Intercellular adhesion molecule

Function

Intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) is part of the immunoglobulin superfamily. ICAM binds to leukocyte function associated molecule 1 (LFA-1) and macrophage-1 antigen during inflammation^[1]. ICAM contains 5 Ig-like domains.

• ICAM-1 is Ig-like cell adhesion molecule which has a role in inflammatory processes and in T-cell mediated host defines system.
• ICAM-2 mediates adhesive interactions important for antigen-specific immune response.
• ICAM-3 acts as recognition receptor in the phagocytosis of macrophages in engulfment of apoptotic neutrophils^[2].
• ICAM-5 has 2 types of binding activities: binding between neutrons and binding between neuron and leukocytes.

Disease

ICAM mutation is involved in multiple sclerosis^[3].