Table 4 Adhesion molecules in atherosclerosis^w2.

Adhesion molecule	Ligands	Role	Comments	Clinical predictive value of soluble form
Selectins
P‐selectin	CD24, PSGL‐1, Lewis X	Rolling and tethering	Present on endothelial cells and platelets. ELISA kits for soluble forms commercially available	Weak predictor in healthy individuals, high risk patients and patients with CAD, moderate predictor for patients with acute coronary events
E‐selectin	L‐set, PSGL‐1, ESL‐1, Lewis X	Rolling and tethering	Present in endothelial cells. ELISA kits for soluble form commercially available	Weak predictor in healthy individuals, high‐risk subjects, and patients with CAD or ACS
L‐selectin	CD34, PSGL‐1, Lewis X, GlyCAM	Rolling and tethering	Present in leucocytes. ELISA kit for soluble form commercially available	–
Immunoglobulin‐like molecules
ICAM‐1	αMβ2, αLβ2, αXβ2		Present in endothelial cells and leucocytes. ELISA kits for soluble‐form commercially available	Moderate predictor for healthy individuals, high‐risk subjects and CAD patients. Weak predictive value for ACS
	Firm adhesion
ICAM‐2	αMβ2, αLβ2	Firm adhesion	Present in endothelial cells, leucocytes and platelets. ELISA kits for soluble form commercially available	–
ICAM‐3	αLβ2, αDβ2, DC‐SIGN	Firm adhesion	Present in endothelial cells and leucocytes. ELISA kits for soluble form commercially available	–
VCAM‐1	α4β1, α4β7, αDβ2	Firm adhesion	Present in endothelial cells. ELISA kits for soluble form commercially available	No predictive value for healthy individuals. Strong predictor for high risk subjects, CAD patients and patients with ACS
PECAM‐1	PECAM1, αVβ3	Leucocyte extravasation	Maintains endothelial integrity. Present in endothelial cells, leucocytes and platelets. ELISA kits for soluble forms commercially available	–

ACS, acute coronary syndromes; CAD, coronary artery disease; ELISA, enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay; ICAM, intercellular adhesion molecule; PECAM, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule; VCAM, vascular cells adhesion molecule.