[Soluble selectins in myocardial infarction]

In myocardial infarction, the endothelial activation which induces leukocytes migration into the myocardial tissues, may play an important role in ischemic injury. Selectins, shedding from the surface of activated cells into bloodstream, maybe suggested as markers of endothelial activation and leukocytes stimulation. The aim of the study was evaluation. To evaluate serum soluble E- and P-selectin levels as endothelial activation marker and serum soluble L-selectin level as leukocytes stimulation marker in myocardial infarction.

We examined 27 patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) The control group (K) consisted of 23 healthy subjects without symptoms of coronary artery disease. The concentration of soluble selectins (sE-, sP-, sL-selectin) were analyzed in venous blood serum. Results of routine laboratory tests: lipid levels, leukocyte count, prothrombin time were also included into statistical analysis.

A significant decrease in serum sL-selectin level was observed in patients with acute myocardial infarction compared to the control group. However, no difference was found in sE- and sP-selectin levels between the patient group and the control group. The sE-selectin level correlated positively with triglicerides level and inversely with HDL cholesterol level. There were a positive correlation between sP-selectin level and leukocyte count as well as inverse correlation between sP-selectin level and prothrombin time. The sL-selectin level correlated positively with leukocyte count. There were also a positive correlation between sP-selectin level and sE-selectin as well as sL-selectin levels.

The sE-selectin level increases with the severity of atherogenic changes in serum lipid profil, and sP-selectin level increases due to inflammatory and prothrombotic processes. The sL-selectin level is influenced by inflamamatory processes in the vascular wall. The sE- and sP-selectin levels, unchanged compared to the control group, do not reflect adequately the degree of endothelial activation. An decreased sL-selectin level may indicate functional depletion of leukocytes in patients with myocardial infarction and make it difficult to assess the degree of leukocytes stimulation.