CIRCULATING ADHESION MOLECULES IN SERA OF ASTHMATIC CHILDREN

Tang Renbin, Chen Shujen, Chung Rueylung, Soong Wenjue

Dept. of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital and National Yang-Ming University, Chinese Taipei

 

Objective: In order to understand the role of circulating concentrations of soluble form of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), vascular cell adhension molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and sE-selectin in serum are related to disease activity in acute asthma.

Methods: Circulating levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin in sera from 15 normal control subjects and in sera from 20 allergic asthmatic children with acute exacerbation and in stable condition were determined by using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits.

Results: The mean concentration of serum sICAM-1 levels was significantly higher in acute exacerbation asthmatic children than in those in stable asthma (19.41 + 10.65 ng/ml vs 13.46 + 5.44 ng/ml; p< 0.001 or in control subjects (9.83 + 2.02 ng/ml; p<0.001). For sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin, the mean serum concentration of sVCAM-1 was slightly higher in children with acute exacerbation asthma than stable asthma. However, the differences did not reach statistical significance. The mean serum concentration of sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin in acute asthma or stable asthma was significantly higher than in the controls.

Conclusion: This study provides further evidence that a rise of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin in acute asthma. These findings further confirm a role of leukocyte endothelial adhesion in inflammatory airway disease.

 

 
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