Expression of Endothelial Cell Activation Antigens in Microvessels from Patients with Multiple Sclerosis

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Abstract
Postcapillary endothelium, at sites of inflammation, undergoes a number of changes referred to as “activation” (1). Activated endothelial cells (EC) are characterized by: 1) increased cell surface expression of immunorelevant proteins (class I and class II MHC antigens (Ags), adhesion molecules and transferrin receptors), 2) increased leukocyte adherence, 3) prominence of biosynthetic organelles, 4) synthesis and release of interleukin-1 (IL-1), IL-6, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), platelet activating factor (PAF), heparin-binding fibroblast growth factors and eicosanoids (2), and 5) upregulation of cFos and cMyc (2). Although the mechanisms and sequence of events governing EC activation have not been conclusively described, evidence does point to an immunoregulatory role for released cytokines from activated leukocytes (3).