title: Circulating adhesion molecules levels in type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Risk factors for atherosclerosis such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia affect endothelial function and stimulate adhesion molecules expression. The aim of the study was to examine endothelial activation in type 2 diabetes and hypertension as indicated by adhesion molecule levels and further to investigate whether the coexistence of the above conditions has a different effect.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum levels of soluble E-selectin, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured in 17 hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients (DM-HY), 32 normotensive type 2 diabetic patients (DM), 11 hypertensive nondiabetic patients (HY) and 15 healthy subjects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In diabetic patients (either DM-HY or DM), soluble E-selectin levels were significantly increased compared to healthy subjects (p<0.001). In HY patients, both sE-selectin (66.44+/-71.59 vs. 29.42+/-15.56 ng/ml, p=0.033) and sVCAM-1 (1529+/-433.33 vs. 1027+/-243.56 ng/ml, p=0.03) levels were found significantly higher compared to healthy subjects (p<0.05). The coexistence of diabetes and hypertension (DM-HY) did not have an additive effect on circulating adhesion molecules levels compared with the levels observed in either diabetes or hypertension. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) were independent factors correlated respectively with sE-selectin and sVCAM-1 levels (R=0.454, p=0.034 and R=0.578, p=0.005) in nondiabetic subjects (hypertensive and normotensive).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension induce endothelial activation as indicated by elevated levels of soluble adhesion molecules. This effect is not different when comorbidity is present.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical School, University of Thessaly, 22 Papakyriazi, 41222 Larissa, Greece. mboul@med.uth.gr
authors.forename: Mary S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Boulbou
authors.forename: George N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Koukoulis
authors.forename: Erini D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Makri
authors.forename: Efthymia A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Petinaki
authors.forename: Konstantinos I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Gourgoulianis
authors.forename: Anastasios E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Germenis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1