Elevated soluble cellular adhesion molecules in subjects with low HDL-cholesterol

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Biochemistry
• Immunology

Background:

• Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) are associated with increased cardiovascular risk.
• Cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) play a role in atherogenesis and inflammatory processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate if cellular adhesion molecule (CAM) expression is elevated in individuals with low HDL cholesterol.
• To explore the relationship between HDL-C levels and plasma concentrations of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and E-selectin (sE-selectin).

Main Methods:

• Measured plasma levels of sVCAM-1, sICAM-1, and sE-selectin in subjects categorized by HDL-C levels (low, average, high).
• Analyzed correlations between HDL-C and CAM levels.
• Assessed the impact of fenofibrate-induced HDL-C increase on CAM concentrations in low-HDL subjects.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher average levels of sICAM-1 and sE-selectin were observed in individuals with low HDL-C compared to those with average or high HDL-C.
• Plasma sVCAM-1 concentrations did not show significant differences across HDL-C groups.
• HDL-C was inversely correlated with sICAM-1 and sE-selectin in low-HDL subjects.
• Fenofibrate treatment led to a significant reduction in sICAM-1 and sE-selectin levels as HDL-C increased.

Conclusions:

• Increased expression of CAMs, specifically sICAM-1 and sE-selectin, is associated with low HDL-C levels.
• Elevated CAM expression may represent a mechanism through which low HDL-C contributes to atherogenesis and acute atherothrombotic events.