title: Increased serum-soluble interleukin-5 receptor alpha level precedes the development of eczema in children.
abstract: Interleukin-5 receptor α-subunit expression may be implicated in the development of allergic diseases. In a population-based birth cohort, we investigated the relationship between IL-5Rα and the development of allergic phenotypes in childhood, using soluble IL-5Rα (s-IL-5Rα) as a marker. Children (n = 510) were followed from birth and assessed at age 3, 5 and 8. Based on the onset and resolution of symptoms, we assigned children into the following wheeze and eczema phenotypes: never, transient, persistent, intermittent and late-onset. Specific IgE to common allergens, s-IL-5Rα (ELISA) and urinary eosinophilic protein X (U-EPX) levels was measured at age 5. s-IL-5Rα was significantly higher among atopic compared to non-atopic children (pg/ml, geometric means [95% CI], 152.4 [126.0-184.5] vs. 103.4 [94.0-113.9], p < 0.0001). While we found no association between s-IL-5Rα and current eczema at age 5, there was a significant association between eczema phenotypes and s-IL-5Rα (multiple anova model adjusted for gender and atopy, F = 2.56, p = 0.04). After adjustment for multiple comparisons, we found that children with late-onset eczema had significantly higher s-IL-5Rα compared to those who have never had eczema (mean difference [95% CI], 2.41 [1.03-5.62], p = 0.04) and those with intermittent eczema (2.63 [1.08-6.41], p = 0.02), with no difference between children who have never had eczema and other eczema phenotypes. We found no such association for wheeze phenotypes. There was a weak correlation between s-IL-5Rα and U-EPX (r = 0.16, p < 0.0001). Increased serum s-IL-5Rα level at age 5 was associated with contemporaneous atopic sensitization and with subsequent development of eczema by age 8.
authors.affiliation: The University of Manchester, University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. aida.semic@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Semic-Jusufagic
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gevaert
authors.forename: Claus
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bachert
authors.forename: Clare
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: Adnan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Custovic
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004485:Eczema / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D053666:Interleukin-5 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012135:Respiratory Sounds; D012220:Rhinitis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053666:Interleukin-5 Receptor alpha Subunit