Dyslipidemia, Diabetes, and Cell Adhesion Molecules

One of the key initial events in the development of atherosclerosis is the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells with subsequent transmigration into the vascular intima. Leukocyte and vascular cell adhesion molecules such as selectins, integrins, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) play critical roles in the adhesion of monocytes to endothelial cells. Immunohistochemical studies of human tissues showed that these cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are expressed at increased levels in atherosclerotic plaques [1–4]. In this review we examine evidence that CAMs may play an important role in the accelerated atherosclerosis seen in patients with diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia.