Soluble L-selectin, vascular endothelial growth factor and endothelin-1 in patients with ulcerative colitis

ABSTRACT

Recent evidence increasingly suggests that ulcerative colitis [UC] is the result of dysfunctional immunoregulation manifested by an inappropriate production of mucosal cytokines. An abnormal microcirculatory system has also been implicated in its pathogenesis. The objective of this study was to assessed serum concentrations of soluble L-selectin [sL-selectin] and vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF] and the plasma level of endothelin-1[ET-1] in the patients with UC, compared with healthy controls, and to analyze the results depending on the stage of the disease. This study was conducted on two groups of subjects, the patient group including 30 patients with active ulcerative colitis [UC], and the control group which included 15 healthy volunteers. We assessed serum sL-selectin, VEGF and Plasma ET-1 Level at the beginning of the study in patients and controls then measured again in patients after remission. The levels of sL-selectin, VEGF, and ET-1 were significantly higher in active UC than those in the controls [p < 0.001]. But in remission there was no significant difference between UC patients and controls in VEGF and ET-1 levels. We also found that serum Level of sL-selectin, VEGF, and Plasma Level of ET-1 were significantly higher in patients with active UC compared with patients in remission [p < 0.001]. In addition, it is shown that UC patients in remission have significantly lower levels of sL-selectin than controls. There was a significant positive correlation among the serum levels of VEGF and the plasma level of ET-1; that is, elevated VEGF, and ET-1 levels correlated well with each other in active UC patients [r= 0.631, p < 0.001]. The most common form of the disease observed in our patient population was of mild to moderate severity. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, including sL-selectin, VEGF, and ET-1 appear to play a significant role in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis [UC]. Their levels were higher during exacerbation while it is low in periods of remission in UC patients