Estimation of soluble L- selectin and plasma fibronectin in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

This study was done to detect the serum level of soluble L-selectin [sL-selectin] and plasma level of fibronectin [pFN] in patients with rheumatoid arthritis [RA] and compare these levels to normal healthy controls. The aim extends to determine the relation of these levels to clinical parameters of disease activity. Fifty patients with RA as well as twenty healthy persons- as a control group- were included into this study. All patients were subjected to full clinical assessment and laboratory investigations. sL-selectin and pFN were measured in patients and controls using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique, and their correlations with disease activity parameters were studied. Serum levels of sL-selectin and pFN were highly significantly increased in RA patients as compared to healthy controls [p<0.001]. These levels also showed a highly statistically significant correlation with some parameters of RA disease activity [p<0.001]. This rise was more evident in patients with severe disease activity sL-selectin and pFN levels are elevated in RA patients especially in those with a severely active disease. The might reflect their role in the pathogenesis of RA. The correlation of sL-selectin and pFN with clinical parameters of RA patients may help in evaluation of progression or remission of the disease

Expresión de L-selectina en linfocitos T y neutrófilos de niños infectados con HIV / L-selectin expression on T lymphocytes and neutrophils in HIV infected children

La capacidad de los leucócitos de abandonar la circulación y migrar hacia los tejidos es un paso crítica de la respuesta inmune. La L-selectina, selectina leucocitaria (CD62L), media la unión de linfócitos a las vênulas endoteliales altas de los ganglios linfáticos periféricos, y también participa en la adhesión de linfócitos, neutrófilos y monócitos al endotelio vascular activado en los sítios de inflamación. En este trabajo se estudiaron los niveles de expresión de L- selectina sobre los linfócitos T y polimorfonucleares neutrófilos en 25 niños HIV (+) sin tratamiento antirretroviral y 25 niños sanos HIV (-), avaluando además su comportamiento en 10 de los pacientes, luego de 6 meses de iniciada la terapéutica específica para el HIV. El número de linfócitos TCD3+, CD4+ y CD8+ que expresan CD62L se encontró significativamente disminuido en los niños HIV(+) con respecto al grupo control. El porcentaje de neutrófilos que expresan CD62L se encontro significativamente disminuido en los pacientes con mayor compromiso inmunológico. Se observó una correlación positiva entre los niveles de LTCD4+ y el porcentaje de neutrófilos que expresan CD62L. Luego de 6 meses de tratamiento antirretroviral no hubo câmbios significatios en los niveles de expresión de CD62L sobre LTCD4+ y LTCD8+ . La reducción en los niveles de expresión de L-selectina en estos tipos celulares sugiere que durante la infección por HIV las funciones leucocitarias tales como la migración y el asentamiento linfocitario son anormales, contribuyendo al progresivo deterioro inmune.

ICAM-1 and L-selectins: the cell adhesion molecules among children with nephrotic syndrome

In this study, intercellular adhesion molecules [ICAM-1] and L-selectin were described in sera from 36 children suffering from idiopathic nephrotic syndrome by using ELISA. They were classified into three groups: Group I, 26 patients with minimal change nephritic syndrome [MCNS]; group II, 10 cases of non-minimal change nephrotic syndrome [MCNS] [6 cases of mesangioproliferative and 4 cases of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis] and group III,15 healthy children were enrolled to serve as controls. Patients within group I were reexamined according to the disease activity and steroid therapy. The study concluded that the elevation in serum ICAM-1 and L-selectin in MCNS and non-MCNS groups compared with the healthy controls could provide the basis for disturbance in T cell function in patients with nephrosis, suggesting that the disease is mediated by immunologic mechanisms disturbing the cellular immunity

Comportamiento de la forma soluble de L-selectina en niños infectados con HIV / Behavior of soluble L-selectin in HIV infected children

La L-selectina es una molécula de adhesión responsable de la adhesión inicial de los leucocitos al endotelio. Esta molécula es liberada desde la superficie celular por clivaje proteolítico después de la activación leucocitaria. Se midieron los niveles séricos de la forma soluble de la L-selectina (sL-selectina) en 51 niños HIV(+) y en 15 controles sanos HIV(-). Estos valores se compararon con parámetros de activación inmune y de progresión de enfermedad. La concentración de sL-selectina se encontró significativamente aumentada en el grupo de pacientes HIV(+). Dichos niveles eran más altos en los pacientes con mayor inmunosupresión. Se encontró una correlación positiva entre los niveles de sL-selectina y el número relativo de LTCD8, y entre sL-selectina y los niveles de la forma soluble de la molécula de adhesión intercelular-1(sICAM-1) y la inmunoglobulina A(IgA). No se obtuvo correlación significativa entre sL-selectina y los valores de la carga viral (CV) plasmática. El aumento en los niveles de sL-selectina sería otro componente entre las múltiples alteraciones inmunológicas producidas por el HIV

Cleaved L-Selectin in acute leukemia

L-selectin plays a critical role in the initiation of normal leukocyte attachment to activated endothelium, whereas other receptors [including integrins and immunoglobulin-like adhesion molecules] are involved in leukocyte subsequent firm adhesion and transmigration into tissues. Soluble L-selectin retains bioactivity, and at high concentrations can inhibit binding of lymphocytes to endothelium. Little information is yet available on the diagnostic and physiologic significance of the circulating shed form of L-selectin. The present work was designated to measure sL-selectin levels during the clinical course of patients with acute leukemia. Serum samples were obtained from 59 patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia, including 37 patients with AML and 22 patients ALL. The diagnosis and classification of AML or ALL were based on the criteria of the French-American-British Cooperative Group and immunophenotyping. Additional samples were obtained from patients in complete remission and patients after relapse. Control serum samples were obtained from 15 healthy blood donors. Serum samples were separated immediately and kept frozen at -20°C until assay. Leukemic patients were treated according to standard protocols for AML or ALL. Immunophenotyping was done on mononuclear cells separated on Ficoll-Hypaque. Cell surface antigens were detected by standard immunoflurescence methods using flowcytometer. Shed L-selectin assay was done using a sandwich immunoenzymometric technique. This study shows high levels of the sL-selectin in serum of patients with acute leukemia. The mean value of sL-selectin among healthy individuals was 1.120 +/- 0.178 micro g/ml. This value was increased in 17 of 22 patients with ALL [77%] and 25 of 37 patients with AML [65.5%]. Repeated measurements in 24 patients showed normal range in 19 patients with complete remission and high levels in 5 patients with therapy resistant acute leukemia. There are also increased levels in patients with relapse. High levels of serum sL-selectin in patients with acute leukemia may have an important role in regulating the initiation of blast cell adhesion to endothelium. In addition, measuring sL-selectin may be useful in detection of leukemia relapse. However, further in vivo studies are needed to establish definitely the role of sL-selectin in the regulation of blast cell migration into tissues

Soluble adhesive proteins L and E selectin in patients with systemic lupus erythromatosus: value in monitoring disease R mission after corticosteroid therapy

In this study, we aimed to examine circulating adhesive proteins L and E selectin levels in 33 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus SLE and to correlate levels of these proteins to disease activity parameters. L and E selectins were further investigated in a subgroup of patients with SLE who could be followed for 3 months duration and who found to be in disease remission after starting corticosteroid therapy. Results of the study showed significant decrease of L selectin and significant rise of E selectin levels in SLE patients versus healthy control subjects [720.5 +/- 213 ng/ml Vs 1008.7 +/- 237 ng/ml] and [71.5 +/- 14 ng/ml Vs 43.6 +/- 10 ng/ml], P < 0.002 and P < 0.001 respectively. E selectin was further elevated in SLE patients with organ [cardiopulmonary, renal and CNS] affection [n=15] versus those without organ affection [n=18] [78 +/- 8.2 Vs 47.6 +/- 12], P < 0.001 respectively. Correlation of L and E selectins to disease activity parameters showed significant association between L selectin and erythrocyte sedimentation rate and between E selectin and all parameters except hemoglobin. After starting corticosteroid therapy, no significant changes was observed in L selectin level within 3 months duration compared to the baseline level [708 +/- 159], [711 +/- 160] and [706 +/- 178] Vs [730 +/- 170], respectively. In contrast, significant decline of E selectin level compared to the baseline level was observed in the second and third month after starting corticosteroid therapy [59.8 +/- 9.9] and [61.9 +/- 6.8] Vs [43.6 +/- 10], P < 0.01 and P < 0.01 respectively. Results of the study indicate that L and E selectins are important contributing factors in the immunopathogenic mechanism of SLE. E selectin may be considered as a marker of disease activity and may aid in monitoring disease remission after starting corticosteroid therapy. It is justified to consider SLE as one of the disorders which could benefit from antiadbesive molecules therapy