Plasma concentration of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine is elevated in childhood asthma.
BACKGROUND
Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) is responsible for the trafficking of T(H)2 lymphocytes into sites of allergic inflammation. Serum TARC levels correlate with the severity of atopic dermatitis. The relationship between this marker and the occurrence and severity of asthma has not been evaluated.


OBJECTIVE
We tested whether plasma TARC level is a useful marker for asthma and atopy in children.


METHODS
Plasma total IgE levels were measured by means of microparticle immunoassay, and specific IgE levels to common aeroallergens were measured by using a fluorescent enzyme immunoassay. We used a sandwich enzyme immunoassay to measure plasma TARC concentrations.


RESULTS
Sixty asthmatic children and 28 age- and sex-matched control subjects were recruited, with mean logarithmic plasma total IgE levels of 2.66 +/- 0.60 kIU/L and 1.74 +/- 0.58 kIU/L, respectively (P <.0001). The median plasma TARC concentration was higher in asthmatic patients without inhaled corticosteroid treatment (131.0 pg/mL) compared with those seen in steroid-treated patients (97.5 pg/mL) and control subjects (76.0 pg/mL; P =.01 and P <.0001, respectively). Plasma TARC concentration was found to correlate with total IgE level in plasma (r = 0.219, P =.04). This marker was also increased in subjects who were sensitized to cat allergen (P =.001) but not in subjects sensitized to other aeroallergens. Disease severity score, FEV(1) value, and atopy were not associated with increased plasma TARC levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that plasma TARC concentrations are elevated in childhood asthma. This marker is also linked to plasma total IgE levels and cat allergen sensitization.
Department of Pediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong.
Ting-Fan
TF
Leung
Chun-Kwok
CK
Wong
Iris H S
IH
Chan
Wai-Ki
WK
Ip
Christopher W K
CW
Lam
Gary W K
GW
Wong
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D013147:Spirometry
D015415:Biomarkers; C106230:CCL17 protein, human; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D007073:Immunoglobulin E