title: EG2 expressed by eosinophils as a clinically useful indicator of asthma.
abstract: The monitoring of airway inflammation is mandatory for the improved control of bronchial asthma. We previously reported that intracellular EG2 levels of eosinophils, a marker of bronchial asthma increased in asthma patients. In this study, we hypothesized that eosinophil EG2(+) expression increases during airway inflammation in asthmatic individuals. Eosinophil EG2(+) and percentage eosinophil EG2(+) with whole blood flow cytometry, eosinophil counts, serum total IgE, serum eosinophil cationic protein, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin, and percent of forced expiratory volume in 1 second/force vital capacity (FEV(1)/FVC) were measured in 33 asthmatic patients and 22 healthy volunteers. The relationships between these markers were evaluated. Comparisons were made on EG2(+) expression between attack and asymptomatic periods in six asthmatic patients. EG2(+) expression was significantly greater in the asthmatic patients than in healthy subjects. Furthermore, the EG2(+) expression showed a significant increase during attacks. EG2(+) expression inversely correlated with the FEV(1)/FVC. These results suggest that EG2(+) expression may be a useful clinical marker of airway inflammation in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Central Clinical Laboratory, Akita University School of Medicine, Akita, Japan.
authors.forename: Yumiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kamada
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kayaba
authors.forename: Wataru
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Sigeharu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ueki
authors.forename: Yoshimi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Norihiro
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Tomoe
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Oyamada
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chihara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein / Q000097:blood; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D047091:Eosinophil Granule Proteins; D007073:Immunoglobulin E; D047150:Eosinophil Cationic Protein