The cell adhesion molecule, VCAM-1, is selectively elevated in serum in pre-eclampsia: does this indicate the mechanism of leucocyte activation?

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether circulating levels of cell adhesion molecules, markers of endothelial damage and leucocyte activation, were increased in pre-eclampsia.

DESIGN

Serum was prepared from peripheral venous blood and stored at -70 degrees C. The cell adhesion molecules, VCAM-1, E-Selectin and ICAM-1, were measured by ELISA.

SETTING

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Infirmary, Glasgow.

SUBJECTS

Sixteen primigravid women with pre-eclampsia were recruited for the study. The preeclampsia group were compared with 18 healthy primigravid women with uncomplicated pregnancies.

RESULTS

The pre-eclamptic group had significantly higher serum levels of the cell adhesion molecule VCAM-1 (t = 3.673; P < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the adhesion molecules ICAM-1 or E-Selectin.

CONCLUSIONS

Endothelial damage and dysfunction are common to all the pathological features of pre-eclampsia. This study shows that concentrations of cell adhesion molecules, which indicate leucocyte-endothelial attachment and activation, are elevated in the serum of patients with pre-eclampsia. Such increases in soluble circulating cell adhesion molecules may reflect increased expression of these molecules on the endothelium and thereby explain the mechanism for leucocyte activation in pre-eclampsia.