氟伐他汀对充血性心力衰竭患者血清sICAM-1和sVCAM-1的影响

目的:探讨氟伐他汀短期治疗对充血性心力衰竭(CHF)患者血清中可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)、可溶性血管细胞黏附分子-1(sVCAM-1)和肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α)水平的影响。方法:将97例CHF患者随机分为对照组(常规治疗组)和试药组(氟伐他汀组)。采用ELISA测定治疗前及治疗两周后血清中sICAM-1、sVCAM-1和TNF-α水平。结果:两种方法都可以明显降低血清sICAM-1、sVCAM-1和TNF-α水平(P0.05);试药组血清TNF-α水平降低更为显著(P0.05),但血清sICAM-1和sVCAM-1降低水平与对照组无显著差别。结论:在常规治疗基础上短期加用氟伐他汀治疗不能进一步降低CHF患者血清sICAM-1和sVCAM-1水平。     

氟伐他汀对心力衰竭患者血清可溶性细胞黏附分子的影响

目的:观察氟伐他汀短期治疗对充血性心力衰竭(congestive heart failure,CHF)患者血清中可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)、可溶性血管细胞黏附分子-1(sVCAM-1)、可溶性选择素E(sE- selectin)、可溶性选择素P(sP- selectin)和可溶性选择素L(sL- selectin)水平的影响,探讨氟伐他汀对CHF的治疗作用.方法:将70例CHF患者随机分为常规治疗组和干预组(氟伐他汀组).正常对照组20例.采用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定其治疗前后血清中sICAM-1、sVCAM-1、sE- selectin、sP- selectin和sL- selectin水平.结果:血清可溶性细胞黏附分子(soluble cell adhesion molecules ,sCAM)水平在心功能Ⅳ级明显高于心功能Ⅱ、Ⅲ级患者,而心功能Ⅱ、Ⅲ级之间比较差异无统计学意义,心功能Ⅱ-Ⅳ级的患者sCAM水平均高于正常对照组(P<0.05或P<0.01).常规治疗组和干预组治疗后血清sCAM水平均较治疗前有显著下降(P<0.05或P<0.01),但干预组较常规治疗组仅sVCAM-1和sE- selectin下降水平显著(P<0.05),余各血清sCAM水平组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论:CHF患者血清sCAM水平下降主要与心功能改善相关,在CHF常规治疗的基础上短期加用氟伐他汀治疗能降低sVCAM-1和sE-selectin水平.     

氟伐他汀对冠心病患者血脂及细胞黏附分子表达的影响

对76例冠心病高脂血症患者在常规治疗的基础上口服氟伐他汀胶囊40 m g/d,1周后20 m g/d,连用6~8周,观察治疗前后血脂及血清可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)和血管细胞黏附分子-1(sVCAM-1)变化。结果治疗后TG、TC、LDLC明显降低,HDLC明显升高;sICAM-1和sVCAM-1表达明显降低。认为氟伐他汀除可调整血脂外,还具有抗动脉粥样硬化的作用,可用于冠心病的预防和治疗。     

急性冠状动脉综合征患者血清sICAM-1、sVCAM-1、sP-选择素表达及意义

采用ELISA法测定40例急性冠脉综合征患者（AC组）、30例稳定型心绞痛患者（SAP组）及28例正常人（对照组）血清可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1（sICAM-1）、血管细胞间黏附分子-1（sVCAM-1）、P-选择素（sP-selectin）水平。结果ACS组血清sICAM-1、sVCAM-1、sP-selectin水平显著高于SAP组和对照组（P均〈0.01）,SAP组与对照组无显著性差异（P〉0.05）。ACS组血清sICAM-1、sVCAM-1与sP-selectin呈显著正相关（r=0.516、0.521,P均〈0.05）。提示ACS患者血清sICAM-1、sVCAM-1、sP-selectin水平均明显升高,并共同作用促进ACS的发生、发展。     

类风湿关节炎病人致动脉粥样硬化指数及黏附分子水平的变化

目的通过比较类风湿关节炎病人致动脉粥样硬化指数(AIP)和黏附分子(AM)的水平,研究RA病人中血清AIP和黏附分子的关系。方法测定60例RA病人中血清AIP和可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)、可溶性血管细胞间黏附分子-1(sVCAM-1)、E-选择素(E-selectin)的水平,并分别比较血沉、C反应蛋白(CRP)、指标,分析各指标间的相关性。结果与正常对照组比较,RA病人AIP水平有明显升高(0.83±0.31比0.21±0.18,P0.01)。RA病人血清sVCAM-1、sICAM-1、E-选择素与正常对照组比较有明显升高(P0.01。RA病人血清中的sVCAM-1、s-ICAM与AIP呈正相关(r=0.727,P0.01;r=0.501,P0.01),而E选择素与AIP之间无相关性。结论 RA病人致动脉粥样硬化指数和血清黏附分子水平明显增高,且s-VCAM、s-ICAM与AIP呈正相关。提示sVCAM-1、sICAM-1可能与RA病人动脉粥样硬化的发生起着一定的作用。     

老年急性冠脉综合征患者血清sICAM-1、sVCAM-1变化及影响因素和瑞舒伐他汀的干预作用

目的检测老年急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者血清可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)和血管细胞黏附分子-1(sVCAM-1)水平,观察血压、血糖、血脂与血清sICAM-1和sVCAM-1的相关性及早期应用瑞舒伐他汀对血清sICAM-1和sVCAM-1的影响,探讨他汀药物降低ACS炎症反应的可能机制。方法 112例老年冠心病患者稳定性心绞痛(SAP)组36例,ACS组76例,将后者分为常规治疗组、瑞舒伐他汀组。用ELISA法测定老年ACS患者入院后第1、3、5、7天和2 w后sICAM-1和sVCAM-1浓度,用常规治疗方法作为对照,观察瑞舒伐他汀对其sICAM-1和sVCAM-1水平的影响。另根据ACS患者是否有高血压、糖尿病、高血脂病史,分析其与血清sICAM-1和sVCAM-1关系。常规测量血压,测定血糖、血脂,分析其与sI-CAM-1和sVCAM-1的相关性。结果老年ACS患者入院时血清sICAM-1和sVCAM-1浓度比SAP组明显增高(P<0.01)。ACS患者高血压组较正常血压组、糖尿病组较非糖尿病组、高血脂组较正常血脂组血清sICAM-1、sVCAM-1水平明显增高(P均<0.01)。ACS患...     

有氧运动对急性冠脉综合征患者血清黏附分子和C反应蛋白的影响

目的: 探讨有氧运动对急性冠脉综合征(ACS)患者可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)、血管细胞黏附分子-1(sVCAM-1)和C反应蛋白(CRP)水平的影响。方法: 选取ACS患者70例,将其分为常规治疗组和有氧运动+常规治疗组（加有氧运动组）。另选健康成人为正常对照组。采用酶联免疫吸附法测定各组sICAM-1和sVCAM-1 水平,采用免疫浊度法测定CRP浓度。结果: ACS 患者循环血中sICAM-1、sVCAM-1和CRP水平明显高于正常对照组(P<0.01),两组治疗1个月后sICAM-1、sVCAM-1和CRP水平均较治疗前均明显下降(P<0.05和P<0.01)。且两组各项指标比较,加有氧运动组降低更显著(P<0.05)。结论: ACS 患者血清中sICAM-1、sVCAM-1和CRP水平明显升高,而有氧运动能明显降低ACS患者血中sICAM-1、sVCAM-1和CRP水平。     

大剂量氟伐他汀短期治疗对老年不稳定性心绞痛患者血清可溶性细胞黏附分子和肿瘤坏死因子-α水平的影响

目的探讨大剂量氟伐他汀短期治疗对老年不稳定性心绞痛患者血清中可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1（sICAM-1）、可溶性血管细胞黏附分子-1（sVCAM-1）和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平的影响。方法将56例老年不稳定性心绞痛患者随机分为常规治疗组和大剂量治疗组,两组患者均给予抗心绞痛常规治疗,常规治疗组给予氟伐他汀40mg／d,大剂量治疗组给予氟伐他汀80mg／d,入院当日和治疗1个月时检测患者血清中sICAM-1、sVCAM-1和TNF-α水平。结果两组患者治疗后血清sICAM-1、sVCAM-1和TNF-α水平均较治疗前明显降低（P〈0．05）,但组间比较差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。结论大剂量氟伐他汀短期治疗不能进一步降低老年不稳定性心绞痛患者血清sICAM-1、sVCAM-1和TNF-α水平。     

系统性红斑狼疮患者血清可溶性黏附分子的检测

目的检测系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者血清黏附分子中可溶性血管细胞黏附分子-1(sVCAM-1)、可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)的水平,并探讨其临床意义。方法采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法,检测30名健康人和60例SLE患者血清sVCAM-1、sICAM-1水平,以分析其与SLE活动性变化关系。结果①SLE患者血清sVCAM-1平均水平为2342ng/ml,显著高于正常人对照组1240ng/ml(P<0.001)。②SLE患者中血清sICAM-1平均水平为802ng/ml,显著高于正常人对照组626ng/ml(P<0.001)。③SLE患者中,血清sVCAM-1水平活动期高于稳定期(P<0.05),sICAM-水平活动期高于稳定期(P<0.05)。④SLE组血清sVCAM-1和sICAM-1水平与SLE病情活动指数(SLEDAI)、抗dsDNA抗体水平及尿蛋白的发生呈正相关,与血清补体C3水平呈负相关。结论sVCAM-1,sICAM-1可能参与SLE发病机制。     

原发性胆汁性肝硬化患者血清可溶性血管细胞黏附分子-1和可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1的表达及其临床意义

目的 检测原发性胆汁性肝硬化(PBC)患者血清中可溶性血管细胞黏附分子-1(sVCAM-1)及可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)的表达,并探讨其临床意义.方法用酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)测定27例PBC患者及20例对照组血清sVCAM-1、sICAM-1的含量,分别比较PBC患者child-pugh分级各级别上述因子表达水平.结果 PBC患者血清sVCAM-1和sICAM-1水平明显高于对照组(P<0.05);child-pugh分级B、C级患者血清sVCAM-1和sICAM-1水平高于A级(P<0.05).结论sVCAM-1、sICAM-1参与了PBC的病理生理过程,与疾病分级相关,血清8VCAM-1、sICAM-1含量增高可作为原发性胆汁性肝硬化肝损害的判断指标.     

胃肿瘤患者循环可溶性细胞间粘附分子-1和血管细胞粘附分子-1

AIM To elucidate the biological and clinical significance of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in patients with gastric cancer.METHODS The serum levels of soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured with sandwith enzyme immunoassay.RESULTS In gastric cancer patients, soluble ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 concentrations were significantly elevated in comparision with those of healthy subjects (289.23μg/L±32.69μg/L vs 190.44μ/L±35.92μg/L,1430.88μg/L±421.71μg/L vs 727.24μg/L±157.68μg/L, respectively, P＜0.01). The increment in serum sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 concentrations correlated well with the staging of gastric cancer. The serum levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in patients of Ⅲ-Ⅳ stages were higher than those of Ⅰ-Ⅱ stages (346.60μg/L±92.10μg/L vs 257.54μg/L±32.77μg/L, 1800.60μg/L±510.76μg/L vs 1262.81μg/L±236.73μg/L). The levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were correlated significantly (r=0.49,P＜0.01). The sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 levels correlated positively with alkaline phophatase (r=0.63,0.71,P＜0.001) and white cell count (r=0.52,0.43, P＜0.01); but correlated negatively with serum albumin (r=-0.41, -0.49, P＜0.01).CONCLUSION The measurement of circulating ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 may bring additional prognostic information for patients with gastric cancer in varying stages.INTRODUCTIONTumor growth and metastasis involves a variety of cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions mediated by cell adhesion molecules. Currently, a number of cell adhesion molecules, such as intercellular adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecules-1 (VCAM-1), etc. have been found.ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 are members of the immunoglobulin supergene family which are cytokine-induced glycoproteins (IL-1, TNFα and IFNγ). Both of them have five or seven extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains, a single transmembranous domain and a short cytoplasmic tail[1,2]. The natural ligand of ICAM-1 or VCAM-1 is LFA-1 (CD11a) and Mac-1 (CD11b) or VLA-4, respectively[3]. ICAM-1 is a widely distributed protein on a variety of tissues, and can be detected in many cells such as macrophage, T- and B-cells, or fibroblasts, endothelial and epithelial cells. VCAM-1 is also a widely distributed protein and is constitutively expressed on tissue macrophage, dentritic cells in lymphoid tissue and skin, as well as on bone marrow fibroblasts and epithelial cells. Expression of VCAM-1 is inducible on vascular endothelial cells under pathological conditions[4].Recently, soluble forms of several adhesion molecules including ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were found in serum of normal donors[5]. Abnormally high levels of them have been described in some solid malignant tumors, leukemia, autoimmune disease, infectious disease, etc.The present study was carried out to measure the circulating levels of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in gastric cancer before treatment was given and to study their correlation with clinical, histological and routine laboratory parameters.     

Levels of soluble cell adhesion molecules in patients with angiographically defined coronary atherosclerosis

Adhesion molecules on the endothelial cell membrane play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Levels of soluble forms of cell adhesion molecules are reportedly elevated in patients with peripheral artery vessel disease and in patients with an atherosclerotic aorta. The present study investigated the association of serum levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (sICAM-1), and soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin) with coronary heart disease (CHD) and the extent of coronary atherosclerosis, and examined the influence of serum levels of lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins (apo) in subjects with (n=52, M/F:43/9) and without (controls, n=40, M/F:25/15) angiographically proven coronary atherosclerosis. After controlling for age and gender, levels of sVCAM-1 (least squares mean +/- std error: 565+/-36 ng/ml vs 540+/-41 ng/ml, ns), sICAM-1 (261+/-17ng/ml vs 247+/-19ng/ml, ns), and sP-selectin (142+/-8ng/ml vs 149+/-10 ng/ml, ns) in patients with coronary atherosclerosis were not different from those in controls, as assessed by an analysis of covariance. After also adjusting for body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and smoking by a multiple logistic function analysis, the association of sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, and sP-selectin with CHD was still not significant. Levels of sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, and sP-selectin were also not related to the extent of coronary atherosclerosis as judged by the number of stenosed vessels. However, inverse (p<0.05) relationships were observed between sVCAMs and serum levels of HDL3-cholesterol, apo A-II, and lipoprotein containing apo A-I and A-II, between sICAMs and levels of apo A-II and Lp A-I/A-II (Lp A-I/A-II), and between sP-selectin and lipoprotein containing only apo A-I. In conclusion, serum levels of soluble VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and P-selectin were not related to CHD or the extent of coronary atherosclerosis, but were inversely related to serum levels of high-density lipoprotein-related lipoproteins.     

Plasma levels of soluble cellular adhesion molecules in patients with arterial hypertension. Correlations with plasma endothelin-1

Background: Several reports have shown that circulating, soluble cellular adhesion molecules and endothelin-1 (ET-1) are implicated in the pathophysiological events of atherosclerosis and may reflect the endothelial dysfunction characterizing this disorder. Methods: To evaluate the expression of these factors in arterial hypertension (AH), we measured plasma levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), and ET-1 in 60 untreated patients with mild to moderate AH (hypercholesterolemic: n=31, normocholesterolemic: n=29) and 30 sex- and age-matched normocholesterolemic normotensive controls. Results: Hypertensive patients exhibited significantly higher levels of sICAM-1 (234+/-21 vs. 187+/-12 ng/ml, P<0.005), sVCAM-1 (681+/-42 vs. 589+/-23 ng/ml, P<0.005), sP-selectin (89+/-17 vs. 55+/-11 ng/ml, P<0.01) and ET-1 (6.2+/-0.7 vs. 2.4+/-0.3 pg/ml, P<0.01) than did normotensive controls. The normocholesterolemic hypertensives had lower levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 (P<0.01), sP-selectin and ET-1 (P<0.05) than hypercholesterolemic hypertensives, but higher levels than normotensive controls (P<0.05). In hypertensives, plasma ET-1 was significantly correlated with mean arterial pressure (r=0.51, P<0.03) and sICAM-1 levels (r=0.64, P<0.01). In hypercholesterolemic hypertensives, LDL cholesterol was also significantly correlated with plasma levels of sICAM-1 (r=0.53, P<0.04) and sP-selectin (r=0.41, P<0.05). Conclusions: Plasma levels of soluble cellular adhesion molecules are elevated in hypertensive patients in comparison to normotensive controls and may be related to plasma ET-1 activity. The coexistence of hypercholesterolemia may enhance the plasma soluble adhesion molecule activity induced by AH.     

Physical training reduces peripheral markers of inflammation in patients with chronic heart failure.

AIMS: Previous studies have shown an abnormal expression of cellular adhesion molecules and cytokines in chronic heart failure, which may be related to endothelial dysfunction characterizing this syndrome. Our study investigates the effects of physical training on serum activity of some peripheral inflammatory markers associated with endothelial dysfunction, such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) in patients with chronic heart failure. METHODS AND RESULTS: Serum levels of GM-CSF, MCP-1, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were determined in 12 patients with stable chronic heart failure (ischaemic heart failure: 6/12, dilated cardiomyopathy: 6/12, New York Heart Association: II-III, ejection fraction: 24+/-2%) before and after a 12-week programme of physical training in a randomized crossover design. In addition, the functional status of chronic heart failure patients was evaluated by using a cardiorespiratory exercise stress test to measure peak oxygen consumption. Physical training produced a significant reduction in serum GM-CSF (28+/-2 vs 21+/-2 pg. ml(-1), P<0.001), MCP-1 (192+/-5 vs 174+/-6 pg. ml(-1), P<0.001), sICAM-1 (367+/-31 vs 314+/-29 ng. ml(-1), P<0.01) and sVCAM-1 (1247+/-103 vs 1095+/-100 ng. ml(-1), P<0.01) as well as a significant increase in peak oxygen consumption (14.6+/-0.5 vs 16.5+/-0.5 ml. kg(-1)min(-1), P<0.005). A significant correlation was found between the training-induced improvement in peak oxygen consumption and percentage reduction in soluble adhesion molecules sICAM-1 (r=-0.72, P<0.01) and sVCAM-1 (r=-0.67, P<0.02). CONCLUSION: Physical training affects beneficially peripheral inflammatory markers reflecting monocyte/macrophage-endothelial cell interaction. Training-induced improvement in exercise tolerance is correlated with the attenuation of the inflammatory process, indicating that inflammation may contribute significantly to the impaired exercise capacity seen in chronic heart failure.     

Soluble intracellular adhesion molecules (sICAM-1, sVCAM-1) in peripheral blood of patients with thyroid cancer

The growth of a neoplasm and its ability to form metastases is a multistep process dependent on angiogenesis and immunological reactions of the organism. In this process adhesive factors are also involved. The aim of this work was estimation of the concentration of soluble intercellular adhesion molecules (sICAM-1) and vascular cellular adhesion molecules (sVCAM-1) in the serum of peripheral blood of patients with thyroid cancer before operation. The study comprised 48 patients ( 38 women and 10 men) aged from 18 to 87 years, in whom thin needle aspiration biopsy revealed cancer of the thyroid. Postoperative histopathological examination showed papillary cancer in 35 patients, oxyphilic cancer in 5 patients, anaplastic cancer in 4 and medullary cancer in 4 patients. In those patients, using the immunoenzymatic method ELISA, the concentration of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in the serum of peripheral blood was determined. The control group comprised 26 healthy persons. We found statistically significant increase of sICAM-1 concentration in serum in all forms of cancer, in comparison with the control group. Mean concentrations of sICAM-1 were as follows: in papillary cancer patients 455.23+/-28.66 vs. 299.62+/-11.54 ng/ml, p<0.05; in oxyphilic cancer 455.60+/-95.21 vs. 299.62+/-11.54 ng/ml, p<0.05; in anaplastic cancer 570.00+/-170.89 vs. 299.62+/-11.54 ng/ml, p<0.05; and in medullary cancer 512.00+/-11.46 vs. 299.62+/-11.54 ng/ml, p<0.05. The mean concentration of sVCAM-1 in serum was statistically significantly higher than in the control group only in case of anaplastic cancer (1033.75+/-86.30 vs. 644.58+/-27.30 ng/ml; p<0.05). We evaluated the correlation coefficient between the concentration of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in the serum of patients with thyroid cancer. Positive correlation was observed between the concentration of sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. The obtained results confirm essential role of the investigated adhesive factors in the process of thyroid cancer growth.     

非洛地平联合氟伐他汀对糖耐量减低的高血压病患者超敏C反应蛋白及内皮功能的影响

目的:观察在应用非洛地平的基础上加用氟伐他汀对糖耐量减低的高血压病患者超敏C反应蛋白(hs-CRP)及内皮功能的影响。方法:将符合纳入标准的高血压病并发糖耐量减低的患者127例随机分为2组:对照组(n=66)和氟伐他汀组(n=61),对照组服用非洛地平缓释片(10 mg,1次/d),氟伐他汀组在此基础上口服氟伐他汀(40 mg,1次/d),治疗12周。观察治疗前后患者hs-CRP和内皮功能等的变化。结果:经12周治疗后,两组hs-CRP[对照组:(2.9±1.5)mg/Lvs.(2.4±0.7)mg/L,P0.05;氟伐他汀组:(2.9±1.5)mg/Lvs.(1.3±0.4)mg/L,P0.01]、可溶性细胞间黏附分子-1(sICAM-1)[对照组:(114±47)μg/Lvs.(98±28)μg/L,P0.05;氟伐他汀组:(118±46)μg/Lvs.(78±24)μg/ml,P0.01]及可溶性血管细胞黏附分子-1(sVCAM-1)[对照组:(2 265±99)μg/Lvs.(190±56)μg/L,P0.05;氟伐他汀组:(230±97)μg/Lvs.(158±36)μg/L,P0.01]水平明显下降,与对照组相比氟伐他汀组hs-CRP及SICAM-1、SVCAM-1有更明显的降低,比较差异有统计学意义(均P0.01)。结论:在应用非洛地平的基础上加用氟伐他汀能明显减低原发性高血压并发糖耐量减低患者hs-CRP的水平并改善患者的内皮功能。     

Tumor necrosis factor induced adhesion molecule serum concentrations in Henoch-Schönlein purpura and pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: Animal models of immune complex mediated tissue injury have shown that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and TNF induced adhesion molecules play an important role in the pathogenesis of tissue damage mediated by IgG, but not in that mediated by IgA, immune complexes. We compared possible differences in the behavior of 2 TNF induced adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) in Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura (HSP), which is characterized by the formation of IgA immune complexes, versus systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is mostly associated with the vascular deposition of IgG immune complexes. METHODS: Serum concentrations of soluble (s)VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were determined by ELISA methods in 20 patients with pediatric SLE showing variably active disease, 20 active patients with active HSP, and 19 healthy controls. TNF-alpha as well as p55 and p75 soluble receptors (sTNF-R) were simultaneously tested by enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay in 22 patients (12 SLE, 10 HSP). RESULTS: Serum sVCAM-1 concentration was significantly higher in patients with SLE (mean +/- SD, 608 +/- 76 ng/ml), than in patients with HSP (501.9 +/- 63.3 ng/ml) and controls (446.8 +/- 139.2 ng/ml) (p < 0.001). In SLE patients, sVCAM-1 correlated positively with ESR (r = 0.45, p = 0.02) and negatively with C4 serum levels (r = -0.57, p = 0.004), platelets (r = -0.38, p = 0.03), and lymphocyte count (r = -0.42, p = 0.03). No differences in sICAM-1 serum concentrations were detected among SLE, HSP, or control groups. Soluble VCAM, but not sICAM-1, showed a positive correlation with TNF-alpha (r = 0.71, p = 0.01), p55 (r = 0.63, p = 0.02), and p75 (r = 0.7, p = 0.01) sTNF-R serum concentrations in SLE, but not in patients with HSP. CONCLUSION: Our study provides additional evidence of a possible differential involvement of TNF and TNF induced adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of tissue damage between pediatric SLE and HSP.     

Leukocyte counts and concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules as predictors of coronary atherosclerosis

BACKGROUND: Authors of recent studies have reported that there is a relationship between level of adhesion molecules and atherosclerosis. In an animal study it was demonstrated that there is an interaction between adhesion molecules and leukocytes in atherosclerotic tissue. OBJECTIVE: To study the relationships between coronary-artery atherosclerosis and both differential blood-leukocyte count and concentrations of soluble adhesion molecules in patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: Our subjects were 168 patients who underwent diagnostic coronary angiography. Forty-eight patients had normal coronary angiograms (control group), and 120 patients had significant coronary-artery stenoses (diameter stenosis > 70%) in at least one major coronary-artery branch (CAD group). Total and differential blood-leukocyte counts, and concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were assayed prior to angiography. RESULTS: Monocyte counts for patients in the CAD group were significantly greater than those for patients in the control group (366 +/- 99 versus 258 +/- 44/microl, P < 0.0001), as were the sICAM-1 concentrations (272 +/- 52 versus 203 +/- 24 ng/ml, P < 0.0001). The mean concentrations of sVCAM-1 in members of the two groups were the same (671 +/- 138 versus 668 +/- 97 ng/ml, P=0.4). There was a higher incidence of significant coronary-artery stenosis among patients with both a high monocyte count and a high concentration of sICAM-1 (> or = mean + SD) than there was among patients with a low monocyte count and a low concentration of sICAM-1 (> or = mean - SD; 100 versus 25%, P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher levels both of monocyte counts and of serum concentrations of ICAM-1 may serve as markers for coronary atherosclerosis.     

Endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory process in transfusion-dependent patients with beta-thalassemia major

BACKGROUND: Beta-thalassemia major is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We examined endothelial function and serum levels of inflammatory mediators in transfusion-dependent patients with beta-thalassemia major. METHODS: The study population consisted of 67 patients with homozygous beta-thalassemia major, (aged 24.6+/-0.7 years) and 71 healthy age and sex matched controls. Forearm blood flow was measured with gauge-strain plethysmography. Forearm vasodilatory response to reactive hyperemia (RH%) or to nitrate (NTG%) was expressed as the percentage change of forearm blood flow from baseline to the maximum flow during reactive hyperemia or sublingual nitroglycerin, respectively. Serum levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1) and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) were determined with ELISA. RESULTS: Patients had significantly lower levels of total cholesterol (125+/-4.5 vs. 207+/-7 mg/ml, p<0.01), ApoA1 (120+/-3 vs. 129+/-5 mg/ml, p<0.05), ApoB (60.5+/-2 vs. 95+/-4 mg/ml, p<0.01), ApoE (3+/-2 vs. 4+/-0.2 mg/ml, p<0.01) and Lp(a) (7.9+/-1.3 vs. 14.5+/-3.2 mg/ml, p<0.01) than controls. IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients (3.03+/-0.31 pg/ml) than controls (1.15+/-0.15 pg/ml, p<0.01). Similarly, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels were significantly higher in patients (513+/-31 and 368+/-25.5 ng/ml, respectively) than controls (333+/-13.8 and 272+/-14.05 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.01 for both). Maximum hyperemic forearm blood flow and RH% were lower in patients (7.1+/-0.3 ml/100 ml tissue/min and 49+/-2.8%, respectively) than controls (8.26+/-0.32 ml/100 ml tissue/min and 86.3+/-5.57%, respectively, p<0.01 for both). CONCLUSIONS: Beta-thalassemia major is associated with impaired endothelial function and increased levels of IL-6, sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1, suggesting a potential role of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in the complications of the disease.     

Circulating adhesion molecules in sera of asthmatic children

Infiltration of cells into the lung in asthma is regulated by several expressions of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) on cells present in the airways, and may play a role in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. We sought to evaluate the role of serum concentrations of the soluble forms of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and E-selectin (sE-selectin) in the control of disease activity in acute asthma. Circulating levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sE-selectin in sera from 15 normal control subjects and from 20 allergic asthmatic children with acute exacerbations who had returned to stable condition were determined by using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. The mean concentration of serum sICAM-1 levels was significantly higher during an acute exacerbation of asthmatic children than in those with stable asthma (19.41 +/- 10.65 ng/mL vs. 13.46 +/- 5.44 ng/mL; P < 0.001) or in control subjects (9.83 +/- 2.02 ng/mL; P < 0.001). For sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin, the mean serum concentration of sVCAM-1 was slightly higher in children during an acute exacerbation asthma than when stable. However, the differences did not reach statistical significance. The mean serum concentrations of sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin in acute asthma or stable asthma were significantly higher than in control subjects. This study provides further evidence that serum concentrations of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and sE-selectin are increased in acute asthma. These findings further confirm that leukocyte endothelial adhesion plays a role in inflammatory airway disease.