CD203c expression on human basophils is associated with asthma exacerbation.
BACKGROUND
CD203c is a basophil cell surface marker used to diagnose and monitor various allergic diseases, but its relationship to asthma is not clear.


OBJECTIVE
We determined whether CD203c expression levels are associated with stable and exacerbated asthma.


METHODS
We used flow cytometry to compare spontaneous expression levels of surface markers on basophils from patients with stable or exacerbated asthma and from healthy subjects. Longitudinal changes in these expression levels were measured after basophil stimulation by IgE-dependent or IgE-independent mechanisms and compared with patients' asthma status.


RESULTS
Spontaneous expression levels of CD203c were significantly higher on basophils from patients with asthma exacerbation than patients with stable asthma or healthy subjects. In contrast, no differences in spontaneous expression levels of CD63 or CD69 were observed among the 3 groups. Anti-IgE-induced expression of CD203c significantly increased in basophils during asthma exacerbation (P = .005). Low concentrations of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus or IL-3 induced higher expression levels of CD203c during asthma exacerbation than during clinical improvement; induction of CD203c expression by these antigens therefore correlates with asthma control. In the patients with clinical improvement, there was a correlation between spontaneous CD203c expression levels and the percent predicted values of FEV(1) (r = -0.761; P = .022).


CONCLUSIONS
Asthma exacerbation was accompanied by increased expression of CD203c on basophils that decreased significantly during remission. Basophil expression levels of CD203c might therefore be used to monitor asthma in patients.
Clinical Research Center for Allergy and Rheumatology, National Hospital Organization, Sagamihara National Hospital, Sagamihara, Japan; Division of Third Department of Internal Medicine, Oita University Faculty of Medicine, Yufu, Oita 879-5593, Japan. onoemii@e-ml.jp
Emiko
E
Ono
Masami
M
Taniguchi
Noritaka
N
Higashi
Haruhisa
H
Mita
Keiichi
K
Kajiwara
Hiromichi
H
Yamaguchi
Sayaka
S
Tatsuno
Yuma
Y
Fukutomi
Hidenori
H
Tanimoto
Kiyoshi
K
Sekiya
Chiyako
C
Oshikata
Takahiro
T
Tsuburai
Naomi
N
Tsurikisawa
Mamoru
M
Otomo
Yuji
Y
Maeda
Maki
M
Hasegawa
Eishi
E
Miyazaki
Toshihide
T
Kumamoto
Kazuo
K
Akiyama
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic / Q000276:immunology; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides / Q000276:immunology; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis*; D002469:Cell Separation; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006636:Histamine Release / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D037181:Lectins, C-Type / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D011755:Pyrophosphatases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D060149:Tetraspanin 30; D055815:Young Adult; D000099192:CD69 Antigens
D000888:Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic; D015703:Antigens, CD; D039741:Antigens, Dermatophagoides; D000945:Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte; D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D003546:Cysteine Endopeptidases; D007377:Interleukin-3; D037181:Lectins, C-Type; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D010980:Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins; D011755:Pyrophosphatases; D060149:Tetraspanin 30; D000099192:CD69 Antigens; C554586:CD63 protein, human; C427944:ENPP3 protein, human; C026408:anti-IgE antibodies; C451162:Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen p 1