The levels of soluble form of E-Selectin (sEs), or endothelial-leukocyte
adhesion molecule-1, were measured in 96 sera derived from 72
HIV-infected patients at different stages of the disease, 60 healthy
blood donors, and 50 HIV-negative patients with infections, using a
quantitative ELISA, Levels of sEs in HIV-infected individuals without
AIDS, according to the 1993 classification system of the Centers for
Disease Control, were higher than normal- (mean +/- SEM 48 +/- 4 versus
35 +/- 2 ng/ml, p = 0.003). Patients with established AIDS, who were
afebrile and had no evidence of acute concurrent infection, had even
higher sEs serum levels (70 +/- 9 ng/ml, p = 0.009, compared to those
without AIDS), A significant increase in clinical catt:gory disease
progression was present. Individual concentrations of sEs correlated
directly with levels of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (p <
0.00001) and IL-2 receptor (p = 0.001), but not with CD4(+) T-cell
counts. Zidovudine treatment was not associated with changes in sEs
serum levels, Elevated sEs levels were also found in HIV-seronegative
patients with other bacterial and protozoal infections, Since sEs is a
biologically active molecule, further studies should investigate the
pathogenetic significance of circulating sEs in HIV-related disease
progression, and assess the prognostic value of sEs determination for
these patients
