INCREASED SERUM LEVELS OF ICAM-1, ELAM-1 AND TNF-ALPHA IN INFLAMMATORY DISORDERS OF THE PERIPHERAL NERVOUS-SYSTEM

Endothelial intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and glycoprotei n E-selectin (ELAM-1) allow the homing of leukocytes to inflammation s ites. A circulating form of ICAM-1 markedly increases in inflammatory CNS disorders. In the present study, the serum levels of ICAM-1, ELAM- 1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured in patient s with acute (AIDP) and chronic (CIDP) inflammatory demyelinating poly neuropathies and cryoglobulinemic neuropathy (CGN). Immunoenzymometric assays revealed increased sICAM-1 levels in some of these patients; f urthermore, high titres of ELAM-1 and TNF-alpha were detected in two p atients with AIDP and one patient with CGN. Our data extend previous o bservations on inflammatory PNS disorders by showing that, in addition to ICAM-1, ELAM-1 also represents a useful marker of endothelial acti vation and that, taken together, the two molecules may serve as an ind icator of specific pathogenetic mechanisms.