A study of adhesion molecules in systemic lupus erythematosus; correlation of the serum level with disease activity and tissue expression in the skin lesions

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythernatosus (SLE) is a heterogeneous connective tissue disorder that manifests by a variety of cutaneous and systemic manifestations as• well as laboratory findings. Although the deposition of immune complexes in tissue has been implicated in the pathogenesis (,r SLE, it is still possible to assume additional and alternative mcchamsn» for the tissue injury 111 this disease. lntravascular activation :rntl aggregation of neutrophils 111 the absence of immune complexes deposition has been suggested as an alternative mechanism of vascular • damage in SLE. For both mechanisms, endothelial cell activation and upregulation of adhesion molecules 011 the surface of endothelial cells, leukocytes and target cells seems to play a crucial role. Soluble isoforms of adhesion molecules have been described in the serum and tissue fluids that might be produced bv proteolytic cleavage of membrane bound adhesion molecules Measurement of these soluble isoforms may have :1 diagnostic potential.