The attachment of monocytes and lymphocytes to endothelial cells, which initiates
atherosclerosis, arises under the influence of adhesion molecules. The preclinical phase of this disease lasts many decades, and this provides an opportunity for the presymptomatic detection of high-risk subjects. We evaluated levels of the adhesion molecules: sICAM-1 (soluble
intercellular adhesion molecule 1), sVCAM-1 (soluble vascular adhesion molecule 1), sE
selectin, sP
selectin, and sL
selectin in children with
atherosclerosis risk factors (n = 123, mean age 15.1 years) (obese [n = 17], hypertensive [n = 25], obese with
hypertension [
n = 30], type 1 diabetic [n = 51]). Twenty-seven healthy children formed the control group, mean age 15.2 years. sICAM-1 was higher in the study group compared with control (314.1 +/- 61 vs 264.9 +/- 55 ng/mL, P < .01). The same was found for sVCAM-1 (513.7 +/- 187 vs 407.9 +/- 76 ng/mL, P < .05) and
E selectin (86.04 +/- 33.6 vs 62.1 +/- 20.3 ng/mL, P < .01). sP-
selectin and sL-
selectin levels were not different compared with controls.
E selectin correlated with body mass index (BMI; r = 0.18, P = .03), total
cholesterol (r = 0.2, P = .016), and
triglycerides (r = 0.22, P = .008). sICAM-1 correlated with BMI (r = 0.19, P = .019) and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.13, P = .045). In multiple linear regression analysis, sE
selectin was found to be associated with
triglycerides (R2 = 0.29, P = .045), sICAM-1 dependent on BMI (R2 = 0.58, P = .047), and sVCAM-1 dependent on total
cholesterol (R2 = 0.51, P = .006). Elevated concentrations of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, and
E selectin were found in obese, hypertensive, and diabetic children. We conclude that endothelial activation appears in these children, and adhesion molecules are related to the earliest stages of
atherosclerosis.