Elevated serum levels of soluble L-selectin in patients with systemic sclerosis declined after intravenous injection of lipo-prostaglandin E 1

Abstract

To determine whether serum soluble L-selectin (s L-selectin) levels are elevated in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and whether serum s L-selectin levels change after treatment with lipo-prostaglandin E 1 (lipo-PGE 1), serum s L-selectin levels were examined by ELISA in patients with SSc ( n=24), psoriasis vulgaris ( n=22), and contact dermatitis ( n=9), as well as normal control subjects ( n=26). In five patients with SSc, serum s L-selectin levels were examined before and after intravenous injections of lipo-PGE 1. Serum s L-selectin levels were significantly increased in patients with SSc ( P<0.01) than those in normal control subjects. The elevated serum s L-selectin levels in patients with SSc significantly decreased 1 day ( P<0.05), 7 days ( P<0.05) and 14 days ( P<0.05) after starting the treatment with lipo-PGE 1. These results suggest that L-selectin may be involved in the disease process in SSc, and lipo-PGE 1 may alter some inflammatory events in SSc.