Soluble molecule related to but distinct from ICAM-1

摘要

The present invention relates to a soluble form of intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) and purified and isolated human sICAM-1. This invention also relates to a purified and isolated DNA sequence encoding sICAM-1. The extracellular domain of sICAM-1 and insoluble ICAM-1 are substantially the same. ICAM-1 is involved in the process through which lymphocytes attach to cellular substrates during inflammation and serves as the major human rhinovirus receptor (HRR). sICAM-1 therefore has both the property of reducing immune inflammation and inhibiting infection of rhinovirus and Coxsackie A virus.