VASCULAR CELL-ADHESION MOLECULE - A NEW APPROACH TO DETECT ENDOTHELIAL-CELL ACTIVATION IN MS AND ENCEPHALITIS IN-VIVO

Introduction - Leukocyte migration into inflammatory lesions is contro lled by adhesion molecules on activated vascular endothelium. Pivotal among these are E-selectin and the vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 ( VCAM-1), which are found on very few cell types other than activated e ndothelium. Methods - We determined the presence of the soluble form o f these adhesion molecules (sE-selectin and sVCAM-1) in serum and CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), viral encephalitis, and cont rols, using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results - MS patients with active, Gadolinium-DTPA-enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance i maging had significantly higher sVCAM-1 serum levels than normal contr ols. Patients with viral encephalitis had significantly higher levels of sVCAM-1 in serum and cerebrospinal fluid than controls. sE-selectin levels showed no significant variations. Conclusion - Activated vascu lar endothelium controlling leukocyte migration may be demonstrated in MS patients in vivo by determining sVCAM-1 in serum. Furthermore, sVC AM-1 may be useful for monitoring inflammatory activity in central ner vous system inflammatory disease.