Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1, CD31) is a 130-kDa
protein, which plays a significant role in the adhesion cascade. It is therefore involved in leucocyte endothelium interaction and in leucocyte transendothelial migration during
inflammation. As
neuroinflammation and subsequent blood brain barrier disruption are integral processes in many
neurological disorders,
PECAM-1 and its soluble form (sPECAM-1) have been investigated in a number of conditions, rising hopes as a potential marker of disease activity, a possible target in treatment and a prognostic factor. It has been shown that serum and CSF levels of
PECAM-1 and sPECAM-1 are increased in patients in active stages of
multiple sclerosis. Similarly, they rise in individuals after
ischaemic stroke.
PECAM-1 has also been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of Abeta-related cerebral vascular disorders, such as
Alzheimer disease. It participates in the pathomechanism of paraneoplastic
neurological disorders and in
neuroinflammation in NeuroAIDS. A number of experiments on animal models were carried out in order to investigate
PECAM-1 role in the above-mentioned conditions and more, including
brain trauma and nerve root injury. In this review most recent investigations on
PECAM-1 biology and its role in
neuroinflammation have been described and discussed from a multidisciplinary point of view.