title: Possible evidence of endothelial cell activation and disturbance in thalassemia: an in vitro study.
abstract: Activation of vascular endothelium is considered as an important facet of inflammation, thrombosis, and vasculitis. Activated endothelial cells express a number of immunologically relevant surface markers which are not detected in dormant condition. These surface markers on endothelial cell may involve in adhesion reaction and migration of blood cell components. We demonstrated increased level of the soluble adhesion molecules in circulating blood of both alpha- and beta-thalassemic patients. These adhesion molecules are theoretically known to be released from endothelial cells. The adhesion molecules included soluble Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (sICAM-1), soluble E-Selectin (ELAM-1), soluble Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and von Willebrand Factor (vWF). The levels of these adhesion molecules were measured in serum from 32 thalassemic patients and 10 control healthy subjects. As compared to normal, increased sICAM-1 was found in beta-thal/HbE patients with non-splenectomy; BE-NS (p = 0.002), increased ELAM-1 in beta-thal/HbE patients with splenectomy; BE-S (p = 0.01) and HbH with Hb Constant Spring; HbH/CS (p = 0.001), and increased sVCAM-1 in BE-NS; (p = < 0.0001) and BE-S (p = 0.002). Significant increase in von Willebrand Factor (vWF), a marker for endothelial cell, was shown in BE-S (p = 0.04) as compared to normal. Adhesion molecules were also markedly demonstrated in the supernatant of in vitro culture of human vascular endothelial cell in the presence of 30% thalassemic serum, and these adhesion molecules were also detected on the surface of the cells by using the technic of laser scanning confocal microscope and direct immunofluorescence.
authors.affiliation: Sirikit Medical Center, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Thailand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butthep
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bunyaratvej
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Funahara
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kitaguchi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fucharoen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bhamarapravati
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013789:Thalassemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D017085:alpha-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000097:blood; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014841:von Willebrand Factor; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1