Soluble Adhesion Molecules in Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis

Martino, Davide; Branson, Joceline A.; Church, Andrew J.; Candler, Paul M.; Livrea, Paolo; Giovannoni, Gavin; Dale, Russell C.

doi:10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2005.05.006

« Previous Next »Pediatric Neurology
Volume 33, Issue 4 , Pages 255-258, October 2005

Soluble Adhesion Molecules in Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis

Davide Martino, MD
- Department of Neuroinflammation, Institute of Neurology, University College London, U.K.
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
- Communications should be addressed to: Dr. Martino; Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences; University of Bari; Piazza Giulio Cesare; 11 70124 Bari, Italy.
Joceline A. Branson, MRCPCH
- Neurosciences Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust and Institute of Child Health, University College London, U.K
Andrew J. Church, PhD
- Department of Neuroinflammation, Institute of Neurology, University College London, U.K.
Paul M. Candler, BSc
- Department of Neuroinflammation, Institute of Neurology, University College London, U.K.
Paolo Livrea, MD
- Department of Neurological and Psychiatric Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
Gavin Giovannoni, PhD
- Department of Neuroinflammation, Institute of Neurology, University College London, U.K.
Russell C. Dale, MRCPCH
- Department of Neuroinflammation, Institute of Neurology, University College London, U.K.
- Neurosciences Unit, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust and Institute of Child Health, University College London, U.K

Received 6 January 2005; accepted 2 May 2005.

Soluble adhesion molecules are overexpressed in neuroinflammatory disorders. Their synthesis parallels that of their membrane-bound counterparts, which modulate lymphocyte transmigration through the blood–brain barrier. Blood–brain barrier cellular migration may be essential in the evolution of postinfectious inflammatory central nervous system disease. The serum levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble vascular adhesion molecule-1, and soluble E-selectin were measured in 12 children with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and in two control groups (35 healthy and 35 affected by noninflammatory neurologic diseases) of similar age. In patients with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, soluble E-selectin serum levels were significantly higher (median 113 ng/mL, range 54-144) than in both control groups (median 44, range 31-63, and median 58, range 43-89, respectively; one-way analysis of variance, P < 0.0001); a statistical trend for higher levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule−1 was observed in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis subjects, whereas soluble vascular adhesion molecule−1 titers did not differ between the three groups. The specific role played by each of these molecules in lymphocyte extravasation and the differential cytokine modulation of their expression might explain the result. Further larger studies are required including serial measurements and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.