title: Cell adhesion molecules as potential biomarkers of nephritis, damage and accelerated atherosclerosis in patients with SLE.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the current study was to compare levels of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and E-selectin in lupus patients and controls and to investigate their association with clinical phenotype, disease activity and damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared levels of serum VCAM-1 and E-selectin in 178 female lupus patients and 69 age-and sex-matched controls. Using linear regression we also examined the association between these markers and disease activity, damage, renal and skin involvement as well as clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  E-selectin was increased in patients compared to controls (median (IQR) 10.5 (6.85, 13.9) vs 7.86 (5.39, 10.4) ng/ml; p < 0.001). E-selectin was also associated with overall damage and carotid plaque (β (95% confidence interval): 0.27 (0.029, 0.511) and 0.26 (0.148, 0.507)). Whilst there was no significant difference in VCAM-1 levels between groups overall, we found a significant association between VCAM-1 and with active renal disease (β (95% confidence interval): 1.10 (0.69, 1.51)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  E-selectin may act as a marker of cardiovascular risk in SLE, whilst VCAM-1 may have a role as a non-invasive biomarker for lupus nephritis activity.
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Institute for Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK sarah.skeoch@postgrad.manchester.ac.uk.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skeoch
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Institute for Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of South Manchester, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Haque
authors.affiliation: Specialist Assay Laboratory, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pemberton
authors.affiliation: Arthritis Research UK Centre for Epidemiology, Centre for Musculoskeletal Research, Institute for Inflammation and Repair, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, UK The Kellgren Centre for Rheumatology, NIHR Manchester Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Bruce
mesh_terms: D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019040:E-Selectin; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
keywords: Systemic lupus erythematosus; cardiovascular disease; cellular adhesion molecules; nephritis