Soluble vascular cell-adhesion molecule-1 and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 correlate with lipid and apolipoprotein risk factors for coronary artery disease in children

Abstract

Atherosclerosis begins in childhood and progresses from fatty streaks to raised lesions in adolescence and young adulthood. This process is accelerated in children with risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are supposed to play important roles in the initial development of atherosclerosis, which may suggest that the expression of CAMs is increased in children more than in older subjects or in CAD patients. To determine whether risk factors for CAD are associated with an increased expression of CAMs, we investigated the relationships of the serum levels of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and soluble P-selectin (P-selectin) with lipid and apolipoprotein parameters in children (40 boys and 45 girls). We also examined the relationships between soluble CAMs and the fractional esterification rate of cholesterol in HDL (FER_HDL), particle size of LDL and lipoprotein containing apoA-I, but no apoA-II (LpA-I). In children, soluble VCAM-1 levels were correlated with the levels of triglyceride (in boys) and apoB, the ratio of apoB to apoA-I and FER_HDL (in girls). Similar associations were found for soluble ICAM-1. Furthermore, the soluble ICAM-1 level was inversely correlated with LpA-I level, LDL size (in boys) and HDL cholesterol level (in girls). Soluble P-selectin levels were not correlated with these parameters.

Conclusion Our data indicate that intervention to normalize risk factors for coronary artery disease should be started at a young age to prevent increased expression of cell adhesion molecules.