[Adhesion molecules and their role in pathogenesis of ARDS]

Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome appears to develop as the acute lung injury in the course of many severe diseases, as the result of damage of alveolar-capillary barrier. There are many evidences, that neutrophils may participate in initiation and contribute to the severity of the syndrome course. Activated neutrophils demonstrate high adhesiveness to the endothelium. Leucocyte adhesion and further extravasation create the process named the adhesion cascade. In the course of this process, the adhesive molecules play the key role. Recent studies on animals shown, that anti-adhesive action of monoclonal antibodies and their chimeres decrease the degree of injury of alveolar-capillary barrier. Clinical observations demonstrate that analysis of dynamics of changes of E, P-selectin and ICAM-1 concentrations in the serum of patients with ARDS may be helpful in monitoring of the course and treatment of the disease.