Increased serum levels of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in systemic sclerosis are not specific for pulmonary manifestations.
Studies suggest elevated serum intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) levels may be markers of pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis (SSc-PAH). We sought to evaluate whether ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels are useful screening biomarkers for incident SSc-PAH. In this cross-sectional study, four groups were selected from the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study: group 1 (n = 15) had definite PAH; group 2 (n = 19) had interstitial lung disease (ILD); group 3 (n = 30) were SSc-controls; and group 4 (n = 34) were healthy controls. Serum ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels were measured using the Millipore Milliplex MAP Human 2-Plex Panel. There were no differences in ICAM-1 levels in the PAH versus ILD group (263.0 ± 85.4 vs 380.4 ± 168.3 ng/mL, p = 0.136), SSc-controls (263.0 ± 85.4 vs 253.1 ± 98.0 ng/mL, p = 1.00), or healthy controls (263.0 ± 85.4 vs 201.8 ± 57.2 ng/mL, p = 0.093). Similarly, there were no differences in VCAM-1 level in PAH versus ILD groups (1476.2 ± 434.9 vs 1424.8 ± 527.6 ng/mL, p = 1.00) and SSc-controls (1476.2 ± 434.9 vs 1409.5 ± 341.1 ng/mL, p = 1.00). SSc subjects had significantly higher levels of ICAM-1 (297.4 ± 134.0 vs 201.8 ± 57.2 ng/mL, p < 0.0001) and VCAM-1 compared to healthy controls (1432.7 ± 427.4 vs 1125.6 ± 273.4 ng/mL, p < 0.0001). Neither ICAM-1 nor VCAM-1 is a specific screening biomarker of SSc-PAH. Instead, increased levels of these adhesion molecules in SSc, irrespective of pulmonary complications, suggest that they may play a role in SSc pathogenesis.
['Thakkar|Vivek|V|', 'Patterson|Karen A|KA|', 'Stevens|Wendy|W|', 'Wilson|Michelle|M|', 'Roddy|Janet|J|', 'Sahhar|Joanne|J|', 'Proudman|Susanna|S|', 'Hissaria|Pravin|P|', 'Nikpour|Mandana|M|']
D000328:Adult D016022:Case-Control Studies D005260:Female D006801:Humans D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 D055815:Young Adult
Systemic sclerosis Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) Pulmonary arterial hypertension Screening Biomarker