VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) is a transmembrane glycoprotein containing multiple amino-terminal extracellular Ig-like domains, a transmembrane domain, and a short carboxy-terminal cytoplasmic domain. This type I membrane protein mediates leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion and signal transduction, and may play a role in the development of artherosclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. VCAM-1 was first identified as an adhesion molecule induced on human endothelial cells by inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
