Cytokine-Induced Cell Surface Expression of Adhesion Molecules in Vascular Endothelial Cells In vitro

Regulation of the adhesion molecules expression by cytokine in vascular endothelial cells was investigated. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were stimulated with cytokines, TNF α (1-250 U/ml) or IL 1β (0.1-50 U/ml) for 24 h. HUVEC were also cultured with cytokines, TNF α (100 U/ml) or IL 1β (10 U/ml), for 4-72 h, cell surface expression of adhesion molecules (ICAM 1 and VCAM 1) were detected and quantitated by immunocytochemical methods and computerized imaging analysis technique. Adhesion molecules expression were up regulated by TNF α, IL 1β in a concentration and time dependent manner. Some significant differences were observed between the effects of cytokines on the ICAM 1 and on VCAM 1 expression. Cytokines might directly induce the expression of ICAM 1 and VCAM 1 in vascular endothelial cells. Our observations indicate differential functions of the two adhesion molecules during the evolution of inflammatory responses in stroke.

Biomarkers in differentiating clinical dengue cases:A prospective cohort study

Objective:To evaluate five biomarkers(neopterin,vascular endothelial growth factor-A,thrombomodulin,soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and pentraxin 3)in differentiating clinical dengue cases.Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted whereby the blood samples were obtained at day of presentation and the final diagnosis were obtained at the end of patients’follow-up.All patients included in the study were 15 years old or older,not pregnant,not infected by dengue previously and did not have cancer,autoimmune or haematological disorder.Median test was performed to compare the biomarker levels.A subgroup Mann-Whitney U test was analysed between severe dengue and non-severe dengue cases.Monte Carlo method was used to estimate the 2-tailed probability(P)value for independent variables with unequal number of patients.Results:All biomarkers except thrombomodulin has P value<0.001 in differentiating among the healthy subjects,non-dengue fever,dengue without warning signs and dengue with warning signs/severe dengue.Subgroup analysis for all the biomarkers between severe dengue and non-severe dengue cases was not statistically significant except vascular endothelial growth factor-A(P<0.05).Conclusions:Certain biomarkers were able to differentiate the clinical dengue cases.This could be potentially useful in classifying and determining the severity of dengue infected patients in the hospital.