[Soluble forms of adhesion molecules sELAM-1 and sICAM-1 in Graves disease and toxic nodular goiter]

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1) are playing a significant role in an inflammatory process. In patients with autoimmune disorders of thyroid gland an increased expression of ICAM-1 and ELAM-1 was found in thyroid and also in orbital tissue in presence of active ophthalmopathy. Reports concerning concentrations of adhesion molecules soluble forms (sELAM-1 and sICAM-1) in sera of patients suffered from different thyroid gland diseases are controversial. The aim of the project was an estimation of levels of adhesion molecules soluble forms in sera of patients with Graves' disease (GD) and toxic nodular goiter (TNG). In the presented research work sICAM-1 and sELAM-1 were determined in 149 subjects (aged 17-69 years) divided to following groups: group 1--16 hyperthyroid GD patients with active ophthalmopathy (GO) (10 females and 6 males); group 2--25 euthyroid GD patients with GO (17 females and 8 males); group 3--41 hyperthyroid GD patients without GO (22 females and 16 males); group 4--36 patients with TNG (20 females and 16 males) and control group (group 5)--31 healthy subjects (16 females and 16 males). sICAM-1 and sELAM-1 serum concentrations were determined using highly sensitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). In comparison with control group (group 5) in groups 1--3 significant increase of sICAM-1 and sELAM-1 concentrations was found (p < 0.001). The highest values for both adhesion molecules were demonstrated in the group of hyperthyroid GD patients with GO (group 1) as well as in group of euthyroid GD patients with GO (group 2). In group 1 the values were higher than those in group 2. Lower concentrations were present in group of GD patients with hyperthryroidism without symptoms of GO (group 3). The lowest adhesion molecules concentrations in four examined groups were present in sera of patients with TNG (group 4). The level of sICAM-1 in this group was higher than that in control group, but the difference was not statistically significant (p < 0.01), on the contrary sELAM-1 concentration was markedly elevated in comparison with group 5 (p < 0.002). From the obtained results it may be concluded that elevated sICAM-1 and sELAM-1 concentrations in sera of GD patients are dependent on autoimmunological factors, presence of inflammatory changes in the orbital tissue as well as on hyperthyroidism. Nonautoimmune hyperthyroidism has also influence on increase of sICAM-1 and sELAM-1 levels.