Increased serum B cell-activating factor level in children with atopic dermatitis.
BACKGROUND
B cell-activating factor (BAFF) is a tumour necrosis factor superfamily member best known for its role in the survival and maturation of B cells. BAFF activity is seen in naïve and effector/memory T cells.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the level and role of BAFF in serum of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD).


METHODS
Levels of serum BAFF, a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and total serum IgE level, and total eosinophil count were measured in 245 children.


RESULTS
Patients were characterized as having atopic eczema (AE) (n = 90) or non-AE (n = 77); the remainder were healthy control subjects (n = 78). Serum BAFF level in children with AE (1625.04 +/- 708.32 pg/mL) was significantly higher than in non-AE children (1194.69 +/- 448.44 pg/mL, P < 0.0001) or healthy controls (1062.89 +/- 444.74 pg/mL, P < 0.0001). Serum APRIL level was not different between the three groups. Serum BAFF level significantly correlated with total serum IgE level (gamma = 0.42, P < 0.0001) and total eosinophil count. It was also positively correlated with serum BAFF and egg-specific IgE level (gamma = 0.252, P = 0.045) in AE.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum BAFF level is high in AE and might be a useful marker for AE.
Jee
H M
HM
Department of Paediatrics, CHA University School of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
Kim
K W
KW
Hong
J Y
JY
Sohn
M H
MH
Kim
K E
KE
D000293:Adolescent; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D015415:Biomarkers