title: Serum levels of soluble intercellular-1 and vascular cell-1 adhesion molecules in chronic hepatitis C and the influence of interferon-alpha + ribavirin therapy.
abstract: In chronic hepatitis C (CHC) intercellular and vascular cell adhesion molecules-1 (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) are expressed de novo on hepatocytes infected by hepatitis C virus and on endothelial cells from sinusoidal vessels, respectively. The soluble forms of these (sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) reflect their level of expression in tissue. Serum levels of sICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured using ELISA assays in 20 patients with CHC, at baseline and after 6 months of treatment with interferon-a + ribavirin. Significantly higher mean values of both adhesions, comparing to healthy controls, were observed. In all patients the lowest value of sICAM-1 was above highest level of controls. At the beginning of the study the responders and nonresponders to treatment (at 1 year) did not differ from each others concerning sICAM-1/sVCAM-1 concentrations. A significant reduction of sICAM-1 levels was apparent after 6 months of therapy, especially in the group of responders. Just a normalization of sICAM-1 values in all but one of responders, comparing to only 5 of 9 nonresponders has been achieved. By contrast, the mean level of sVCAM-1 did not change significantly with therapy. In conclusion, the normalization of serum sICAM-1 at 6 months of treatment may be useful prognostic parameter of response to the end of the administration period (1 year).
authors.affiliation: 3rd Medical Clinic, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Str. Croitorilor no. 19-21, 3400 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Doru
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dejica
authors.forename: Mircea
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grigorescu
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dejica
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Radu
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Neculoiu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D012254:Ribavirin