title: Cell adhesion molecules as a marker reflecting the reduction of endothelial activation induced by glucocorticoids.
abstract: In vitro, steroids down-regulate the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) in endothelial cells stimulated by lipopolysaccharide. Low-dose hydrocortisone is a new treatment of patients with septic shock, a state that is characterized by an endothelial injury. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the plasma levels of soluble CAMs, reflecting in vivo endothelial activation, could be modulated in patients with septic shock treated by hydrocortisone. This was a prospective and observational study conducted in the intensive care unit at a university hospital. The subjects included 40 patients with septic shock (American College of Chest Physicians Consensus Conference/Society of Critical Care Medicine definition); 45 healthy blood donors served as controls. The patients receiving the standard care ("reference group") during the first 6 months were compared with the patients receiving the hydrocortisone therapy ("hydrocortisone group") for the next 6 months. Measurements of sCAMs were performed on days 1 and 3 of the disease. On day 1, sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sVCAM-1, and sICAM-1 were significantly elevated in patients with septic shock compared with healthy donors. sE-selectin levels significantly decreased between days 1 and 3 in the "hydrocortisone group," whereas there was no significant change in the "reference group". Surprisingly, sICAM-1 levels significantly increased between days 1 and 3 only in patients treated by hydrocortisone. No significant changes were observed for sP-selectin and sVCAM-1 levels in the two groups. In patients with septic shock, glucocorticoids differently affected the pattern of evolution of sCAMs, with sE-selectin being decreased and sICAM-1 being increased. Expression of sP-selectin and sVCAM-1 was not affected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Marseilles Nord University Hospital System, Marseilles School of Medicine, 13005 Marseille, France. leonem@msnotes.wustl.edu
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Brigitte
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Boutière-Albanèse
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valette
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Camoin-Jau
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Barrau
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albanèse
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: Françoise
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dignat-George
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D004727:Endothelium / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D019007:P-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D006854:Hydrocortisone