Circulating Cell Adhesion Molecules in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background : Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) have been shown to be highly expressed in atherosclerotic lesions. Membrane-bound CAMs allow the tethering and rolling of monocytes and lymphocytes as well as the firm attachment and transendothelial migration of leukocytes. Soluble forms of CAMs may serve as monitors for increased expression of membrane-bound CAMs and thus may reflect progressive formation of atherosclerotic lesions. We assessed the role of the soluble CAMs in patients with type 2 Diabetes. Methods : Serum levels of soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were measured by enzyme immunoassay (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, USA) in patients with type 2 Diabetes (n=69) and normal control subjects (n=38). Results : Fasting blood sugar, serum cholesterol, and blood pressure were significantly (P32.0, 257.173.0 and 813.8322.6 ng/mL versus 43.319.5, 173.166.8, and 400.477.4 ng/mL, respectively). The serum sICAM-1 concentrations in diabetic patients with microalbuminuria were significantly (P=0.004) higher than in those patients without microalbuminuria (311.379.0 ng/mL versus 245.260.2 ng/mL). However, the sE-selectin and sVCAM-1 concentrations in diabetic patients with microalbuminuria were only slightly (P