Association of endothelin-1 and cell surface adhesion molecules levels in patients with systemic sclerosis

Abstract

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory and fibrotic diseases, including systemic sclerosis. In addition to modulating vascular tone and extracellular matrix turnover, ET-1 up-regulates cell surface adhesion molecules–intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1).The aim of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value of the detection of ET-1, VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in the diagnosis of systemic sclerosis.

Keywords

• endothelin-1 (et-1)
• intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (icam-1)
• systemic sclerosis
• vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (vcam-1)