title: Elevated nonspecific plasma proteins in allergic patients.
abstract: Several allergen-specific plasma proteins, such as IgE and IgG subclasses, are commonly used for the evaluation of grade of allergy. In the present investigation, we compared the concentration of various nonspecific plasma proteins, mostly known as inflammation markers, in an allergic and a healthy population. Plasma from 130 children with single inhalation allergies to grass pollen, birch pollen, or house dust mites as well as from 42 healthy children was obtained during the symptom-free period. Patients showed symptoms including allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, and asthma with one single radioallergosorbent test (RAST) class 3 or higher. Plasma concentrations of soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(sICAM-1), soluble interleukin-2 receptor(sIL-2R), sE-selectin, and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (1sVCAM-1) were analyzed by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. Concentrations of sICAM-1 and sE-selectin were significantly increased in all patients compared to controls. In the single allergen groups, sICAM-1 elevation was significant in the grass and mite groups, but not in the birch group; while sE-selection increase was significant in the birch and mite groups, but not in the grass group. The elevation of sIL-2R in the allergic patients was obvious in each single allergen group, but not significant. No difference was observed in sVCAM-1 expression. In two groups of patients with mean age of 9.5 years versus 17.5 years, the analyzed parameters were not age dependent. The increased proteins may be useful as additional markers for efficacy and follow-up investigations of allergy therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology and Allergology, Department of Obstetrics, University of Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Niess
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bär
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zwacka
authors.forename: U R
authors.initials: UR
authors.lastname: Markert
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019040:E-Selectin / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011852:Radioallergosorbent Test; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D019040:E-Selectin; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1