SOLUBLE VASCULAR CELL-ADHESION MOLECULE-1 LEVELS IN MATERNAL AND CORD-BLOOD

Objective: Vascular cell adhesion molecule is a transmembrane glycopro tein that primarily mediates the adhesion and extravasation of monocyt es and lymphocytes during the inflammatory response. A soluble form ha s been isolated from blood, and elevated blood levels have been found in chronic inflammatory diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, as well as in diabetes, atherosclerosis, and malignancies. Maternal concentrations of soluble vascular cell adhesi on molecule-1 are also elevated in preeclampsia. The purpose of this s tudy was to determine whether differences exist in the concentrations of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 from the blood of normal, laboring women at term and from cord blood. Methods: Venous blood was collected in heparinized tubes from both healthy women with uncomplic ated, singleton pregnancies admitted in labor at term and from the umb ilical veins of their newborns at delivery. Soluble vascular cell adhe sion molecule-1 was measured by commercial enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN). Results: The mean maternal and cord blood soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 concentrations we re 609 +/- 265 and 1152 +/- 331 ng/ml, respectively. The mean umbilica l soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 concentration was 1.9 time s the mean maternal concentration (P < 0.001). These data demonstrate that cord soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 concentrations are higher than maternal concentrations at the time of delivery. Conclusi on: Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 may play an important role in th e development of normal pregnancy as well as in pathologic states such as preeclampsia. This study found higher levels of soluble vascular c ell adhesion molecule-1 in cord blood compared with maternal blood in uncomplicated, term gestations in labor.