Circulating ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1, E‐Selectin, P‐Selectin, and TNFαRII in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease

Abnormality of adipokines and endothelial dysfunction in Mexican obese adolescents with insulin resistance

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship among insulin resistance (IR), endothelial dysfunction, and alteration of adipokines in Mexican obese adolescents and their association with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two hundred and twenty-seven adolescents were classified according to the body mass index (BMI) (control: N=104; obese: N=123) and homeostasis model of the assessment-insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) (obese with IR: N=65). The circulating concentrations of leptin, adiponectin, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and IR were determined by standard methods.

RESULTS

The obese adolescents with IR presented increased presence of MetS and higher circulating concentrations in sICAM-1 in comparison with the obese subjects without IR. The lowest concentrations of adiponectin were observed in the obese with IR. In multivariate linear regression models, sICAM-1 along with triglycerides, total cholesterol, and waist circumference was strongly associated with HOMA-IR (R²=0.457, P=0.008). Similarly, after adjustment for age, BMI-SDS, lipids, and adipokines, HOMA-IR remained associated with sICAM-1 (R²=0.372, P=0.008). BMI-SDS was mildly associated with leptin (R²=0.176, P=0.002) and the waist circumference was mild and independent determinant of adiponectin (R²=0.136, P=0.007).

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrated that the obese adolescents, particularly the obese subjects with IR exhibited increased presence of MetS, abnormality of adipokines, and endothelial dysfunction. The significant interaction between IR and endothelial dysfunction may suggest a novel therapeutic approach to prevent or delay systemic IR and the genesis of cardiovascular diseases in obese patients.

Trait anger, cynical hostility and inflammation in Latinas: variations by anger type?

Anger and hostility are psychological factors that appear to play a salient role in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk; however, their association with risk within the Latino population remains relatively unexplored. The current study examined associations between overall trait anger, anger subdimensions (i.e., anger temperament and anger reaction) and cynical hostility with sICAM-1, a marker of cellular adhesion and systemic inflammation related to CVD risk, in a sample of 294 middleaged Mexican-American women. Results showed no association between trait anger or anger temperament and sICAM-1. Anger reaction was marginally associated with sICAM-1 (β=4.77, p=.06). Cynical hostility was significantly associated with sICAM-1 (β=5.89, p=.04) even after controlling for demographic, biological and behavioral covariates. The current study provides evidence that specific aspects of anger and hostility relate to physiological pathways that potentially influence CVD risk. Findings are discussed in light of contextual cultural factors.

Nontraditional risk factors and biomarkers for cardiovascular disease: mechanistic, research, and clinical considerations for youth: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association

The rapid increase in the prevalence and severity of obesity in children is likely to lower the age of onset and increase the incidence of cardiovascular disease worldwide. Understanding the pathophysiology and improving the clinical management of cardiovascular disease involve a knowledge of novel risk factors and biomarkers. The clinical and mechanistic roles of these novel biological factors during childhood are currently being investigated. The goals of this scientific statement are to present the existing knowledge and theoretical framework of nontraditional risk factors for cardiovascular disease as they relate to children and adolescents, to describe the relevance and weight of available experimental and clinical evidence and the therapeutic implications pertaining to nontraditional risk factors in the pediatric population, and to stimulate further research with a goal of developing valid and reliable approaches to identify and validate novel risk factors that will aid in the clinical evaluation and perhaps prediction of cardiovascular disease in the pediatric population. Although several biomarkers are promising, substantial research is required before nontraditional risk factors can be used to identify and reduce cardiovascular disease risk in children and adolescents.

Advancing cancer biotherapy with proteomics

Proteomics is becoming increasingly important for cancer biotherapy. The development of high-throughput platforms now allows the analysis of multiple proteins from small quantities of material. While these techniques are being used to discover new biomarkers, they are particularly important for assessing complex biologic processes such as immunotherapy for cancer. Recent advances in this field are reviewed, as well as the use of proteomics to assess the effectiveness and toxicities of high-dose IL-2 cancer therapy. Proteomics is becoming useful in assessing cancer biotherapies and in unraveling their mechanisms of action. High-throughput proteomic technologies have now advanced to a stage where they have the potential to become effective discovery tools for biomarkers/predictors of disease, disease recurrence, and response to therapy.

Soluble adhesion molecules and marine n-3 fatty acids in patients referred for coronary angiography

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the relationship between soluble cellular adhesion molecules (sCAMs) and the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with stable angina pectoris.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Two hundred and ninety-one subjects had fasting levels of circulating intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1), vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), sP-selectin and contents of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) in granulocyte membranes and adipose tissue determined before undergoing elective coronary angiography. Levels of soluble VCAM-1 (983+/-216 versus 893+/-196 ng/l, p<0.001), ICAM-1 (318+/-140 versus 290+/-75 ng/l, p<0.05) and P-selectin (90+/-27 versus 80+/-23 ng/l, p<0.01) were significantly increased in subjects with significant CAD compared to subjects with no significant stenoses. In a linear regression analysis, both sVCAM-1 and sP-selectin, but not sICAM-1, correlated to the presence and the severity of CAD. Both sICAM-1 and sP-selectin were significantly correlated to current smoking status and a history of myocardial infarction. The content of total n-3 PUFA and docosahexaenoic acid in adipose tissue was marginally, but significant positively correlated to VCAM-1.

CONCLUSION

sVCAM-1 and sP-selectin may serve as markers of CAD in patients with stable angina pectoris. Only sVCAM-1 was weakly correlated to n-3 PUFA in adipose tissue.

Forecasting the cytokine storm following systemic interleukin (IL)-2 administration

Extensive clinical experience has shown that systemic interleukin (IL)-2 administration can induce complete or partial regression of renal cell cancer (RCC) metastases in 15 to 20 % of patients. Since IL-2 has no direct anti-cancer effects, it is believed that cancer regression is mediated either by a direct modulation of immune cell effector functions or through the mediation of soluble factors released as a result of IL-2 administration.

We previously observed that transcriptional and protein changes induced by systemic IL-2 administration affect predominantly mononuclear phagocytes with little effect, particularly within the tumor microenvironment, on T cell activation, localization and proliferation. It further appeared that mononuclear phagocyte activation could be best explained by the indirect mediation of a secondary release of cytokines by IL-2 responsive cells either in the circulation or in peripheral tissues.

To better characterize the cytokine outburst that follows systemic IL-2 administration we followed the serum levels of 68 soluble factors in ten patients with RCC undergoing high dose (720,000 IU/kg intravenously every 8 hours) IL-2 therapy. Serum was collected before therapy, 3 hours after the 1^st and 4^th dose and assayed on a multiplexed protein array platform. This study demonstrated that 1) the serum concentration of more than half the soluble factors studied changed significantly during therapy; 2) changes became more dramatic with increasing doses; 3) subclasses of soluble factors displayed different kinetics and 4) cytokine patterns varied quantitatively among patients.

This study shows that the cytokine storm that follows systemic IL-2 administration is complex and far-reaching inclusive of soluble factors with disparate, partly redundant and partly contrasting effects on immune function. Therefore comparing in parallel large number of soluble factors, it sets a comprehensive foundation for further elucidation of "cytokine storm" in larger patient pools. Based on this analysis, we propose a prospective collection of serum samples in a larger cohort of patients undergoing IL-2 administration with the purpose of discerning patterns predictive of clinical outcome and toxicity.