Cellular adhesion molecules and blood pressure: interaction with sex in a multi-ethnic population.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the association between blood pressure and four different adhesion molecules, adjusting for potential confounders, in men and women from different ethnic origins.


METHODS
The soluble (s) plasma adhesion molecules sP-selectin, sE-selectin, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured in 261 white (120 women), 188 African origin (99 women) and 215 South Asian (99 women) individuals living in England. All were free from coronary heart disease, stroke, other cardiovascular disease and diabetes, and were not receiving drug treatment for hypertension or high lipids, hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives.


RESULTS
After adjustment for age, only sE-selectin concentrations were significantly associated with blood pressure. There was a significant interaction of sex with systolic (P = 0.013), diastolic (P = 0.042) and pulse (P = 0.015) pressures. After adjustment for age, ethnicity, body mass index and smoking, the significant interaction of sex persisted and in women the associations with systolic (P < 0.001), diastolic (P < 0.001) or pulse (P = 0.004) pressure were unchanged, but in men the association with diastolic blood pressure was abolished. Finally, the association appeared to be present in women younger than 50 years, who were likely to be premenopausal.


CONCLUSIONS
The relationship between adhesion molecules and blood pressure is adhesion molecule specific and varies with sex and age, which may partially explain previous inconsistencies in the literature. The mechanisms relating blood pressure to adhesion molecule concentrations are unknown, but they are likely to be modified by the menopause. These differences may relate to the production, clearance or cell-surface shedding of the adhesion molecules.
Miller
Michelle A
MA
Department of Community Health Sciences, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK. mmiller@sghms.ac.uk
Kerry
Sally M
SM
Cook
Derek G
DG
Cappuccio
Francesco P
FP
D044466:Asian People; D044383:Black People; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008131:London / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012995:Solubility; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D044465:White People
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D019007:P-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1