engleski

Influence of short-term changes in sex hormones on serum concentrataions of cellular adhesion molecules in young healthy women

Cellular adhesion molecules (CAMs) are cell surface molecules crucial for cell trafficking. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM- 1), soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) and E-selectin are endothelium derived CAMs. Various factors affect the level of CAMs thus changing the inflammatory status. Previous studies have reported their increase in postmenopausal women, when the female sex hormones decline, while with hormonal replacement therapy CAMS concentration decreases. The aim of this study was to determine if the short-term changes in sex hormones (such as cyclic changes within the menstrual cycle) can influence the plasma concentration of soluble CAMs. Sixteen healthy young women with normal cycles participated in this study. Serum levels of sICAM-1, sVCAM-1 and E-selectin were determined in three different phases of the menstrual cycle: a) early follicular (EF) phase, b) ovulatory (O) phase and c) midluteal (ML) phase, by standardized ELISA-based kits. To confirm the exact assessment of menstrual cycle phases, serum levels of estrogen, progesterone, LH and FSH were measured. There were significant oscillations in serum female sex hormones concentration over the cycle duration, as expected the level of estrogen (E2) and progesterone (PROG) was the lowest in EF phase, the highest E2 appeared in O phase, and both E2 and PROG were present in high concentrations during ML phase. However, the concentration of soluble CAMs in three specific time points of menstrual cycle did not differ significantly. Our results suggest that short-term changes in sex hormone levels are insufficient to modulate expression of CAMs in any extent that would affect a young woman's health.

cell adhesion molecules; female sex hormones; sICAM-1; sVCAM-1; E-selectin

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