Plasma TARC concentration may be a useful marker for asthmatic exacerbation in children

Abstract

Recent studies suggested the T-helper cells type-2 lymphocytes-specific thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and monocyte-derived chemokine (MDC) are useful inflammatory markers for chronic asthma. However, their roles in assessing the severity of acute asthma are unknown. This study aims to evaluate the serial changes of plasma TARC and MDC concentrations in children with asthmatic exacerbation.All patients with acute asthma were treated with systemic corticosteroid for 5 days. The severity of asthmatic exacerbation was classified according to the Global Initiative for Asthma guidelines. Plasma TARC and MDC concentrations were measured by sandwich enzyme immunoassays.Sixteen children, with a median (interquartile range) age of 9.3 (7.2-10.6) yrs and asthmatic exacerbation, were recruited. Plasma TARC concentration showed inverse correlation with peak expiratory flow rate at presentation. The median plasma TARC concentration was highest during the acute attacks (46 pg?mL -1 ) as compared to those levels at 1 (31 pg?mL -1 ) and 5 weeks (32 pg?mL -1 ) following treatment. The median plasma MDC level similarly decreased from 698 pg?mL -1 at baseline to 261 pg?mL -1 1 week later, but increased back to 574 pg?mL -1 at 5 weeks. These results suggest that plasma T-helper cells type-2 lymphocytes-specific thymus and activation-regulated chemokine but not monocyte-derived chemokine concentration may be a useful inflammatory marker in assessing asthmatic exacerbation in children. Eur Respir J 2003; 21: 616-620.

Comparison of serum markers for allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis in cystic fibrosis

“…Thus both the presence of A. fumigatus and the development of a Th2 response seem to be the underlying reasons for the strong TARC response in ABPA patients. As has previously been speculated for acute eosinophilic pneumonia [31] and allergic asthma [32], a pathophysiological role of TARC also seems very likely in the disease process of ABPA. However, the possibility cannot be excluded that TARC is only an epiphenomenon, indicating individual patients prone to developing ABPA, which should thus more correctly be termed a risk factor.…”

Development of Budesonide Microparticles Using Spray-Drying Technology for Pulmonary Administration: Design, Characterization, In Vitro Evaluation, and In Vivo Efficacy Study

“…In order to favor lower airway penetration of the instilled solution, all animals were placed in dorsal recumbence during recovery of anesthesia (9). At different time intervals, blood was collected (0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 4 h) in a centrifuge tube containing ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and stored at refrigeration conditions (60,61). Blood samples were centrifuged and plasma was collected.…”

“…The formation of this metabolite was noticed from the HPLC analysis of BALF sample (structure 2 in the "Results and Discussion" section). Hydroxylated metabolite of BUD being more polar in nature than BUD enhanced its solubility in normal saline (60,61,66,67). The collected BALF was centrifuged to remove cell debris and supernatant was collected for the extraction of metabolite from BALF as mentioned above.…”

Clinical and Technical Factors Affecting pH and Other Biomarkers in Exhaled Breath Condensate

“…Besides, factor analysis in this study did not include inflammatory markers in EBC (e.g., macrophage-derived chemokine, growth factors, and IL-4) and peripheral blood (e.g., thymus and activation-regulated chemokine, and macrophage-derived chemokine) that our group recently reported. 4,5,30,31 Also, some EBC samples were frozen for up to 4 months before analysis. We could not exclude the possibility that some biomarkers might start to degrade during storage.…”