Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/2and E-selectin In Plasma Cells Mastitis: An Immunohistochemical Study In35Cases

The plasma cells mastitis (PCM) is one of the most frequently encountered inflammatorydiseases of the non-lactating breast and clinically simulates breast cancer. Histologically PCMis characterized by an infiltration of relatively abundant plasma cells into the mammary ductsbut its pathogenesis has not been yet established. Therefore, in this study, we immunolocalizedIntercellular Adhesion Molecule (ICAM)-1and-2and E-selectin, all of which are consideredto play pivotal roles in the inflammatory process, especially its early phase, in35cases ofPCM and compared the results with those of non-PCM mastitis and non-pathological breast.In ductal epithelium ICAM-1was significance stronger in PCM compared to non-PCM(p=0.045). We could not find any significant difference in ICAM-2(p=1.000), and E-selectin(p=0.559) immunoreactivity between PCM and non-PCM mastitis. And between PCM andnon-pathological breast, the ICAM-1(p<0.001) and ICAM-2(p=0.001) were significantlystrong. On vessel endothelial, only ICAM-1was significance stronger in PCM compared tonon-pathological breast (p<0.001). These results all suggest that ICAM-1in both ducts andendothelium plays important roles in inflammatory process of PCM possibly throughmargination, extravasation, attachment of plasma cells and/or lymphocytes in breast tissues,which may result in continuous inflammatory cell homing to ductal epithelial cells observed inPCM.