Intercellular adhesion molecule 2 (ICAM-2, CD102), belongs to the ICAM family consisting of three members identified as ligands for integrin receptors. It is a type I transmembrane glycoprotein with two Ig-like C2-type domains, and binds to the leukocyte integrins LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) and Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18). As a second ligand of leukocyte function-associated antigen-1, ICAM-2 functions as a costimulatory molecule for effector cells. ICAM-2 is mainly expressed on vascular endothelial and hematopoietic cells. Interactions of ICAM-2 and the integrin receptors mediate cell adhesion in a wide range of lymphocyte, monocyte, natural killer cell, and granulocytewith other cells, and play important roles in many adhesion-dependent immune and inflammation responses, such as T cell aggregation, NK-cell cytotoxicity and migration, lymphocyte recirculation, etc. Serum levels of ICAM-2 correlated significantly with the inflammatory and course sequences of trichinosis in mice and had a similar relation with blood eosinophilia. So, estimation of ICAM-2 serum levels may prove useful in diagnosis of trichinosis recent infections, and in monitoring the prognosis and response to treatment.
