Circulating leukocyte adhesion molecules in stable asthma and nonobstructive chronic bronchitis

• Leukocyte adhesion molecules have been associated with airway inflammatory diseases such as asthma and obstructive chronic bronchitis. Lately, it has become possible to measure circulating forms of cell adhesion molecules (cCAMs) in body fluids. Elevated serum levels have been found in acute asthma and in obstructive chronic bronchitis. We investigated whether the patterns of cICAM-1, cVCAM-1, and cE-selectin could serve as markers for airway inflammation in stable asthma and stable nonobstructive chronic bronchitis. Small-volume bronchial lavage (BL) and serum from 15 controls, 13 asthmatics without steroid inhalation therapy, 11 asthmatics with regular steroid inhalation therapy, and 10 smokers with chronic bronchitis were analyzed. We found cICAM-1, cVCAM-1, and cE-selectin to be present in serum from patients with stable asthma and stable nonobstructive chronic bronchitis. Only cICAM-1 was found in BL fluid. No differences were seen between the subject groups for either cCAM, but levels of ECP were increased in the non-steroid-treated asthmatic group. Subject atopy or smoking did not increase the cCAM levels. In conclusion, the degree of airway inflammation in stable nonobstructive chronic bronchitis and stable asthma does not appear to be well associated with circulating ICAM-1, cVCAM-1, and cE-selectin.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Dermatologi och venereologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Dermatology and Venereal Diseases (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Adult

Asthma/*blood/metabolism

Bronchitis/*blood/metabolism

Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid/chemistry

Cell Adhesion Molecules/*blood

Chronic Disease

E-Selectin/analysis/blood

Humans

Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1/analysis/blood

Middle Aged

Smoking/metabolism

Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/analysis/blood

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

art (ämneskategori)