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VCAM-1

Meaning

VCAM-1, or Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule 1, is a crucial glycoprotein expressed on the surface of activated endothelial cells, serving as a key molecular mediator in the recruitment and adhesion of leukocytes to sites of inflammation within the vascular wall. It functions as an adhesion receptor, facilitating the initial tethering and subsequent extravasation of immune cells into the underlying tissue. Elevated circulating levels of soluble VCAM-1 are considered a robust clinical biomarker of systemic endothelial dysfunction and chronic vascular inflammation.