title: Macrophage colony stimulating factor and monocyte chemoattractant protein 2 are elevated in intrinsic asthmatics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intrinsic asthma, etiology unknown, occurs later in life, mostly in females. It is associated with nasal polyps and massive eosinopillic infiltration of the respiratory mucous membrane, aspirin intolerance and steroid dependence. The aim of the study was to determine the cytokine and chemokine profile in sera of intrinsic asthmatics and control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood was taken from 10 intrinsic asthmatic female and 12 control female subjects. Expression profile of 42 different cytokines and chemokines were measured using a microarray composed of antibodies against the cytokines and chemokines. Complete blood count and C-reactive protein were measured, to assess the state of inflammation in both groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We have identified Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor, a proinflammatory cytokine and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein 2, a CC chemokine as having significantly higher expression levels in intrinsic asthmatic subjects compared to controls (341.71±31.28 SEM Signal intensity) versus (247.97±28.09 SEM Signal intensity), p=0.036 and (397.07±38.19 SEM Signal intensity) versus (311.33±28.76 SEM Signal intensity), p=0.036, respectively. There were no significant differences in the other cytokines and chemokines measured nor were there any differences in the inflammatory measurements between the two groups except for eosinophil counts, the hall mark of intrinsic asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Macrophage Colony Stimulating Factor and Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein are elevated in sera of intrinsic asthmatics compared to normal controls. These cytokines may have a critical role in the inflammatory pathology of intrinsic asthma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Hashemite University, Zarqa, Jordan. rdajani@hu.edu.jo
authors.forename: Rana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dajani
authors.forename: Esraa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Al-Haj Ali
authors.forename: Basem
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dajani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D001772:Blood Cell Count; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D054412:Chemokine CCL8 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D053683:Oncostatin M / Q000097:blood; D013926:Thrombopoietin / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D054412:Chemokine CCL8; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D020738:Leptin; D008222:Lymphokines; D053683:Oncostatin M; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D013926:Thrombopoietin