Circulating L-selectin in multiple sclerosis patients with active, gadolinium-enhancing brain plaques.
Leukocyte migration into inflammatory lesions is controlled by adhesion molecules. L-selectin is the adhesion molecule on leukocytes that is responsible for making the initial contact with endothelium. After establishing this contact, L-selectin is shed from the cell surface and present in the circulation as a functional soluble receptor. To investigate this initial adhesive event, we evaluated the presence of soluble L-selectin (sL-selectin) in serum and CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), viral encephalitis, and controls. MS patients with active, gadolinium-enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance imaging had significantly higher sL-selectin serum levels than controls (P < 0.05). These levels in MS patients correlated with the size of the enhancing lesions (P < 0.05), and with sL-selectin levels in CSF (P < 0.001). In viral encephalitis, in contrast, sL-selectin is elevated in CSF only (P < 0.001) and may derive from intrathecal leukocytes. These results show that the earliest adhesive events mediated by L-selectin indeed operate in active MS, and that sL-selectin will be of value in quantitating the extent of this inflammatory process.
Mössner
R
R
Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Klinikum Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany.
Fassbender
K
K
Kühnen
J
J
Schwartz
A
A
Hennerici
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000276:immunology; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis; D012995:Solubility
D019041:L-Selectin; D005682:Gadolinium