Open AccessLeukocyte and endothelial adhesion molecules in patients with hypercholesterolemia: the effect of atorvastatin treatment
Author(s) -
Tomáš Štulc,
Michal Vráblík,
Z Kasalová,
Iuri Marinov,
Hélèna Svobodova,
Richard Češka
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
physiological research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.647
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1802-9973
pISSN - 0862-8408
DOI - 10.33549/physiolres.931132
Subject(s) - cell adhesion molecule , cd11a , atorvastatin , cd18 , e selectin , soluble cell adhesion molecules , integrin alpha m , von willebrand factor , chemistry , cell adhesion , endothelial stem cell , immunology , selectin , adhesion , medicine , flow cytometry , platelet , biochemistry , in vitro , organic chemistry
Atherogenesis involves the migration of leukocytes into vascularsubendothelial space, a process mediated by endothelial andleukocyte cell adhesion molecules. Endothelial molecules areassessed indirectly via serum levels, but leukocyte molecules canbe assessed directly. We have therefore hypothesized thatleukocyte adhesion molecules are altered to a greater degree inhypercholesterolemia than serum endothelial adhesion molecules.We examined 29 subjects with hypercholesterolemia and27 controls at baseline and after 12 weeks of atorvastatintreatment (20 mg/day). Expression of leukocyte integrins CD11a,CD11b, CD18, and CD49d and of L-selectin was measured byflow cytometry. Serum ICAM-1, E-selectin and von Willebrandfactor were measured by ELISA. Expression of leukocyteadhesion molecules was significantly higher in patients atbaseline than in the controls, except for CD11a. Expressionsignificantly decreased after atorvastatin in most adhesionmolecules except for CD11b. In contrast, there was no effect ofhypercholesterolemia and/or atorvastatin on the serumendothelial molecules. Leukocyte but not endothelial adhesionmolecules were influenced by hypercholesterolemia and by lipidlowering treatment. Leukocyte molecules may therefore be amore sensitive marker of atherogenesis than endothelialmolecules. Our results support the role of increased leukocyteadhesiveness in atherogenesis.