title: Vascular cell adhesion molecule--a new approach to detect endothelial cell activation in MS and encephalitis in vivo.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Leukocyte migration into inflammatory lesions is controlled by adhesion molecules on activated vascular endothelium. Pivotal among these are E-selectin and the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), which are found on very few cell types other than activated endothelium.
  
  
  METHODS
  We determined the presence of the soluble form of these adhesion molecules (sE-selectin and sVCAM-1) in serum and CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), viral encephalitis, and controls, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MS patients with active, Gadolinium-DTPA-enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance imaging had significantly higher sVCAM-1 serum levels than normal controls. Patients with viral encephalitis had significantly higher levels of sVCAM-1 in serum and cerebrospinal fluid than controls. sE-selectin levels showed no significant variations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activated vascular endothelium controlling leukocyte migration may be demonstrated in MS patients in vivo by determining sVCAM-1 in serum. Furthermore, sVCAM-1 may be useful for monitoring inflammatory activity in central nervous system inflammatory disease.
authors: Department of Neurology, University of Heidelberg, Klinikum Mannheim, Germany.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Mössner
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Fassbender
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Kühnen
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Schwartz
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Hennerici
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D018792:Encephalitis, Viral / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D012016:Reference Values; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1