VCAM-1 ELISA Kit, Human

BACKGROUND VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1), or CD106, is an immunoglobulin-like adhesion molecule. It contains six or seven immunoglobulin domains and is expressed on both large and small vessels only after the endothelial cells are stimulated by cytokines.¹ Moreover, VCAM-1 expression is induced on endothelial cells during inflammatory bowel disease, atherosclerosis, allograft rejection, infection, and asthmatic responses. Primarily, VCAM-1 is an endothelial ligand for VLA-4 (Very Late Antigen-1 or alpha4beta1) of the beta1 subfamily of integrins and for integrin alpha4beta7. VLA-4 is expressed on most leukocytes and plays an important role in leukocyte trafficking by interacting with VCAM-1 on endothelial cells to mediate tethering, rolling, firm adhesion and transendothelial migration. During these responses, VCAM-1 forms a scaffold for leukocyte migration. VCAM-1 also activates signals within endothelial cells resulting in the opening of an “endothelial cell gate” through which leukocytes migrate. Immediately following this migration, the endothelial cell–endothelial cell contact is re-established. VCAM-1 outside-in signals are mediated by NADPH oxidase production of reactive oxygen species and subsequently activation of matrix metalloproteinases. These signals are required for endothelial cell shape changes and leukocyte migration.² In addition, VCAM-1/VLA-4 interaction has also been implicated in the compartmentalisation of B cells into peripheral lymphoid tissue, the association of neutrophils with bone marrow (BM) stromal cells, the promotion of interactions between follicular dendritic cells (FDC) and B cells, and in the formation of a docking structure that surrounds the B cell receptor (BCR) and TCR in the immunological synapse (IS) that forms between antigen presenting cells and antigen-specific B and T cells.² Interestingly, certain melanoma cells can use VCAM-1 to adhere to the endothelium, and VCAM-1 may participate in monocyte recruitment to atherosclerotic sites. As a result, VCAM-1 is a potential target drug target.³

 

REFERENCES  

1. Elices, M.J. et al: Cell 60:577-84, 2000
2. Cook-Mills, J.M. : Mol. Immunol. 39:499-508, 2002
3. Chen, L. et al: Immunol. Cell Biol. 88:334–342, 2010 
 

 

ELISA Kits are based on standard sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technology. Freshly prepared standards, samples, and solutions are recommended for best results.