Ha, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and interleukin-10 in SCD patients with ulcers and without ulcers. IL-1 concentration was greater in ulcer group ; TNF- showed no Epigenetics difference between groups; ICAM-1 was greater in patients with ulcers; IL-10 was no different between groups.doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068929.gVariables TNF- (pg/mL) IL-1 (pg/mL) ICAM-1 (ng/mL) IL-10 (ng/mL) difference at p<0.05.AA (n = 17) 0(0); 0 7.2 0 (0.05); 0, 3.3 150.05 (89.91); 0, 249.01 6.36 (3.06); 0, 11.SS (n = 55) 0.63 (3.90); 0, 15.25* 0 (0.91); 0, 6.33 93.81 (209.28); 0, 445.01 9.12 (12.76); 0, 33.Values are media(inter-quartile range) minimum, maximum value. * significantdetection in sickle cell disease patients without ulcers was lower in comparison to the ulcer group, which showed 12 of 31 presenting with detectable concentrations of TNF- and 10 with IL-1. Plasma concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokine IL1- (pg/mL) (ssu vs. ssn median(IQR): 0.34 (1.28) vs. 0 (0.08); p = 0.0178), but not TNF- (pg/mL) (1.99 (4.3) vs. 0.97 (3.38) was significantly greater in subjects with ulcers. Furthermore, comparing patients with leg ulcers with patients without ulcers, sICAM-1 (ng/mL) (141.8 (257.41) vs. 0.41 (107.3); p = 0.0152), but not IL-10 (ng/mL) (11.01 (15.95) vs. (2.98 (11.92) was significantly greater in the ulcer group (Figure 1). The Autophagy distribution of WBV was skewed and was normalized by Napier logarithmic transformation. WBV in the SSu group at 46 sec-1 and at 230 sec-1 was 1.9 (95 CI 1.2, 3.1) 1315463 (p<0.04) and2.3 (95 CI 1.2, 4.4) (p<0.007) times greater than the SSn group respectively (Figure 2). The haematocrit iscosity ratio was significantly lower in sickle cell disease subjects with ulcers in comparison to the non-ulcer group at 46 sec-1 (SSu vs. SSn: 8.73; 4.89, 45.47 vs. 22.85; 4.75, 101.78; p =0.011) and 230 sec-1 (SSu vs. SSn: 15.08; 7.4, 133.89 vs. 54.58; 7.96, 285; p =0.011), respectively. In SSu subjects the HVR was less than half that of 18055761 the SSn subjects (Figure 3). There was a significant shear-dependent relationship between BMI and HVR. At low shear rate there was a -2.89 (95 CI; -0.003, 0.146; p = 0.015) change in the HVR with each unit increase in BMI. However, at high shear rate there was no significant association with the HVR and 1 unit change of BMI. There were no differences in cutaneous microvascular oxygen saturation as determined by lightguide spectrophotometry between SSn and SSu (Figure 4). Mean oxygen saturation was lower in subjects with ulcers than SS controls (mean +/- SD SO2: 45.02?2.97 versus 50.02?6.49). Both groups occupied similar SO2 ranges of 25-72.16 and 22-75.69 in cases and controls, respectively (Figure 4). However, none of the 11 subjects with active ulcers were classified as having hypoxia in the lower leg compared with 3 in the control group (Figure 5). Furthermore, SO2 were similar inInflammation and Adhesion in Chronic Leg UlcersFigure 2. Whole blood viscosity distribution at low and high shear rates in SCD patients with ulcers and those without. WBV was greater in the group with ulcers at both the low and high shear rates. Both groups had outliers above and below their respective WBV ranges.doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068929.gFigure 3. Erythrocyte transport effectiveness at low and high shear rates in SCD patients with ulcers and those without. HVR was lower in the group with ulcers at both low and high shear rates of WBV.doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068929.gthe same subject from one leg to the next. There were n.Ha, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and interleukin-10 in SCD patients with ulcers and without ulcers. IL-1 concentration was greater in ulcer group ; TNF- showed no difference between groups; ICAM-1 was greater in patients with ulcers; IL-10 was no different between groups.doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068929.gVariables TNF- (pg/mL) IL-1 (pg/mL) ICAM-1 (ng/mL) IL-10 (ng/mL) difference at p<0.05.AA (n = 17) 0(0); 0 7.2 0 (0.05); 0, 3.3 150.05 (89.91); 0, 249.01 6.36 (3.06); 0, 11.SS (n = 55) 0.63 (3.90); 0, 15.25* 0 (0.91); 0, 6.33 93.81 (209.28); 0, 445.01 9.12 (12.76); 0, 33.Values are media(inter-quartile range) minimum, maximum value. * significantdetection in sickle cell disease patients without ulcers was lower in comparison to the ulcer group, which showed 12 of 31 presenting with detectable concentrations of TNF- and 10 with IL-1. Plasma concentrations of the proinflammatory cytokine IL1- (pg/mL) (ssu vs. ssn median(IQR): 0.34 (1.28) vs. 0 (0.08); p = 0.0178), but not TNF- (pg/mL) (1.99 (4.3) vs. 0.97 (3.38) was significantly greater in subjects with ulcers. Furthermore, comparing patients with leg ulcers with patients without ulcers, sICAM-1 (ng/mL) (141.8 (257.41) vs. 0.41 (107.3); p = 0.0152), but not IL-10 (ng/mL) (11.01 (15.95) vs. (2.98 (11.92) was significantly greater in the ulcer group (Figure 1). The distribution of WBV was skewed and was normalized by Napier logarithmic transformation. WBV in the SSu group at 46 sec-1 and at 230 sec-1 was 1.9 (95 CI 1.2, 3.1) 1315463 (p<0.04) and2.3 (95 CI 1.2, 4.4) (p<0.007) times greater than the SSn group respectively (Figure 2). The haematocrit iscosity ratio was significantly lower in sickle cell disease subjects with ulcers in comparison to the non-ulcer group at 46 sec-1 (SSu vs. SSn: 8.73; 4.89, 45.47 vs. 22.85; 4.75, 101.78; p =0.011) and 230 sec-1 (SSu vs. SSn: 15.08; 7.4, 133.89 vs. 54.58; 7.96, 285; p =0.011), respectively. In SSu subjects the HVR was less than half that of 18055761 the SSn subjects (Figure 3). There was a significant shear-dependent relationship between BMI and HVR. At low shear rate there was a -2.89 (95 CI; -0.003, 0.146; p = 0.015) change in the HVR with each unit increase in BMI. However, at high shear rate there was no significant association with the HVR and 1 unit change of BMI. There were no differences in cutaneous microvascular oxygen saturation as determined by lightguide spectrophotometry between SSn and SSu (Figure 4). Mean oxygen saturation was lower in subjects with ulcers than SS controls (mean +/- SD SO2: 45.02?2.97 versus 50.02?6.49). Both groups occupied similar SO2 ranges of 25-72.16 and 22-75.69 in cases and controls, respectively (Figure 4). However, none of the 11 subjects with active ulcers were classified as having hypoxia in the lower leg compared with 3 in the control group (Figure 5). Furthermore, SO2 were similar inInflammation and Adhesion in Chronic Leg UlcersFigure 2. Whole blood viscosity distribution at low and high shear rates in SCD patients with ulcers and those without. WBV was greater in the group with ulcers at both the low and high shear rates. Both groups had outliers above and below their respective WBV ranges.doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068929.gFigure 3. Erythrocyte transport effectiveness at low and high shear rates in SCD patients with ulcers and those without. HVR was lower in the group with ulcers at both low and high shear rates of WBV.doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0068929.gthe same subject from one leg to the next. There were n.