title: Soluble CD40 ligand and soluble P-selectin levels in Gilbert's syndrome: a link to protection against atherosclerosis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of CD40 ligand and P-selectin in the mechanism of decreased incidence of cardiovascular disease in Gilbert's syndrome (GS).
  
  
  METHODS
  The soluble forms of CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and P-selectin (sP-selectin), and high sensitive C reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels were investigated in subjects with GS (n=25) and compared to healthy controls (n=53).
  
  
  RESULTS
  sCD40L and hs-CRP levels were significantly lower in GS compared to the controls (0.33+/-0.27 vs 0.71+/-0.37 ng/mL, p<0.001 and 0.51+/-0.45 vs 1.16+/-1.31 mg/L, p=0.046, respectively). Both sCD40L and hs-CRP were negatively correlated with total bilirubin (r=-0.5, p<0.001 and r=-0.34, p=0.002, respectively). sP-selectin levels were lower in GS when compared to the controls but the difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.052). No correlation was found between the plasma levels of sCD40L, sP-selectin and hs-CRP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These novel findings suggest that reduced sCD40L and hs-CRP concentrations may have a role in the mechanism of protection against atherosclerosis in GS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Gulhane School of Medicine, 06108 Etlik, Ankara, Turkey. serkantapan7@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tapan
authors.forename: Teoman
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dogru
authors.forename: Ilker
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tasci
authors.forename: Cemal Nuri
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Ercin
authors.forename: Taner
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ozgurtas
authors.forename: Mehmet Kemal
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Erbil
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005878:Gilbert Disease / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019007:P-Selectin; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D002097:C-Reactive Protein