Circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in patients with hepatolithiasis

Abstract

We evaluated the role of circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the pathogenesis of hepatolithiasis. From December 1994 to May 1995, 40 patients with hepatolithiasis were included. All the patients met the following criteria: (1) presence of hepatolithiasis, (2) no obvious clinical evidence of an associated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, (3) no clinical manifestation of cholangitis for at least 72 hr, (4) no immunomodulatory agents in the last three weeks, and (5) no blood transfusion in the last three weeks. Venous blood samples were collected both before surgery and at least three months after complete clearance of the stones, and the serum concentrations of circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 were measured with a sandwich enzyme immunoassay method. Fifteen healthy subjects were used as a control group. Bile specimens routinely obtained during surgery were cultured for aerobes and anaerobes. The x-ray films of cholangiography were all reviewed in detail. The mean value (834 +/- 128 ng/ml) of circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in the patient group before surgery was significantly higher than that (346 +/- 68 ng/ml) of the control group (P < 0.01). The mean value (677 +/- 139 ng/ml) of circulating ICAM-1 in the patient group at least three months after complete clearance of the stones was significantly lower than that (834 +/- 128 ng/ml) of the patients before surgery (P < 0.01), but this mean value (677 +/- 139 ng/ml) was still significantly higher than that (346 +/- 68 ng/ml) of the control group (P < 0.01). Bacteria was present in the bile of all patients. The total number of bacterial species was 135, and there were an average of 3.4 bacterial species cultured per patient. Intrahepatic stricture was demonstrated in cholangiography in 33 patients (82.5%). In addition to the high incidence of intrahepatic bile duct strictures and bile infection, a significant elevation in circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) was shown in patients with hepatolithiasis. Our preliminary results seem to be promising and the real role of sICAM-1 deserves further investigation and elucidation.

The clinical usefulness of assessing the concentration of cell adhesion molecules sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 in the serum of women with primary breast cancer

“…Sheen-Chen et al . showed a similar relationship [17]. Byrne described a statistically significant increase in the concentration of sVCAM-1 levels in breast cancer patients who developed metastases in comparison to those in whom metastases were not present [14].…”

“…The studies demonstrated a significant increase in the concentration of the studied adhesion molecules in patients suffering from this cancer in comparison to the control group. Similar observations were made by Sheen-Chen et al ., who observed a statistically significant increase in the concentration of sICAM-1 in the serum of patients with invasive breast cancer [ 17 ]. Similarly, Madej and O'Hanlon, in their study, showed elevated levels of adhesion molecules in the serum of patients with breast cancer [ 18 , 19 ].…”

The immunobiology of cholangiocytes

“…Some cell surface adhesion molecules, such as leukocyte functioning antigen (LFA)‐3, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐I and HLA‐II, are expressed in normal human cholangiocytes as demonstrated by both in vivo and in vitro studies 57 , 58 , 59 . Enhanced expression of adhesion molecules on cholangiocytes has been demonstrated in several inflammatory hepatobiliary diseases including primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and hepatolithiasis 60 , 61 . Additionally, microbial infection in the biliary system is usually associated with an enhanced expression of adhesion molecules on cholangiocytes.…”

“…[57][58][59] Enhanced expression of adhesion molecules on cholangiocytes has been demonstrated in several inflammatory hepatobiliary diseases including primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis and hepatolithiasis. 60,61 Additionally, microbial infection in the biliary system is usually associated with an enhanced expression of adhesion molecules on cholangiocytes. Expression of HLA-I on cultured human cholangiocytes was increased after infection with the cytomegalovirus.…”

Hepatikolithiasis – endoskopisch-interventionelle Therapiemöglichkeiten

“…In einer taiwanesischen Untersuchung wurden bei allen Patienten bakterielle Erreger in der Galleflu È ssigkeit nachgewiesen [3], die mit einer Ønderung der Gallezusammensetzung wie dem Auftreten des zirkulierenden interzellula È ren Adha È sionsmoleku È ls assoziiert waren. Andererseits spielen auch die genetische Pra È disposition [2], Anomalien der Gallenwege (insbesondere Stenosen) und mo È glicherweise die Erna Èhrung eine Rolle [1,4].…”