title: Systemic sclerosis-related Raynaud's phenomenon: effects of iloprost infusion therapy on serum cytokine, growth factor and soluble adhesion molecule levels.
abstract: Microvascular damage occurs in systemic sclerosis and is associated with increased serum levels of endothelial adhesion molecules and endothelium-associated cytokines, including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin, endothelin-1 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Iloprost, a prostacyclin analogue, induces clinical benefit in patients suffering from scleroderma-related Raynaud's phenomenon. This study was performed to investigate the effect of iloprost infusions on endothelium activation. Serum samples from 12 patients with systemic sclerosis were examined using specific enzyme-linked immunoassays. The serum levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and soluble E-selectin were initially elevated and significantly reduced after iloprost infusions. The serum concentrations of VEGF and endothelin-1 revealed decreased levels after therapy too. These results indicate that the well-known clinical benefit of iloprost infusions on Raynaud's phenomenon is serologically detectable by a reduction of serum levels of endothelium-associated adhesion molecules, cytokines and growth factors reflecting an improvement in endothelial function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mittag
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Beckheinrich
authors.forename: U F
authors.initials: UF
authors.lastname: Haustein
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016285:Iloprost / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011928:Raynaud Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016207:Cytokines; D019040:E-Selectin; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D019332:Endothelin-1; D008222:Lymphokines; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D016285:Iloprost