Age- and sex-related reference values for serum adhesion molecule concentrations in healthy individuals: intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-, P-, and L-selectin.

Abstract

Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-, P-, and L-selectin are cellular adhesion molecules involved in the recruitment of leukocytes on the activated vessel wall during inflammation (1) and play an important role in the early stages of atherosclerosis and its complications (2). Thus, the measurement of soluble adhesion molecules in serum may have diagnostic relevance in many inflammatory diseases (3). A profile of soluble adhesion molecule concentrations may allow better therapeutic decisions in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders, infection, cancer, and cardiovascular pathologies and may also aid in the prediction of cardiovascular events (4)(5). However, the use of these markers in clinical practice depends critically on knowledge of their reference values. The purpose of the present study was to establish age- and sex-specific reference intervals for serum concentrations of soluble ICAM-1 and E-, P-, and L-selectin in healthy children (4–17 years) and adults (18–55 years). Blood samples were taken from healthy individuals (157 boys and 146 girls 4–17 years of age and 245 men and 250 women 18–55 years of age) who were members of the Stanislas cohort (6). Participants were of French origin (Vosges and Meurthe et Moselle); free from serious and/or chronic illnesses, especially cardiovascular, hepatic, or renal diseases; and were not on treatment with lipid-lowering drugs. Volunteers with aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, or γ-glutamyltransferase activities >200 U/L, apolipoprotein E concentrations >200 mg/L, orosomucoid or haptoglobin concentrations >3 g/L, cholesterol or triglyceride concentrations >10 mmol/L, C-reactive protein concentrations >30 mg/L, or glucose concentrations …