Abstract
Although monocyte-endothelial cell interactions represent an initial step in controlling the recruitment of monocytes in inflamed tissues, their dynamic processes in microvessels of lymphoid (Peyer's patches) and non-lymphoid (villus) regions in gut-associated lymphoid tissue remain poorly understood. We monitored the migration of fluorescence-labelled monocytes derived from the spleen in intestinal microvessels with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment and investigated the role of adhesion molecules, P-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). In control mice, there were few interactions between infused monocytes and the endothelium of intestinal microvessels. The monocyte-endothelial interactions (both rolling and adhesion) were significantly increased in intestinal microvessels of LPS-treated mice compared with those in controls. Anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody (MoAb) significantly suppressed the LPS-induced increase in monocyte rolling in postcapillary venules of Peyer's patches and submucosal venules. Anti-VCAM-1 MoAbs significantly suppressed the LPS-induced increase in monocyte adhesion to postcapillary venules (PCVs) of Peyer's patches, submucosal venules, and villus capillaries. In contrast, anti-ICAM-1 MoAb significantly suppressed the number of adherent monocytes in PCV of Peyer's patches but not in submucosal venules or villus capillaries. These observations demonstrated that LPS treatment resulted in a significant increase in recruitment of monocytes both in microvessels of lymphoid and non-lymphoid regions and that P-selectin, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 appeared to play important roles in LPS-induced interactions.