POSSIBLE REGULATION OF SOLUBLE ICAM-1 LEVELS BY INTERLEUKIN-1 IN A SUB-SET OF BREAST CYSTS

There are 2 main groups of breast cysts characterized by their intracy stic sodium-to-potassium ratios. Women who have intracystic Na/K < 3 m ay have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than those who have intracystic Na/K > 3. The cell adhesion molecule, ICAM-I, has been sho wn to be inducible by interleukin-I (IL-I). Furthermore, ICAM-I may be involved in the progression of metastasis in certain malignancies. Th e aim of this study was to measure intracystic soluble ICAM-I (sICAM-I ) and IL-I alpha/beta levels and to assess the relationships between t hese substances. Wide-ranging concentrations of sICAM-I, IL-Ialpha and IL-Ibeta were found in breast-cyst fluid. The high-electrolyte-ratio group had intracystic levels of sICAM-I and IL-Ibeta which were signif icantly higher than those of the low-electrolyte-ratio group. No signi ficant difference was found between IL-Ialpha concentrations in the 2 groups of breast cysts. Strong positive correlations were found betwee n sICAM-I and IL-Ialpha, sICAM-I and IL-Ibeta, and IL-Ialpha and IL-Ib eta. The significance of the higher concentrations of sICAM-I in the h igh-electrolyte-ratio group remains to be determined, but the results of this study suggest that sICAM-I levels in the high-electrolyte-rati o group may be regulated in part by IL-Ialpha and IL-Ibeta (C) 1993 Wi ley-Liss, Inc.