Soluble endothelial cell adhesion molecules and their relationship to disease activity in Takayasu's arteritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate soluble (s) E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and their relationship to disease activity in Takayasu's arteritis (TA).


METHODS
Levels of adhesion molecules were measured by enzyme immunoassay in the sera of 35 patients with TA, 17 healthy controls, and 15 patients with 12 months followup.


RESULTS
Compared to controls, patients had elevated levels of sE-selectin (54.5 +/- 35.0 vs 36.4 +/- 13.0 ng/ml, p < 0.05), sVCAM-1 (280.9 +/- 267.6 vs 141.2 +/- 76.1 ng/ml, p < 0.05), and sICAM-1 (261.3 +/- 168.1 vs 198.3 +/- 74.3 ng/ml, p < 0.05). Compared to controls, patients with inactive TA also had elevated levels of sE-selectin (67.4 +/- 45.9 vs 36.4 +/- 13.0 ng/ml, p < 0.02), sVCAM-1 (327.6 +/- 327.8 vs 141.2 +/- 76.1 ng/ml, p < 0.02), and sICAM-1 (321.9 +/- 179.5 vs 198.3 +/- 74.3 ng/ml, p < 0.02). There was no difference between active TA and controls. sE-selectin had a trend towards increased levels in inactive versus active TA (67.4 +/- 45.9 vs 44.9 +/- 20.3 ng/ml p = 0.059), but there was no difference in sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 levels between the groups. No adhesion molecule levels showed a change among followup patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with inactive TA have elevated levels of sE-selectin, sVCAM-1, and sICAM-1 that might indicate persistent vasculopathy in clinically inactive disease.
Tripathy
Naresh K
NK
Department of Hematology, Sanjay Gandhi Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, India.
Chandran
Vinod
V
Garg
Naveen K
NK
Sinha
Nakul
N
Nityanand
Soniya
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013625:Takayasu Arteritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
D019040:E-Selectin; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D001379:Azathioprine