Erythropoiesis and serum sVCAM-1 levels in adults with sickle cell disease

Sickle cell patients are characterized by stress erythropoiesis involving cytokines, growth factors, and adhesion molecules. We set out to determine whether serum soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) levels, which are inversely related to red blood cell counts in sickle cell disease (SCD), reflect erythropoietic activity in adult HbSS patients. Serum levels of sVCAM-1 were compared to erythropoietin (EPO), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), interleukin-3 (IL-3), and soluble transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels in 29 adults with HbSS, and their respective levels were also compared to 29 race- and age-matched HbAA controls. EPO and sTfR levels were increased as compared to healthy controls, whereas IL-3 and GM-CSF were not. No significant correlation of sVCAM-1 levels could be detected with any of the measured erythropoietic markers. Patients, but not controls, with detectable IL-3 levels had lower sTfR and GM-CSF levels as compared to patients with undetectable IL-3 levels. Even though a link of sVCAM-1 to erythropoiesis could not be established, it cannot be ruled out that sVCAM-1 levels reflect the release of young red blood cells into the circulation. IL-3 and GM-CSF levels suggest that different rates of erythropoiesis may be characterized by specific cytokine profiles in SCD. Further research should focus on the potential cytokines and adhesion molecules involved in sickle cell erythropoiesis, as this may increase our understanding of sickle cell complications and may provide us with potential markers for risk assessment in sickle cell disease as well.