Serum Eosinophil Cationic Protein and 27 Cytokines/Chemokines in Acute Exacerbation of Childhood Asthma

Abstract

Background: Little information is available on eosinophil activation and cytokine/chemokine responses in childhood asthma, thus we examined serum eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and 27 types of cytokines/chemokines in acute exacerbation of asthma (acute asthma) and stable asthma. Methods: We determined peripheral eosinophil count, and the serum levels of ECP and 27 types of cytokines/chemokines (IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2, -4, -5, -6, -7, -8, -9, -10, -12, -13, -15 and -17, IFN-γ, IP-10, TNF-α, GM-CSF, G-CSF, MCP-1, MIP-1α and -1β, eotaxin, RANTES, PDGF-bb, FGF basic and VEGF) using a multiplex bead-based assay in 85 acute and 79 stable asthma patients, and 14 controls. We also examined the effects of systemic corticosteroids on these responses in acute asthma. Results: The serum levels of ECP, IL-5, -6, -8 and -10, G-CSF, MCP-1, IL-1ra and IP-10 were significantly elevated in acute compared with stable asthma. Similarly, serum levels of ECP, IL-5 and IP-10 were significantly higher in acute asthma than in controls. Furthermore, in the acute phase, elevated serum levels of ECP, IL-5, IL-6, IL-1ra and IP-10, but not IL-8, IL-10, G-CSF and MCP-1 were significantly reduced after treatments that included systemic corticosteroids. Conclusion: Eosinophil activation could be induced by acute exacerbation of childhood asthma.

Differential Effects of Corticosteroids on Serum Eosinophil Cationic Protein and Cytokine Production in Rhinovirus- and Respiratory Syncytial Virus-Induced Acute Exacerbation of Childhood Asthma

“…On the other hand, oral glucocorticoids improve lung function and decrease the elevation of serum IL-6, soluble ICAM-1, and ECP [31]. Recently, we reported that treatment that included systemic corticosteroids could decrease serum levels of ECP, IL-5, IL-6, IL-1ra, and IP-10 in acute exacerbation of childhood asthma [32]. In this study, we further found that treatment with systemic corticosteroids decreased serum ECP and IL-5 in rhinovirus-induced acute exacerbation of asthma but not in RS virus-induced acute exacerbation of asthma.…”

Serum cytokine profiles as predictors of asthma control in adults from the EGEA study

“…bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) or induced sputum [6][7][8][9]. The measurement of cytokine levels in serum may be a valuable alternative, as standardized collection of peripheral blood is practical among participants of all ages for large epidemiological studies and for routine clinical practice [10,11]. Furthermore, multidimensional approaches for data analysis may allow the identification of pools of cytokines with diagnostic performance superior to single cytokines in terms of sensitivity, specificity and robustness [12].…”

Eosinophil catonic protein – current concepts and controversies

“…ECP has been as so cia ted wi th se ve ral pat ho lo gic condi tio ns. The lar ge st num ber of cli ni cal stu dies deal wi th ato pic di sea ses: as thma, al ler gic rhi ni tis, atopic eczema/dermatitis syndro me (AEDS) (53)(54)(55)(56). Ele va ted se rum va lues are pro por tio nal to the inten si ty of al ler gic in fl am ma tion and in di ca te acu te al ler gen expo su re.…”

“…Howe ver, as ECP con cen tra tion in tis sue and bo dy fl ui ds cor re la tes wi th di sea se ac ti vi ty, ECP may aid in as ses si ng the se ve ri ty of as thma and in reac hi ng a de ci sion on the ra py type and in ten si ty (54,55), par ti cu lar ly in chil dren be cau se of freque nt dis crepan cy be tween physi cia n's as ses sme nt and the chil d's sub jec ti ve expe rien ce of di sea se. By fol lowing-up chan ges in the ECP le vel af ter in tro duc tion of the ra py, it is pos sib le to mo ni tor effi cien cy of a spe ci fi c drug do se and to cor re ct do sa ge to avoid over do si ng or as thma at ta ck be cau se of a too low…”

“…Increa si ng se rum ECP con cen tra tion du ri ng acu te exa cer ba tio ns is al so of cli ni cal sig ni fi can ce (55). Thus, the ele va tion of ECP le ve ls in as thma tic patien ts wi th ina dequa te the ra py poin ts to re lap se and acu te exa cer ba tion, and ECP de ter mi na tion may be used as an in di ca tor of whet her pa tien ts ta ke their the ra py re gu lar ly.…”