Background and purpose: Cellular adhesion molecules mediate adhesion between endothelial cells and leukocytes as a precondition for extravasation of leukocytes at sites of tissue injury. The pattern of release of circulating adhesion molecules has been characterized in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Methods: Serum concentrations of soluble selectin-type adhesion molecules (solube endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 [sELAM-1], soluble lymph node homing receptor [sL-selectin]) and immunoglobulin-type adhesion molecules (soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [sVCAM-1], soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [sICAM-1]) were serially determined (at hours 4, 8, and 10 and at days 1, 3, and 5) in 22 patients with acute ischemic stroke. As control subjects, age- and sex-matched individuals with (n = 40) and without (n = 22) vascular risk factors were studied.
Results: We observed increased concentrations of sICAM-1 and decreased levels of sL-selectin in patients with risk factors even in the absence of stroke. Patients with acute stroke had, in addition, an initial transient increase of sELAM-1 and a persistent increase of sVCAM-1.
Conclusions: The results suggest a chronic alteration of expression of adhesion molecules sICAM-1 and sL-selectin in subjects with risk factors for atherosclerosis; they also indicate acute changes of levels of sELAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in response to acute ischemic stroke. Determination of soluble adhesion molecules could allow in vivo monitoring of the initial steps of leukocyte-mediated brain damage in acute ischemic stroke.