Circulating endothelial cells and vascular injury in systemic lupus erythematosus.
In flares of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), endothelial cells activated by immune stimuli are potential participants in the inflammatory processes, which contribute to injury. Elevated levels of circulating endothelial cells (CEC) may be a proxy for vascular injury, as demonstrated in patients with sickle cell anemia during acute crises. In active SLE, CEC levels in peripheral blood are elevated (vs healthy controls and correlate with plasma C3a). CEC may reflect widespread unrecognized, ongoing injury despite the absence of clinical stigmata of vasculitis in patients with SLE.
Clancy
R M
RM
Rheumatology, Hospital for Joint Diseases and New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10003, USA. rmc4@is2.nyu.edu.
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000276:immunology
D015415:Biomarkers; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D009569:Nitric Oxide