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

Kim, Tae Hwa; Shim, Jung Yeon; Jung, Hye Lim; Park, Moon Soo; Kum, Dong Hyuk

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.