Related Experiment Videos
Soluble endothelium-associated adhesion molecules in patients with Graves' disease
C Wenisch1, D Myskiw, B Parschalk
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine I, University of Vienna, Austria.
Insights
Serum levels of soluble adhesion molecules, including intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), are elevated in Graves' disease (GD). Soluble ELAM-1 and VCAM-1 normalized with treatment, unlike ICAM-1.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Endocrinology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Graves' disease (GD) involves inflammatory cell recruitment to vascular endothelium.
- Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) mediate this process.
- Soluble forms of these adhesion molecules (sICAM-1, sELAM-1, sVCAM-1) may serve as biomarkers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate serum levels of sICAM-1, sELAM-1, and sVCAM-1 in patients with Graves' disease (GD).
- To compare these levels with those in patients with iodine-deficient goitre (IDG).
- To assess the changes in these markers during antithyroid therapy and their correlation with autoantibodies.
Main Methods:
- Serum samples were collected from 21 GD patients and 23 IDG patients.
- Concentrations of sICAM-1, sELAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were measured.
- Measurements were taken before and during thiamazole treatment for GD patients; correlations with TSHR-R, TPO-Ab, and Tg-Ab were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Markedly elevated serum levels of sICAM-1, sELAM-1, and sVCAM-1 were observed in GD patients compared to IDG patients.
- Serum levels of sELAM-1 and sVCAM-1 significantly decreased during thiamazole therapy, normalizing within 4 and 8 weeks, respectively.
- Serum sICAM-1 remained elevated even after 8 weeks of therapy; sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 correlated with TSHR-R and TPO-Ab levels.
Conclusions:
- Serum sELAM-1 and sVCAM-1 are potential clinical markers for assessing disease activity in Graves' disease.
- sICAM-1 levels remain elevated post-treatment, suggesting persistent endothelial activation or a different clearance mechanism.
- The correlation of sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1 with thyroid autoantibodies highlights the link between autoimmunity and endothelial adhesion molecules in GD.
Abstract:
The targeting and recruitment of inflammatory cells to vascular endothelium in Graves' disease (GD) is mediated by intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), endothelial leucocyte adhesion molecule-1 (ELAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). We have studied serum levels of soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1), soluble ELAM-1 (sELAM-1), and soluble VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) in patients with GD (n = 21) and in patients with iodine-deficient goitre (IDG) (n = 23). The serum levels of sICAM-1 were markedly elevated in patients with GD before treatment with thiamazole (median 560 ng/ml versus 185 ng/ml in patients with IDG). In addition, elevated serum concentrations of sELAM-1 (median 85 ng/ml versus 33 ng/ml, respectively) and sVCAM-1 (median 42 ng/ml versus 15 ng/ml, respectively) were observed in patients with GD (P < 0.01 for all). The serum levels of sELAM-1 and sVCAM-1 dropped significantly after initiation of therapy and were within the normal range after 4, and 8 weeks of therapy, respectively. Serum levels of sICAM-1 were elevated even after 8 weeks of therapy. Serum levels of sVACM-1 and sICAM-1 correlated with the serum concentrations of anti-thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)-receptor antibodies (TSHR-R) (n = 21; r = 0.929 and r = 0.810, respectively) and anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab) (n = 21; r = 0.673 and r = 0.750, respectively). However, no correlation between sELAM-1 and TPO-Ab, TSHR-R, and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies (Tg-Ab), respectively, could be found. In addition to thyroid hormones and autoantibodies, serum concentrations of sELAM-1 and sVCAM-1, but not sICAM-1, could be useful as clinical markers for disease activity.