Abstract
The soluble forms of intracellular adhesion molecules (sICAM) such as membrane forms are involved in modulating the cell interaction. In order to investigate adhesion disturbances the serum levels of sICAM-1 (sCD54) and sICAM-3 (sCD50) were analyzed in 48 patients with exacerbation of COPD and 86 healthy donors using ELISA- method. Quantitative culture of sputum or bronchoalveoalar lavage fluid were performed.
The median levels of sCD50 and sCD54 were significantly lower in COPD patients than in donors. The sCD50 and sCD54 values below the normal range were registrated in 60% of the patients. The decrease of sICAM levels was associated with longer smoking history compared with patients having normal/elevated values, purulent sputum and leucocytosis. The patients with low sICAM values had significantly more exacerbations pro year than other patients (2,3±0,7 vs 1,3±0,5).
Respiratory mixt-infection was observed more often in patients with decreased sICAM levels. The associations of 5-6 kinds of pathogenes were isolated in 20% of patients with reduced sCD50 and sCD54 levels and in none of patients having normal/elevated sICAM values. It led to longer course of antibacterial therapy and increase of hospitalization days in patients with low sICAM concentration compared with other patients.
Thus, the reduced serum levels of sCD50 and sCD54 were found in 2/3 of patients with exacerbation of COPD, correlating with longer smocking history, purulent bronchitis, bacterial mixt-infections, and prolonged therapy duration. The low serum levels of the soluble adhesion molecules reflecting the impaired expression of the membrane forms can be considered as unfavorable factor.
- © 2011 ERS
