Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 mRNA (ICAM-1 mRNA)

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) mRNA is the messenger RNA transcript that encodes the ICAM-1 protein (also known as CD54), a critical cell surface glycoprotein and member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (UniProt P05362). The ICAM-1 protein serves as a ligand for the leukocyte integrin LFA-1, facilitating the stable adhesion and transendothelial migration of leukocytes to sites of inflammation (PubMed: 11030471). While the protein is the functional effector, the mRNA itself is a therapeutic target for antisense oligonucleotides such as alicaforsen. These drugs are designed to bind specifically to the ICAM-1 mRNA sequence, triggering its degradation by RNase H and thereby preventing the synthesis of the pro-inflammatory protein (PubMed: 15102051). This target is highly relevant in chronic inflammatory conditions like Crohn's disease and pouchitis, where ICAM-1 is pathologically overexpressed (PubMed: 12444477). By targeting the mRNA, clinicians can achieve a reduction in leukocyte recruitment and a subsequent dampening of the inflammatory response. This approach offers a high degree of specificity compared to broad-spectrum immunosuppressants.

Other names

CD54 mRNAICAM1 transcriptIntercellular adhesion molecule 1 messenger RNA

Antisense inhibition of translation via RNase H-mediated mRNA degradation