title: Circulating adhesion molecules in allergic and non-allergic asthma.
abstract: Circulating forms of adhesion molecules (intercellular-adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin ) are related to the turnover of these molecules on the cell surface. In contrast to the other molecules, the levels of E-selectin probably exclusively reflect the activity of endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to compare levels of circulating adhesion molecules in patients with allergic (AA) and non-allergic asthma (NA) and to relate the levels of soluble adhesion molecules to methacholine responsiveness and lung function. The study comprised 19 patients with AA, 15 patients with NA and 17 healthy subjects. Soluble adhesion molecules, spirometry, methacholine responsiveness and peak flow variability was measured. The group of patients with AA had higher levels of sE-selectin than the reference group (P=0.046). Serum levels of sE-selectin correlated significantly with bronchial responsiveness (r=0.76) and peak flow variability (r=0.75) (P<0.01) in the NA but not in the AA group. All adhesion molecules in AA (P<0.05-<0.001), but only sE-selectin in NA (P<0.05), were correlated to airway conductance. sVCAM-1 was reduced by inhaled steroids (P<0.01). Our results indicate that endothelial cells are activated in asthma and that this activity has a bearing on airflow variability and bronchial responsiveness in NA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Akademiska sjukhuset, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE 75185, Sweden. christer.janson@medsci.uu.se
authors.forename: Christer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Janson
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ludviksdottir
authors.forename: María
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gunnbjörnsdottir
authors.forename: Eythor H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Björnsson
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Håkansson
authors.forename: Per
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Venge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016535:Bronchial Hyperreactivity / Q000097:blood; D001985:Bronchial Provocation Tests; D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D008875:Middle Aged; D012130:Respiratory Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D016085:Bronchoconstrictor Agents; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1