Increased serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and cutaneous T cell-attracting chemokine levels in children with atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and cutaneous T cell-attracting chemokine (CTACK) are responsible for the trafficking of T helper type 2 lymphocytes into sites of allergic inflammation.


OBJECTIVE
We tested whether these cytokines are useful markers for childhood atopic dermatitis (AD), and evaluated age-related differences in the levels of these chemokines.


METHODS
Serum TARC and CTACK levels, total serum IgE levels, total eosinophil counts, and specific IgE levels were measured in 401 children. The patients were characterized as having atopic eczema (n=157), non-atopic eczema (n=107), or as healthy control subjects (n=137).


RESULTS
Both TARC and CTACK levels in children with AD were significantly higher than those in healthy control subjects. Serum TARC and CTACK levels significantly correlated with disease severity both in children with atopic eczema and in children with non-atopic eczema. Serum TARC levels in children with AD significantly correlated with their serum CTACK levels. Serum TARC and CTACK levels decreased in accordance with their ages.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum TARC and CTACK levels might be useful markers for disease severity both in children with atopic eczema and with non-atopic eczema. Serum TARC and CTACK levels decreased in accordance with their ages.
Song
T W
TW
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, BK21 Project for Medical Science, Biomolecule Secretion Research Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Sohn
M H
MH
Kim
E S
ES
Kim
K W
KW
Kim
K-E
KE
D000293:Adolescent; D000375:Aging / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D054425:Chemokine CCL27; D019742:Chemokines, CC / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000276:immunology*; D004485:Eczema / Q000276:immunology; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D007223:Infant; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D015415:Biomarkers; C106230:CCL17 protein, human; C492276:CCL27 protein, human; D054414:Chemokine CCL17; D054425:Chemokine CCL27; D019742:Chemokines, CC; D007073:Immunoglobulin E