title: Total and biologically active serum-soluble CD154 in patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria.
abstract: The pathogenesis of chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is not understood completely; however, autoimmunity has been implicated. Because membrane and soluble forms of CD154 have been reported to be increased, in several autoimmune diseases, we have quantified the soluble CD154 (sCD154) molecule by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in serum samples of 32 patients with CIU (aged 32 +/- 12 years) and compared them with 32 age- and sex-matched nonallergic controls. A marked increase was observed in patients with CIU as compared with controls (4.8 +/- 2.6 ng/mL versus 2.9 +/- 0.9 ng/mL; p < 0.0005). No significant differences were found between groups of patients with positive or negative autologous serum skin test. A biological assay to determine sCD154 showed that patients with positive autologous serum skin test have the highest levels (4.9 +/- 1.2 ng/mL) of biologically active sCD154 as compared with their negative counterparts (2.2 +/- 1.3 ng/mL; p < .001) and controls (0.6 +/- 0.3 ng/mL; p < 0.001). Active sCD154 can be derived from mast cell activation or other leukocytes. It is concluded that active sCD154 may be involved in the immune activation observed in patients with CIU.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracus.
authors.forename: Jenny V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Garmendia
authors.forename: Mercedes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zabaleta
authors.forename: Isaac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Blanca
authors.forename: Nicolás E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Bianco
authors.forename: Juan B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: De Sanctis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001324:Autoantigens; D001681:Biological Assay; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004804:Eosinophils; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007428:Intradermal Tests; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008407:Mast Cells; D014581:Urticaria / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D023201:CD40 Ligand; D007073:Immunoglobulin E