Soluble E-selectin, other markers of inflammation and disease severity in children with atopic dermatitis

E-selectin, P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are membrane-bound adhesion molecules which mediate the attachment of leucocytes to endothelial cells. These molecules are preferentially expressed on activated endothelium. The soluble forms of these molecules (sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) are present in the circulation as a result of shedding. Some of the soluble adhesion molecules have been thought to reflect disease activity in atopic dermatitis (AD). To evaluate their potential to reflect disease activity in AD, we correlated their plasma concentration with clinical severity measured by objective SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis). Furthermore, levels of total IgE, specific IgE, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were determined. SCORAD and sE-selectin levels were significantly increased in children with specific IgE for both food and inhalation allergens ( P  < 0.05). ECP consistently showed an increase with the scores of SCORAD, but no statistical significance was reached. Disease activity was significantly correlated with the plasma levels of sE-selectin ( r _s = 0.6, P  < 0.0005) but not with sP-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. This agrees with recent studies performed in adults with AD, and supports the potential of sE-selectin as a parameter for monitoring disease activity in young children with AD.