Abstract
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.
Conclusion
Patients with inactive TA have elevated levels of sE-selectin, sVCAM-1, and sICAM-1 that might indicate persistent vasculopathy in clinically inactive disease.
Key Indexing Terms:Footnotes
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N.K. Tripathy*, PhD, Technical Officer, Department of Hematology; V. Chandran*, MD, DM, Student, Department of Immunology; N.K. Garg, MD, DM, DNB, Professor; N. Sinha, MD, DM, Professor, Head, Department of Cardiology; S. Nityanand, MD, PhD, Professor, Head, Department of Hematology.
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↵ The first 2 authors contributed equally to the work.
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Supported by an intramural grant of SGPGIMS, Lucknow-226014, India to Dr N.K. Garg.
- Accepted for publication April 14, 2008.