The cell adhesion molecule, VCAM-1, is selectively elevated in serum in pre-eclampsia: does this indicate the mechanism of leucocyte activation?

• Published in: British journal of obstetrics and gynaecology Vol. 101; no. 6; p. 485
• Main Authors: Lyall, F, Greer, I A, Boswell, F, Macara, L M, Walker, J J, Kingdom, J C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.06.1994
• Subjects: Adult; Cell Adhesion Molecules - blood; E-Selectin; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; Pre-Eclampsia - blood; Pregnancy; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
• ISSN: 0306-5456
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0528.1994.tb13146.x

To determine whether circulating levels of cell adhesion molecules, markers of endothelial damage and leucocyte activation, were increased in pre-eclampsia. Serum was prepared from peripheral venous blood and stored at -70 degrees C. The cell adhesion molecules, VCAM-1, E-Selectin and ICAM-1, were measured by ELISA. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow. Sixteen primigravid women with pre-eclampsia were recruited for the study. The preeclampsia group were compared with 18 healthy primigravid women with uncomplicated pregnancies. The pre-eclamptic group had significantly higher serum levels of the cell adhesion molecule VCAM-1 (t = 3.673; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 or E-Selectin. Endothelial damage and dysfunction are common to all the pathological features of pre-eclampsia. This study shows that concentrations of cell adhesion molecules, which indicate leucocyte-endothelial attachment and activation, are elevated in the serum of patients with pre-eclampsia. Such increases in soluble circulating cell adhesion molecules may reflect increased expression of these molecules on the endothelium and thereby explain the mechanism for leucocyte activation in pre-eclampsia.