Increased Serum Thymus and Activation-regulated Chemokine (TARC) Levels in Children with Atopic Dermatitis / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) is responsible for the trafficking of Th2 lymphocytes into sites of allergic inflammation. We tested whether TARC is a useful marker for childhood atopic dermatitis (AD) and we evaluated age-related differences in the level of TARC. METHODS: Serum TARC level, serum total IgE level, total eosinophil count and specific IgE level were measured in 401 children. They were characterized as having IgE-mediated atopic dermatitis (n=157), non-IgE mediated atopic dermatitis (n=107), or as healthy control subjects (n=137). RESULTS: TARC levels in AD significantly were higher than those in healthy control subjects. (152.9+/-11.6 vs 56.7+/-5.2 pg/mL, P< 0.05) Serum TARC levels significantly correlated with disease severity (SCORAD index) both in children with IgE mediated AD (r=0.670, P< 0.05) and children with non-IgE mediated AD. (r=0.605, P< 0.05) Serum TARC levels in control subjects decreased in accordance with age. (r=-0.201, P< 0.05) CONCLUSION: Serum TARC might be a useful marker for disease severity both in children with IgE mediated AD and children with non-IgE mediated AD. Serum TARC levels in control subjects decreased in accordance with ages.

Effect of Mycoplasma pneumoniae on IL-8 Gene Expression in Human Respiratory Epithelial Cells / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

PURPOSE: Mycoplasma pneumoniae is a common cause of lower respiratory disease. Several studies have suggested that M. pneumoniae respiratory infection is associated with reactive airway disease and asthma. It has been suggested that Interleukin-8 (IL-8) has a role in the pathogenesis of allergic inflammation of bronchial asthma and is well known to be expressed in bronchial epithelial cells. METHODS: In this study, we examined the effect of M. pneumoniae extract and the role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) on IL-8 expression in human lung epithelial cells. IL-8 levels were determined by an enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation was assessed by western blotting. RESULTS: In A549 cells, M. pneumoniae extract induced IL-8 release in a time- or dose- dependent manner. Pretreatment with PD98059, which blocks the activation of MAPK/ERK kinase 1, before M. pneumoniae extract stimulation inhibited the increase in the production of IL-8 by 64.4% at 25 M. Stimulation of A549 cells by extract caused an increase in the activity of ERK, compared with the non-stimulated cells. The extract stimulation had no effect on the activities of p38. CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that activation of ERK by M. pneumoniae extract may be one of the mechanisms that result in the increase of the production of IL-8.

Nationwide Study for Epidemiological Change of Atopic Dermatitis in School Aged Children between 1995 and 2000 and Kindergarten Aged Children in 2003 in Korea / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

OBJECTIVE: Atopic dermatitis is a chronically relapsing inflammatory skin disease. However, little is known about the prevalence of atopic dermatitis outside of North America and Europe. We evaluated the nationwide prevalence of atopic dermatitis with the comparison of prevalence between 1995 and 2000, and between Seoul and provincial cities in Korea. We also evaluated the risk factors for atopic dermatitis. METHODS: A cross-sectional ISAAC based questionnaire survey was conducted on random samples of schoolchildren (6 to 15 year olds) in 1995 and 2000. And kindergarten children (5 year olds) were surveyed in 2003, throughout South Korea. RESULTS: The lifetime and last twelve months prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean school-aged children was increased from 1995 to 2000. The twelve-month prevalence of atopic dermatitis was higher in Seoul than in other provincial cities in 1995, but the prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Seoul and Provincial Centers became similar in 2000. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of atopic dermatitis in Korean school-aged children was increased from 1995 to 2000. The further evaluations that include objective examination are necessary to confirm these outcomes because the environmental and risk factors may be different among the countries according to their life styles.