Circulating adhesion molecules in disease

The demonstration of soluble isoforms of adhesion molecules has added a layer of complexity to our understanding of lymphoid-endothelial cell interactions. This is especially true in the light of observations which show levels of these isoforms to be raised during disease processes. Here, Andrew Gearing and Walter Newman review the evidence that increased levels of circulating, soluble adhesion molecules may be a key to understanding the prognosis and pathology of certain diseases.