title: Elevated serum levels of soluble CD30 in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).
abstract: The immunopathology of AD is still unclear, but evidence for an immune response polarized towards Th2 activity has been provided. The CD30 molecule belongs to the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family and is expressed on activated T cells with a sustained expression in Th2 cells. This molecule also exists in a soluble form (sCD30). Elevated serum levels of sCD30 have been found in patients with Hodgkin's disease, chronic hepatitis B infection and HIV infection. Studies were undertaken to compare the serum levels of sCD30 in patients with AD (n=49) and healthy non-atopic controls (n=94). The presence of sCD30 was analysed with ELISA. A significantly higher concentration of sCD30 was noted in AD patients, median sCD30 level 29 U/ml (range 1-708 U/ml), compared with healthy non-atopic controls (P<0.001), where the median level was 11 U/ml with a range of 1-1042 U/ml. No correlation was found between sCD30 levels and total serum IgE, or between the AD patients' SCORAD values and concentration of sCD30. sCD30 levels were also analysed in 20 AD patients, which during ketoconazole treatment had improved their clinical scores and reduced their serum IgE and eosinophil cationic protein levels. However, no significant decrease in sCD30 levels was noted after treatment. The results show that patients with AD have elevated levels of sCD30, but without correlation to total serum IgE or disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Hospital and Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bäck
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fransson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scheynius
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000187:drug effects; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D012628:Dermatitis, Seborrheic / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D012260:Ribonucleases; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001798:Blood Proteins; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D012260:Ribonucleases; D007654:Ketoconazole