Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Single Nuclei Isolation from Coronary Endarterectomy Tissue of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients
09:09

Single Nuclei Isolation from Coronary Endarterectomy Tissue of Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Patients

Published on: April 3, 2026

[Ceramides and adhesive molecules in stable ischaemic heart disease]

Wojciech Modrzejewski1, Malgorzata Knapp, Agnieszka Dobrzyn

  • 1Klinika Kardiologii, Akademii Medycznej Białystok. wojmod@wp.pl

Przeglad Lekarski
|July 16, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Plasma ceramides and adhesive molecules differ in stable ischemic heart disease (IHD). Patients with IHD showed lower ceramides and higher soluble E-selectin and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels compared to controls.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Biochemistry
  • Clinical Medicine

Background:

  • Ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a leading cause of mortality worldwide.
  • Ceramides and adhesive molecules play roles in atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
  • Understanding biomarkers in stable IHD is crucial for risk stratification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess plasma levels of ceramides and adhesive molecules in patients with stable IHD.
  • To compare these levels between IHD patients and healthy controls.
  • To investigate correlations between ceramides, adhesive molecules, and disease severity (vessel disease).

Main Methods:

  • Plasma samples from 35 stable IHD patients and 16 healthy controls were analyzed.
  • Levels of ceramides, soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) were measured.
  • Lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglycerides) were also assessed.

Main Results:

  • Patients with stable IHD had decreased ceramides with mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids.
  • Plasma concentrations of sE-selectin and sICAM-1 were elevated in IHD patients versus controls.
  • Higher total ceramides were found in 3-vessel disease compared to 1-vessel disease.

Conclusions:

  • Plasma ceramides and adhesive molecules are altered in stable IHD.
  • Elevated sE-selectin and sICAM-1 suggest inflammatory processes in IHD.
  • Ceramide levels and their fatty acid composition may correlate with IHD severity and inflammation.

Related Concept Videos

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology01:26

Coronary Artery Disease II: Pathophysiology

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) originates from a series of events that impair the function of coronary arteries, the blood vessels responsible for delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. The pathophysiology of CAD is closely linked to atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory and lipid-driven condition affecting the vascular endothelium.1. Endothelial DamageThe process begins with damage to the vascular endothelium, which serves as a protective barrier between the blood and the vessel...
Atherosclerosis I: Introduction01:30

Atherosclerosis I: Introduction

Atherosclerosis is a progressive disorder characterized by the buildup of plaques on the arterial inner wall, causing them to narrow and harden over time. These plaques comprise lipids, calcium, blood components, carbohydrates, and fibrous tissue. The process primarily affects the intima of large and medium-sized arteries, reducing blood flow in any artery.Etiology and risk factorsThe cause of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, involving a complex interplay among endothelial injury, lipid...
Desmosomes01:05

Desmosomes

The term desmosome derives from the Greek words "desmo" and "soma" meaning "adhesion bodies." This structure was first observed during the late 1800s and described as small, dense nodules in the epidermis. Desmosomes are button-like structures that help form an interlinked network of intermediate filaments across the cells. These junctions are  essential to hold cells together under mechanical stress and to maintain tissue integrity. Desmosomes are multi-protein complexes comprising desmosomal...
Anchoring Junctions01:03

Anchoring Junctions

Anchoring junctions are multiprotein complexes that help cells connect to other cells and the extracellular matrix. Anchoring junctions are present on the lateral and basal surfaces of cells, providing strong and flexible connections. Focal adhesions are often formed due to cell interactions with the ECM substrata, which initiate signal transduction via kinase cascades and other mechanisms. Together, they provide stability and tissue integrity. There are three types of anchoring junctions:...
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily  involved in a...
Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules01:31

Immunoglobulin-like Cell Adhesion Molecules

Immunoglobulin-like cell adhesion molecules or Ig-CAMs are a versatile group of cell surface glycoproteins belonging to the immunoglobulin protein superfamily. Ig-CAMs possess the characteristic immunoglobulin protein domains and other domains such as the fibronectin type III domain. The Ig domains are glycosylated to varying degrees in different Ig-CAMs.
Ig-CAMs exhibit either homophilic binding (to other Ig-CAMs) or heterophilic binding (to other ligands such as integrins). While most Ig-CAMs...