Increased serum levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and E-selectin in patients with localized scleroderma.
BACKGROUND
The serum levels of soluble forms of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1) and E-selectin (sE-selectin) can be used as a marker of endothelial activation.


OBJECTIVE
We investigated whether the serum level of sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin in patients with localized scleroderma (LSc) was correlated with the clinical or serologic features of this disease.


METHODS
Serum samples from 59 patients with LSc, 20 patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and 29 healthy controls were examined using specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.


RESULTS
The serum levels of sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin in patients with LSc were significantly higher than those of the healthy controls. The serum levels of sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin were correlated with both the number of sclerotic lesions and the number of involved areas.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that the serum levels of sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin may reflect the extent of the skin involvement (ie, the disease severity) and may be useful for monitoring the in vivo states of endothelial activation in LSc.
Yamane
K
K
Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Ihn
H
H
Kubo
M
M
Yazawa
N
N
Kikuchi
K
K
Soma
Y
Y
Tamaki
K
K
D000328:Adult; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000276:immunology; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1