Correlation of soluble adhesion molecules in the peripheral blood of scleroderma patients with their in situ expression and with disease activity.
OBJECTIVE
To correlate serum levels of the soluble adhesion molecules intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin, and P-selectin with (a) clinical disease activity and progression and (b) the in situ expression and distribution of these adhesion molecules in lesional skin, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).


METHODS
Serum samples from 12 SSc patients and 36 healthy controls were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Immunohistologic staining was carried out on cryostat sections of lesional skin.


RESULTS
Patients whose SSc was in the early inflammatory stage or who had prominent disease progression showed elevated serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules. Serum levels correlated positively with the expression of these molecules on endothelial cells and fibroblasts in lesional skin.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum levels of soluble ICAM-1, VCAM-1, P-selectin, and, to a lesser degree, E-selectin correlate well with their in situ activity and with clinical disease activity. These parameters therefore provide a useful tool for the characterization of disease stage, progression, and prognosis in SSc.
University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
M S
MS
Gruschwitz
O P
OP
Hornstein
P
P
von Den Driesch
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood*; D012867:Skin / Q000737:chemistry; D012995:Solubility
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules