PMID: 7542148May 1, 1995Paper

Soluble adhesion molecules and interleukin-2 receptor concentrations in patients with autoimmune chronic hepatitis

European Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
K J SimpsonP C Hayes

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that elevated serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), (s)E-selectin, (s)P-selectin and soluble interleukin-2 receptor (sIL-2R) occur in patients with biochemically inactive autoimmune hepatitis (AICH) compared with controls. Such a finding would suggest continued immune activation, which in the long-term would contribute to the development of cirrhosis in such patients. sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin, sP-selectin and sIL-2R were measured in serum from 50 patients with AICH, divided into two groups according to whether their serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels were normal (below 40 IU/l) or increased (above 40 IU/l). Fourteen healthy subjects served as controls. Eight patients were followed after the induction of remission with increased immunosuppressive therapy. Elevated levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-selectin were found in patients with AICH compared with controls, independent of their ALT concentration. Only sICAM-1 was significantly elevated in the patients with active disease compared with patients with inactive disease. sIL-2R concentrations were significantly higher in patients with active disease (ALT above 40 IU/l) compar...Continue Reading

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