Levels of Soluble Cell Adhesion Molecules in Patients With Angiographically Defined Coronary Atherosclerosis

Abstract

he adhesion of leukocytes to endothelial cells and their transendothelial migration are critical early events in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis 1 and are mediated by adhesion molecules on the endothelial cell membrane that mainly belong to 2 protein families: the selectins and adhesion molecules of the immunoglobulin superfamily. 2 The expression of P-selectin (a member of the first group), and of both vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) (members of the second group), has been demonstrated in various cell types forming the atherosclerotic plaque; that is, endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and macrophages. 3-8 Soluble forms of adhesion molecules are probably generated by cleavage at a site close to membrane insertion. 9 The amount of soluble ICAM-1 has been demonstrated to be directly correlated with the surface expression of ICAM-1 in endothelial cells in culture, 10 and a correlation between soluble VCAM-1 and VCAM-1 mRNA Japanese Circulation Journal Vol.63, January 1999 expression in human atherosclerotic aorta has also been reported. 11 Several reports support the notion that the serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules may be useful for providing information on atherosclerotic lesions. 11-14 Serum levels of soluble P-selectin and ICAM-1 were elevated in patients with peripheral artery vessel disease (pAVD) 13 and soluble VCAM-1 levels were elevated in patients with an atherosclerotic aorta, 11 compared with those in asymptomatic control subjects. Levels of soluble VCAM-1 and ICAM1were also elevated in patients with severe hyperlipidemia, in whom advanced atherosclerosis can be expected, and in whom lipid-lowering drugs did not affect the levels of soluble VCAM-1 and ICAM-1. 14 Furthermore, in patients with pAVD, circulating VCAM-1 correlated with the extent of atherosclerosis as defined by the mean internal vessel surface area of the abdominal aorta and pelvic and leg arteries. 12 In the present study, we studied the serum levels of soluble VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and P-selectin in patients with and without (controls) angiographically defined coronary atherosclerosis. We examined the association of the levels of these soluble adhesion molecules with coronary heart disease (CHD) and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis as judged by the number of stenosed coronary arteries, and the influence of serum levels of lipids and lipoproteins on the levels of these soluble adhesion molecules. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the detailed association between circulating cell adhesion molecules Jpn Circ J 1999; 63: 19 -24 (Received July 2, 1998; revised manuscript received August 31, 1998; accepted September 24, 1998 Adhesion molecules on the endothelial cell membrane play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Levels of soluble forms of cell adhesion molecules are reportedly elevated in patients with peripheral artery vessel disease and in patients with an atherosclerotic aorta. The present study invest...

Decreased Serum Fetuin-A Levels are Associated with Coronary Artery Diseases

“…, there are still conflicting results with regard to the discriminative value of distinct solubilized adhesion molecules in coronary artery disease (4). (5), antifibrotic activity (6), and inhibition of apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (7).…”

Association Between P-Selectin Gene Polymorphisms and Soluble P-Selectin Levels and Their Relation to Coronary Artery Disease

“…However, these values are in the same range as those described by others measuring serum soluble P-selectin levels. [33][34][35] Serum preparation might activate additional platelets and modify the release of the soluble isoforms of P-selectin. Therefore, the quantities of P-selectin measured in serum might not only reflect the circulating levels of soluble P-selectin produced by endothelial cells and platelets but also be partly the consequence of shedding of membrane-bound P-selectin.…”

Insulin Resistance and Angiographical Characteristics of Coronary Atherosclerosis

“…When stenotic coronary arteries were found, the presence of stenosis was determined using a computer-assisted CAG analysis system (Mipron 1; Kontron Co) after the direct intracoronary injection of isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN; 2.5 mg/5 ml solution over 20 s). [15][16][17] One minute after the injection of ISDN through the Judkins catheter, CAG was performed from several projections. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was defined by the number of diseased coronary arteries (>50% luminal narrowing), and angiographical characteristics of coronary atherosclerotic lesions (ie, the severity of CHD) were defined by the GS, based on the hypothesis that the severity of CHD should be considered as a consequence of the functional significance of the vascular narrowing and the extent of the area perfused by the involved vessel or vessels.…”