Role of intracellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1) in the pathogenesis of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis

Background: Toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is the most common cause of posterior uveitis (intraocular inflammatory syndrome) in immunocompetent patients. Leucocytes-endothelial adhesion is an early step in many inflammatory disorders that mediated by endothelial cell adhesion molecules. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was reported to be upregulated in retinal inflammatory diseases. Objective: The present study aimed to determine the frequency of T. gondii infection among patients presented with retinal inflammatory lesions and also, determine whether the ICAM-1 implicated in the pathogenesis of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis. Methods: Forty four patients with retinal inflammatory lesions, 44 healthy controls without any ocular manifestations were subjected to determine anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies seropositivity and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) serum level using the commercially available enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kits. Results: The results of this study showed that the frequency of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies among ocular group (59.1%) was high statistically significant than that in healthy control group (18.2%). Regarding the level of the sICAM-1 in ocular Toxo positive subgroup, there was significantly higher level compared to ocular Toxo negative subgroup and healthy control Toxo positive subgroup. Also, it was significantly higher than healthy control Toxo negative subgroup. Concerning the healthy control group, there was significantly higher level of sICAM-1 in Toxo positive subgroup compared to Toxo negative subgroup. Conclusion: The findings suggested that ICAM-1 expression might be implicated in the pathogenesis of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis whereas sICAM-1 could be a good marker reflecting disease severity.