Soluble E-selectin as A Clinical Marker of Disease Activity in Atopic Dermatitis / 소아알레르기및호흡기학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Augmentation in the expression of E-selectin on activated vascular endothelial cells regulates leukocyte migration into the tissue. These molecules are also shed into the circulation as a soluble form. The level of soluble forms in the serum has been known to be correlated with those expressed on the endothelial cells, thus it can be used as a marker of inflammation in that tissue. The purpose of this study is to compare the serum levels of soluble E-selectin(sE-selectin) in patients with atopic dermatitis(AD), atopic asthmatics, and healthy non-atopics, and to determine whether sE-selectin levels are correlated with disease activity in patients with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: We examined serum sE-selectin levels, serum total IgE levels, and total eosinophil counts from 18 children with AD, 15 atopic asthmatics and 15 healthy non-atopics. The severity of AD was assessed by clinical scoring(SCORAD index). We compared the sE-selectin levels among the three groups and investigated the correlations with SCORAD index. RESULTS: The children with AD had significantly higher levels of sE-selectin than those of atopic asthmatics(P<0.05) and of healthy non-atopics(P<0.05). There was no difference in the serum sE-selectin levels between the groups of atopic asthmatics and healthy non- atopics. Serum sE-selectin levels were correlated with SCORAD index in patients with AD, (P<0.05) but not significantly correlated with serum total IgE levels and total eosinophil counts. There were no significant correlations among SCORAD index, serum total IgE levels, and total eosinophil counts. CONCLUSION: The serum sE-selectin level is elevated only in patients with AD, not in atopic asthmatics. Therefore, sE-selectin could be considered as a useful marker of the disease activity in AD.