Vascular cell adhesion molecule - a new approach to detect endothelial cell activation in MS and encephalitis in vivo

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Abstract
introduction— Leukocyte migration into inflammatory lesions is controlled by adhesion molecules on activated vascular endothelium. Pivotal among these are E‐selectin and the vascular cell adhesion molecule‐1 (VCAM‐l), which are found on very few cell types other than activated endothelium. Methods— We determined the presence of the soluble form of these adhesion molecules (sE‐selectin and sVCAM‐1) in serum and CSF of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), viral encephalitis, and controls, using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays. Results— MS patients with active, Gadolinium‐DTPA‐enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance imaging had significantly higher sVCAM‐1 serum levels than normal controls. 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 vascular endothelium controlling leukocyte migration may be demonstrated in MS patients in vivo by determining sVCAM‐1 in serum. Furthermore, sVCAM‐1 may be useful for monitoring inflammatory activity in central nervous system inflammatory disease.