Human giardiasis as an etiology of skin allergy: the role of adhesion molecules and interleukin - 6

ABSTRACT

In this work, the role of adhesion molecules [intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1] and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 [VCAM-1]] as mediators in the development of skin allergy caused by giardiasis and the controlling role of cytokine interleukin [IL]-6 on these adhesion molecules were studied. The work included 25 symptomatic giardiasis patients with skin allergy manifested by diffuse urticaria, pruritis, wheal and erythema as well as had positive serum anti-giardia immunoglobulin [Ig] E measured as the mean optical density [OD] value by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA], employed as an evidence of allergic sensitization [G I]. Those patients were compared with 30 symptomatic giardiasis patients [G II] and 20 apparently healthy control subjects [G III]. Both latter groups had negative serum anti- giardia IgE. The mean OD value of anti-giardia IgE was significantly increased in G I and insignificantly different in G II compared with G III. The serum levels of the soluble forms of adhesion molecules [sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1] and IL-6 were determined by ELISA. SICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 serum levels were significantly increased in G I compared with G III, showing an insignificant difference between Gs II and III. Serum IL-6 significantly increased in G I and G II compared with G III as well as and was significantly higher in G I than G II. Serum IL-6 was correlated positively with serum sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in G I