W. Wojakowski et J. Gminski, Soluble ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin in children from families with high risk of atherosclerosis, INT J MOL M, 7(2), 2001, pp. 181-185
The genetic predisposition for cardiovascular disease seems to play an impo
rtant role in atherogenesis. Atherosclerosis, which can be clinically asymp
tomatic for many years, begins early in life. Therefore finding markers of
early atherosclerotic process would be of great importance for screening an
d early treatment of these children. As the result of endothelial dysfuncti
on, the adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, ELAM) are overexpressed. These
molecules are shed from the surface and can be measured, as soluble forms i
n serum. Therefore they can be regarded as early markers of atherosclerosis
. The aim of the study was to measure the serum levels of soluble adhesion
molecules ELAM, ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and plasma lipid profile - total (TC), LDL (
LDL-C) and HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and trigIycerides (TG) in children from
families of high risk for cardiovascular diseases. Forty-eight children wer
e studied, 24 children from high risk families, according to NCEP definitio
n: one or two parents had clinical manifestation of cardiovascular disease
before the age of 65 years (mother) or 55 years (father). Twenty-four healt
hy children without familial history of cardiovascular disease were used as
the control. Children of either group did not have any metabolic diseases.
The concentration of sELAM, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were assessed using ELISA
kits. Soluble ICAM-1 level was significantly higher in high risk group in c
omparison to control (p<0.02). The soluble VCAM-1 and ELAM levels did not d
iffer significantly between the groups. There were no changes in total chol
esterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triglycerides between the gro
ups. In normolipidemic children from families with high risk for atheroscle
rosis the soluble ICAM-1 levels are significantly higher as compared to con
trol.