Clinical significance of circulating endothelial adhesion molecules (sE-selectin and sICAM) in untreated multiple myeloma patients.
BACKGROUND
The expression of adhesion molecules is important for the interaction of myeloma cells with the bone marrow microenvironment. In the current study, serum soluble adhesion molecules (sICAM-1 and sE-selectin) were measured in untreated multiple myeloma (MM) patients in relation with other markers of disease activity.


METHODS
The study group consisted of 67 patients with MM (classified according to the Durie-Salmon classification) and 15 controls. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), sICAM-1 and sE-selectin concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In addition, the monoclonal protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and hemoglobin (Hb) concentration were also determined.


RESULTS
Serum sICAM-1 level increased significantly at advanced stages of MM and was higher in comparison to controls (p<0.01). sE-selectin increased significantly with advancing stage of the disease, but did not differ from controls. IL-6, ESR and M-component were significantly higher and Hb concentrations lower with advancing stage of disease. There was a positive correlation of IL-6 with sICAM-1 and sE-selectin.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that serum sICAM-1 differs in multiple myeloma patients from normals and together with sE-selectin increase in parallel to increasing stage of disease, which may reflect a dysregulation and possible involvement of these adhesion molecules in myeloma progression.
Department of Haematology, Division of Medicine, Medical School of Crete, P.O. Box 1352, Heraklion, Crete, Greece. freda@med.uoc.gr
Michael G
MG
Alexandrakis
Freda H
FH
Passam
Katerina
K
Sfiridaki
Panayiotis
P
Kafarakis
Elli
E
Karydi
Dimitra
D
Liapi
Kostas
K
Perisinakis
Despina S
DS
Kyriakou
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009101:Multiple Myeloma / Q000097:blood* / Q000628:therapy
D015415:Biomarkers; D019040:E-Selectin; D006454:Hemoglobins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1