Serologic profile of adhesion molecules in sickle-cell patients

Sickle-cell disease (SCD) is an hemoglobinopathy resulting from a ponctual mutation in the human globin gene. The major related SCID complications are usually unpredictable and reveal the lack of our knowledge of their starting factors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serologic profile of three adhesion molecules: intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and L-selectin in patients with SCID. Studied adhesion molecules were quantitated by an ELISA sandwich method. In all studied sickle-cell patients, the levels of adhesion molecules were significantly increased. These results outline the important participation of endothelial cells through the overexpression and release of adhesion molecules in case of their activation by the vascular microenvironment. (C) 2008 Elsevier Masson SAS. Tous droits reserves.