Related Experiment Videos
Soluble E-selectin, other markers of inflammation and disease severity in children with atopic dermatitis
A Wolkerstorfer1, M P Laan, H F Savelkoul
1Department of Dermatology and Venereology, University Hospital, Rotterdam.
Insights
Soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) levels correlate with disease severity in atopic dermatitis (AD). This finding suggests sE-selectin may serve as a biomarker for monitoring AD activity in children.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Dermatology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Adhesion molecules like E-selectin, P-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 are crucial for leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions.
- These molecules are upregulated on activated endothelium, and their soluble forms (sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1) are detectable in circulation.
- Soluble adhesion molecules are being investigated as potential indicators of disease activity in atopic dermatitis (AD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of soluble adhesion molecules to reflect disease activity in pediatric atopic dermatitis.
- To correlate plasma concentrations of sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sICAM-1, and sVCAM-1 with clinical severity measured by SCORAD.
- To assess the relationship between these markers and levels of total IgE, specific IgE, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP).
Main Methods:
- Plasma levels of soluble adhesion molecules (sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1) were measured.
- Clinical severity of atopic dermatitis was assessed using the objective SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis) index.
- Levels of total IgE, specific IgE, and ECP were determined and correlated with adhesion molecule levels and SCORAD scores.
Main Results:
- Significantly increased SCORAD and sE-selectin levels were observed in children with specific IgE to food and inhalation allergens.
- ECP levels showed a trend of increasing with SCORAD scores, but without statistical significance.
- Disease activity, measured by SCORAD, was significantly correlated with plasma sE-selectin levels (rs = 0.6, P < 0.0005), but not with sP-selectin, sICAM-1, or sVCAM-1.
Conclusions:
- Plasma sE-selectin levels are significantly correlated with disease activity in children with atopic dermatitis.
- These findings align with studies in adult AD and support the utility of sE-selectin as a potential biomarker for monitoring disease activity in young children.
- sE-selectin shows promise as a non-invasive parameter for assessing and managing pediatric atopic dermatitis.
Abstract:
E-selectin, P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) are membrane-bound adhesion molecules which mediate the attachment of leucocytes to endothelial cells. These molecules are preferentially expressed on activated endothelium. The soluble forms of these molecules (sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1) are present in the circulation as a result of shedding. Some of the soluble adhesion molecules have been thought to reflect disease activity in atopic dermatitis (AD). To evaluate their potential to reflect disease activity in AD, we correlated their plasma concentration with clinical severity measured by objective SCORAD (SCORing Atopic Dermatitis). Furthermore, levels of total IgE, specific IgE, and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) were determined. SCORAD and sE-selectin levels were significantly increased in children with specific IgE for both food and inhalation allergens (P < 0.05). ECP consistently showed an increase with the scores of SCORAD, but no statistical significance was reached. Disease activity was significantly correlated with the plasma levels of sE-selectin (rs = 0.6, P < 0.0005) but not with sP-selectin, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1. This agrees with recent studies performed in adults with AD, and supports the potential of sE-selection as a parameter for monitoring disease activity in young children with AD.