The cell adhesion molecule, VCAM-1, is selectively elevated in serum in pre-eclampsia: does this indicate the mechanism of leucocyte activation?
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether circulating levels of cell adhesion molecules, markers of endothelial damage and leucocyte activation, were increased in pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
Serum was prepared from peripheral venous blood and stored at -70 degrees C. The cell adhesion molecules, VCAM-1, E-Selectin and ICAM-1, were measured by ELISA.


METHODS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow.


METHODS
Sixteen primigravid women with pre-eclampsia were recruited for the study. The preeclampsia group were compared with 18 healthy primigravid women with uncomplicated pregnancies.


RESULTS
The pre-eclamptic group had significantly higher serum levels of the cell adhesion molecule VCAM-1 (t = 3.673; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 or E-Selectin.


CONCLUSIONS
Endothelial damage and dysfunction are common to all the pathological features of pre-eclampsia. This study shows that concentrations of cell adhesion molecules, which indicate leucocyte-endothelial attachment and activation, are elevated in the serum of patients with pre-eclampsia. Such increases in soluble circulating cell adhesion molecules may reflect increased expression of these molecules on the endothelium and thereby explain the mechanism for leucocyte activation in pre-eclampsia.
Lyall
F
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
Greer
I A
IA
Boswell
F
F
Macara
L M
LM
Walker
J J
JJ
Kingdom
J C
JC
D000328:Adult; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D019040:E-Selectin; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1