title: Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in paediatric connective tissue diseases.
abstract: The intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) is a cytokine-induced glycoprotein involved in the recruitment of cells into tissues undergoing inflammatory responses. The aim of this study was to compare the levels of soluble ICAM-1 (s-ICAM-1) in children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to evaluate the usefulness of this molecule as marker of disease activity. Levels of s-ICAM-1 were measured in sera using a monoclonal antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunoassay. Serum levels (mean+/-SD) of s-ICAM-1 in 37 children with JCA, 18 patients suffering from SLE and 25 healthy controls were 609+/-184, 513+/-139 and 210+/-95 ng/ml, respectively. A significant difference could be demonstrated between the levels of s-ICAM-1 in sera from each disease, as a group, and those of healthy controls. Higher levels of s-ICAM-1 were recorded in JCA patients with systemic features and patients who had polyarthritis than in children who were pauciarticular. A positive correlation was observed between s-ICAM-1 levels and disease activity score in SLE patients. Moreover, s-ICAM-1 levels closely followed clinical conditions in five children with SLE during follow-up. The data show that s-ICAM-1 levels are increased in children suffering from connective tissue diseases and reflect disease status or activity, suggesting the usefulness of this molecule in the follow-up of these diseases.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Parasitología, Dr Mario Fatala Chabén, Buenos Aires, Argentina. susana@inscha.gov.ar
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Laucella
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gaddi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Balbaryski
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giraudi
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cuttica
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1