VCAM-1 ELISA

The vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily

Upon complete glycosylation the mature protein has a molecular weight of approximately 102 kDa. In contrast to ICAM-1, VCAM-1 appears to have been highly conserved through evolution. Both rat and mouse VCAM-1 are highly homologous at the protein level to the human VCAM-1 (77% and 76%, respectively). VCAM-1 supports the adhesion of lymphocytes, monocytes, natural killer cells, eosinophils, and basophils through its interaction with leukocyte very late antigen-4 (VLA-4). VCAM-1/VLA-4 interaction mediates firm adherence of circulating non-neutrophilic leukocytes to endothelium. VCAM-1 also participates in leukocyte adhesion outside of the vasculature, mediating precursor lymphocyte adhesion to bone marrow stromal cells and B cell binding to lymph node follicular dendritic cells. VCAM-1 is not constitutively expressed on endothelium, but can be upregulated in vitro in response to LPS, TNF-a, and IL-1, as well as to interferon-g and IL-4. VCAM-1 is also present on tissue macrophages, dendritic cells, bone marrow fibroblasts, myoblasts and myotubes. A soluble form of VCAM-1 (sVCAM-1) has been described. Soluble VCAM-1 levels have been found in the serum of healthy individuals and increased levels of sVCAM-1 can be detected in several diseases:

Cancer

ovarian, gastric-intestinal, renal, bladder cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, breast cancer (cyst fluid);

Autoimmune diseases

multiple sclerosis (cerebrospinal fluid), systemic sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis;

Infections

sepsis, meningitis, malaria;

Inflammation

vasculitis, alcoholic cirrhosis, primary biliary cirrhosis, Wegener's granulomatosis;

Others

impaired renal function, haemodialysis, hyperthyroidism, renal allograft.

Synonyms: CD106