Selectins and Monocyte Chemotactic Peptide
as the Markers of Atherosclerosis Activity
M. BLÁHA, J. KREJSEK1, V. BLÁHA2, C. ANDRÝS1,
D. VOKURKOVÁ1,
J. MALÝ, M. BLAŽEK, M. SKOŘEPOVÁ
1Second Internal Clinic, Department of Hematology, Institute of
Clinical Immunology and Allergology, 2Department of Metabolic
Care and Gerontology, Faculty Hospital, Charles University, Hradec
Králové, Czech Republic
Received April 8, 2003
Accepted August 6, 2003
Summary
The role of adhesive selectin molecules in the process of atherogenesis is
an open question. These molecules are known as markers of atherosclerosis
activity, however, only some biological mechanisms are known up to now. In
this study we examined the levels of soluble forms of E-, P-selectin and
monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1) in the process of extracorporeal
cholesterol elimination by LDL-apheresis. We measured the levels of sE-,
sP-selectin and MCP-1 in the plasma before and after LDL-apheresis and in
the washout solution from immunoabsorption columns Lipopak. Eighty
measurements were performed repeatedly in 6 patients with severe familial
hypercholesterolemia (FH) on long-term LDL-apheresis treatment. Before the
procedure P-selectin levels were 204±179 ng/ml, E-selectin 32.1±33.7
ng/ml, MCP-1 323.8±121 pg/l, whereas after the procedure we found
P-selectin levels 131.6±34 ng/ml, E-selectin 33.1±51 ng/ml, and MCP-1
200.4±15 pg/l. Levels of P- selectin were increased in the blood of
patients with FH in spite of long-term intensive extracorporeal
LDL-elimination, documenting thus the activity of atherosclerosis. The
levels of
P-selectin and MCP-1 decreased significantly after the hypolidemic
procedure and could be used as another marker showing the effectivity of
the extracorporeal LDL-cholesterol elimination (immediately after the
procedure), and, after further verification, may serve as a marker for
controlling the therapy efficacy.
Key words
Atherosclerosis • LDL–apheresis • Selectin • Adhesive molecules
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