Summary
The initial steps in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis involve changes to the vascular
endothelium, which produces numerous substances involved in the regulation and maintenance
of vascular integrity and the homeostasis of the coagulation/fibrinolysis system.
A further change in endothelial physiology is an increase in the surface expression
of cell adhesion molecules, such as E-selectin, which regulate adhesive interactions
between certain blood cells and endothelium. As E-selectin is only expressed on activated
endothelium, it therefore provides an opportunity to study pathophysiological aspects
of this cell in cardiovascular and other disease. However, a soluble form of E selectin
(i.e. sE-selectin) can be found in the plasma. This review will focus on sE-selectin,
and its potential role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease as raised levels
have been found in hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, although its association
in established atherosclerosis disease and its value as a prognostic factor is more
controversial.
Search strategy: We performed a keyword search (listed above) using electronic databases
(PUB-MED, MEDLINE, EMBASE, DARE), and additionally, abstracts from national and international
cardiovascular meetings were studied to identify unpublished studies. Relevant authors
of these studies were contacted to obtain further data.
Keywords
Soluble E selectin - atherosclerosis - diabetes - smoking - coronary artery disease
- peripheral artery disease - hypertension - hyper-cholesterolaemia