Serum Soluble Adhesion Molecules (sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and sE-Selectin) in Healthy School Aged Children and Adults

Identification of diagnostic biomarkers used in the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus: A systematic review of quantitative studies

AIMS

To perform a systematic review of studies that sought to identify diagnostic biomarkers for the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and diabetes mellitus (DM), which could be used in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where there is a lack of diagnostic equipment, treatments and training.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Papers were sourced from six databases: the British Nursing Index, Google Scholar, PubMed, Sage, Science Direct and Scopus. Articles published between January 2002 and January 2023 were systematically reviewed by three reviewers and appropriate search terms and inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied.

RESULTS

A total of 18 studies were yielded, as well as 234 diagnostic biomarkers (74 for CVD and 160 for DM). Primary biomarkers for the diagnosis of CVDs included growth differentiation factor 15 and neurogenic locus notch homologue protein 1 (Notch1). For the diagnosis of DM, alpha-2-macroglobulin, C-peptides, isoleucine, glucose, tyrosine, linoleic acid and valine were frequently reported across the included studies. Advanced analytical techniques, such as liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and vibrational spectroscopy, were also repeatedly reported in the included studies and were utilized in combination with traditional and alternative matrices such as fingernails, hair and saliva.

CONCLUSIONS

While advanced analytical techniques are expensive, laboratories in LMICs should carry out a cost-benefit analysis of their use. Alternatively, laboratories may want to explore emerging techniques such as infrared, Fourier transform-infrared and near-infrared spectroscopy, which allow sensitive noninvasive analysis.

The Effects of Statins on Cardiovascular and Inflammatory Biomarkers in Primary Prevention: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

Statins are well-established for their treatment of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to their cholesterol-lowering effects and potential anti-inflammatory properties. Although previous systematic reviews demonstrate that statins reduce inflammatory biomarkers in the secondary prevention of CVD, none examine their effects on cardiac and inflammatory biomarkers in a primary prevention setting.

METHODS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the effects of statins on cardiovascular and inflammatory biomarkers among individuals without established CVD. The biomarkers included are: cardiac troponin, N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), C-reactive protein (CRP), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM), soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) and endothelin-1 (ET-1). A literature search was performed through Ovid MEDLINE, Embase and CINAHL Plus for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) published up to June 2021.

RESULTS

Overall, 35 RCTs with 26,521 participants were included in our meta-analysis. Data was pooled using random effects models presented as standardised mean differences (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Combining 36 effect sizes from 29 RCTs, statin use resulted in a significant reduction in CRP levels (SMD -0.61; 95% CI -0.91, -0.32; P<0.001). This reduction was observed for both hydrophilic (SMD -0.39; 95% CI -0.62, -0.16; P<0.001) and lipophilic statins (SMD -0.65; 95% CI -1.01, -0.29; P<0.001). There were no significant changes in serum concentrations of cardiac troponin, NT-proBNP, TNF-α, IL-6, sVCAM, sICAM, sE-selectin and ET-1.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis demonstrates that statin use reduces serum CRP levels in a primary prevention setting for CVD, with no clear effect on the other eight biomarkers studied.

Effect of a diet based on the dietary guidelines for americans on inflammation markers in women at risk for cardiometabolic disease: results of a randomized, controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of a diet pattern based on Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA), in a controlled feeding setting, on plasma markers of inflammation and on cytokine production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

DESIGN

Women (n = 44) with one or more risk factors of metabolic syndrome (and BMI: 25.2-39.8 kg/m²) completed an 8-wk controlled feeding study. They were randomized to either a group following a diet based on DGA 2010 (DGA), or a group given a 'typical American diet' (TAD), based largely on a Western diet pattern. By design, women maintained their body weight. Fasting plasma and PBMC were collected at wk. 0 (baseline) and at wk. 8 (post-intervention). Sixteen plasma markers of inflammation and eight PBMC cytokines were measured at both time points, to evaluate if the diet had a significant effect on concentrations of these inflammatory markers. Data were analyzed using ANCOVA, followed by multiple-comparison adjustment using Benjamini-Hochberg method.

RESULTS

Significant changes observed in Serum Amyloid A (SAA) and Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) in plasma did not retain significance upon multiple comparison adjustment. SAA: p = 0.044, adj p = 0.450; DGA mean change [95% CI] = - 12.6[- 32.3 to 7.04]; TAD mean change [95% CI] = - 2.24 [- 9.99 to 5.51]. MMP3: p = 0.014, adj p = 0.35; DGA mean change [95% CI] = 2.72[- 4.16 to 9.59]; TAD mean change [95% CI] = - 0.98[- 16.7 to 14.7]). Other inflammation markers were not differently altered by DGA relative to TAD. Effect size of change (Cohens d) indicated a large/medium-large effect of intervention on MMP3 and CRP, and medium effect on IL-6.

CONCLUSIONS

No statistically significant changes were observed in the immune markers examined in this study. The biological roles and magnitude of the non-significant differences seen with two variables, CRP and MMP3, suggest that they be examined in future studies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT02298725.

Randomized Clinical and Biochemical Study Comparing the Effect of L-arginine and Sildenafil in Beta Thalassemia Major Children With High Tricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity

Background:

Pulmonary hypertension (PHT) is common in β-thalassemia patients due to hemolysis, iron overload and diminished nitric oxide (NO) levels. Biochemical markers can help to understand the pathophysiology and to introduce new therapies for this condition.

Aim:

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of L-arginine and sildenafil in thalassemia children with PHT at both clinical and biochemical levels.

Methods and Results:

In a randomized controlled study, 60 β-thalassemia major children with PHT were divided into 3 equal groups; Control group (Conventional thalassemia and PHT management), L-arginine group (Conventional + Oral L-arginine 0.1 mg.kg−1 daily), and sildenafil group (Conventional + Oral sildenafil 0.25 mg.kg−1 two times a day) for 60 days. Tricuspid Regurgitant Jet Velocity (TRJV) with Doppler echocardiography along with serum levels of NO, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), E-selectin, and visfatin were followed-up at baseline, 30, and 60 days after treatment. Both drugs reduced the TRJV significantly. NO was significantly higher in both L-arginine and sildenafil groups after 60 days compared to baseline, while visfatin levels were lower. Only L-arginine reduced ADMA levels compared to baseline, while sildenafil did not. E-selectin and IL-1β levels did not change remarkably by both drugs. NO and TRJV showed significant negative correlations in both treatment groups.

Conclusion:

L-arginine and sildenafil could clinically ameliorate chronic PHT whereas, L-arginine showed superiority to sildenafil on some biochemical markers.

Evaluation of ICAM-1 rs5498 and rs3093030 Polymorphisms in Chinese Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer threatening human health. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1, CD54) displays a key role in carcinogenesis and previous studies have suggested that ICAM-1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are predicted to increase the risk of CRC. However, the relationship of ICAM-1 SNPs with CRC susceptibility was controversial. We conducted a case-control study to clarify the association of ICAM-1 SNPs (rs5498 and rs3093030) with the CRC risk. A total of 1003 CRC patients and 1303 controls were recruited to determine ICAM-1 SNPs (rs5498 and rs3093030) by SNPscan method. In the case-control study, we found that ICAM-1 rs5498 polymorphism did not influence CRC risk (AG vs. AA: adjusted p = 0.179; GG vs. AA: adjusted p = 0.281, AG+GG vs. AA: adjusted p = 0.398; GG vs. AA+AG: adjusted p = 0.153), and ICAM-1 rs3093030 polymorphism did not influence CRC risk (CT vs. CC: adjusted p = 0.841; TT vs. CC: adjusted p = 0.175, CT+TT vs. CC: adjusted p = 0.574 and TT vs. CC+TT: adjusted p = 0.180). In a subgroup of age >61, ICAM-1 rs5498 decreased the risk of CRC (p = 0.047). Multivariate analysis revealed that smoking (p = 0.002; odds ratio [OR]: 1.76, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18-2.63), alcohol intake (p < 0.001; OR: 1.99, 95% CI: 1.31-3.05), and body mass index <24 (p < 0.001; OR: 1.55, 95% CI: 1.06-2.26) increased the risk of CRC. Our findings showed that ICAM-1 rs3093030 was not correlated with the susceptibility of CRC, and ICAM-1 rs5498 increased the risk of CRC in the subgroup of age ≥61. In the future, larger and ethnically homogeneous populations are needed to confirm our results.

Assay validation and clinical performance of chronic inflammatory and chemokine biomarkers of NASH fibrosis

Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease that can lead to cirrhosis, liver transplant, and even hepatocellular carcinoma. While liver biopsy remains the reference standard for disease diagnosis, analytical and clinical development of non-invasive soluble biomarkers of NASH are of great importance to advance the field. To this end, we performed analytical and clinical validation on a series of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines implicated hepatic inflammation; IL-6, CRP, TNFα, MCP-1, MIP-1β, eotaxin, VCAM-1. Biomarker assays were validated for accuracy and precision. Clinical performance was evaluated in a random sample of 52 patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD/NASH. Patients were categorized into three groups according to their fibrosis stage; advanced (F3-F4), mild (F1-2) and no (F0) fibrosis. Serum IL-6 was increased in patients with advanced fibrosis (2.71 pg/mL; 1.26 pg/mL; 1.39 pg/mL p<0.01) compared to patients with mild or no fibrosis respectively. While, there was no significant difference noted in CRP, TNFα, MCP-1, MIP-1β, eotaxin among the three groups, VCAM-1 levels were increased by 55% (p<0.01) and 40% (p<0.05) in the advanced cohort compared to the mild and no fibrosis groups respectively. VCAM-1 also displayed good clinical performance as a biomarker of advanced fibrosis with an area under the receiver operating curve of 0.87. The VCAM-1 assay demonstrated robust accuracy and precision, and VCAM-1 outperformed IL-6, CRP, TNFα, and the chemokines MCP-1, MIP-1β, and eotaxin as a biomarker of advanced fibrosis in NASH. Addition of biomarkers such as IL-6 and VCAM-1 to panels may yield increased sensitivity and specificity for staging of NASH.

Immunologic changes in TNF-alpha, sE-selectin, sP-selectin, sICAM-1, and IL-8 in pediatric patients treated for psoriasis with the Goeckerman regimen

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease which is often manifested during childhood. The present study investigated changes in the serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines and soluble forms of adhesion molecules in children with psoriasis. The observed patient group of 26 children was treated with the Goeckerman regimen. This therapy combines dermal application of crude coal tar with ultraviolet radiation. The Psoriasis Area Severity Index decreased significantly after treatment by with the Goeckerman regimen (p < 0.001). Serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha and adhesion molecules sICAM-1, sP-selectin and sE-selectin decreased after the Goeckerman regimen. The TNF-alpha and sICAM-1 decreased significantly (p < 0.05). Our findings support the complex role of these immune parameters in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis in children. The serum level of IL-8 increased after the Goeckerman regimen. This fact indicates that the chemokine pathway of IL-8 activity could be modulated by this treatment, most likely by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Adhesion to E-selectin promotes growth inhibition and apoptosis of human and murine hematopoietic progenitor cells independent of PSGL-1

Although both P- and E-selectin are constitutively expressed on bone marrow endothelial cells, their role in the regulation of hematopoiesis has only recently been investigated. We have previously shown that P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-l (PSGL-1/CD162) is expressed by primitive human bone marrow CD34+ cells, mediates their adhesion to P-selectin, and, more importantly, inhibits their proliferation. We now demonstrate that adhesion to E-selectin inhibits the proliferation of human CD34+ cells isolated either from human umbilical cord blood, adult mobilized blood, or steady-state bone marrow. Furthermore, a subpopulation, which does not contain the most primitive hematopoietic progenitor cells, undergoes apoptosis following E-selectin-mediated adhesion. The same phenomenon was observed in cells isolated from mouse bone marrow. Using lineage-negative Sca-1+ c-KIT+ bone marrow cells from PSGL-1(-/-) and wild-type mice, we establish that PSGL-1 is not the ligand involved in E-selectin-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis. Moreover, stable transfection of the human myeloid cell line K562 (which does not express PSGL-1) with alpha(1,3) fucosyltransferase VII alone was sufficient to recapitulate the E-selectin-mediated growth inhibition and apoptosis observed in hematopoietic progenitor cells. These data demonstrate that an E-selectin ligand(s) other than PSGL-1 transduces growth inhibitory and proapoptotic signals and requires posttranslational fucosylation to be functional.