflammatory cells such as eosinophils. Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) is expressed on a wide variety of cells, including endothelium, activated lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and, under certain conditions, epithelial cells—in particular, during allergic inflammation. Epithelial cell lines of conjunctival origin (WK), which constitutively expressed ICAM-1 to variable degrees, have been tested in culture. The presence of ICAM-1 has also been evaluated following addition of pharmacological compounds to the culture medium. ICAM-1 expression has also been detected on conjunctival epithelial cells on natural exposure to allergens such as pollen or house-dust-mite allergens.
