Soluble C-Kit Receptor Level May Be a Serological Marker for Predicting the Extent of Upper and Lower Airway Inflammation

BACKGROUND: It is known that allergic rhinitis could progress to asthma. Both allergic rhinitis and asthma are characterized by a Th2-dependent inflammation composing activated mast cells and eosinophils. Mast cell development and survival is dependent on the Kit-mediated activation and this stem cell factor (SCF)/c-kit pathway leads to eosinophil infiltration. We investigated whether SCF/c-kit pathway induced inflammation is associated with both upper and lower airway inflammation. METHODS: We enrolled 71 allergic asthma patients with rhinitis (group I) and 47 allergic rhinitis alone (group II), and non-atopic healthy controls (group III, n=59). Group I and II showed positive responses to house dust mites on skin prick test. The concentrations of sc-kit and SCF in of the study subjects were measured by ELISA (R&D systems; Minneapolis, USA). ECP level was measured using CAP system(Pharmacia-Upjohn, Uppsala,Sweden). RESULTS: There were significant differences in the mean value of soluble c-kit from sera among three groups (117.27±41.05 vs. 93.13±37.21 vs. 88.45±24.32 ng/ml, P<0.001). The serum c-kit level from group I was the highest. However, no significant difference was found in SCF level among three groups. A positive correlation was found between serum sc-kit level and eosinophil cationic protein in group I and II (r=0.31, P=0.016). Moreover, a positive correlation was found between serum sc-kit level and total eosinophil count in group I and II (r=0.34, P<0.001). However, there was no significant association between sc-kit level and clinical parameters such as FEV1% predicted value in asthmatics. CONCLUSION: Serum sc-kit level can be a useful serologic marker to discriminate from allergic rhinitis to asthma, reflecting eosinophilic airway inflammation in both upper and lower airways.

Author dc:creator

• 유, 혜수

Contributors dc:contributor

• 박, 해심
• 대학원 의학과
• 106368

• 혈청 c-kit 수용체
• 알레르기성 천식
• 알레르기 비염

Language dc:language

ko

Identifier

http://dcoll.ajou.ac.kr:9080/dcollection/jsp/common/DcLoOrgPer.jsp?sItemId=000000012092
000000012092

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.ajou.ac.kr:201003/7607