title: sICAM-1 and TNF-α in asthma and rhinitis: relationship with the presence of atopy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A genetically determined overproduction of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) underlies many diseases like asthma or allergic rhinitis. IgE as well as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) play a critical role in the induction and maintenance of inflammation. While the correlation between IgE and atopy is inseparable, little is known about the correlation of atopy with markers of inflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the relationship between the serum concentrations of TNF-α, soluble ICAM-1 (sICAM-1), and the presence of atopy in patients with persistent rhinitis or asthma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum concentrations of sICAM-1, TNF-α, and total IgE were investigated in 64 adults with persistent allergic rhinitis, 17 subjects with nonatopic rhinitis, 90 patients with asthma, and 21 healthy individuals. Atopy was diagnosed on the basis of positive family history, skin prick tests, and serum IgE concentration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total IgE concentration was significantly higher in patients with atopic rhinitis or asthma when compared with nonatopic patients and healthy individuals and was the highest in patients suffering from severe atopic asthma who were not treated with systemic glucocorticosteroids. Although there were marked alterations in IgE in atopic and nonatopic patients, there were no significant differences between atopic and corresponding groups of nonatopic rhinitic and asthmatic patients in sICAM-1 and TNF-α concentrations. (sICAM-1 in rhinitis: atopic vs. nonatopic patients: 224.02 and 221.08 ng/ml, respectively, p > .05; in mild/moderate asthma: atopic vs. nonatopic: 306.22 and 326.39 ng/ml, respectively, p > .05; severe asthma without oral corticosteroids therapy: atopic vs. nonatopic: 418.03 and 468.09 ng/ml, respectively, p > .05; and severe asthma with oral corticosteroids therapy: atopic vs. nonatopic: 320.66 and 308.09 ng/ml, respectively, p > .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Concentrations of sICAM-1 and TNF-α are significantly higher in patients with asthma compared with those observed in patients with rhinitis, but they are independent of the presence of atopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumonology and Allergy, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland. maciej_ciebiada@op.pl
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciebiada
authors.forename: Malgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gorska-Ciebiada
authors.forename: Pawel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gorski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood*; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D007073:Immunoglobulin E