Decreased Serum Levels of P-Selectin and Eosinophil Cationic Protein in Patients with Mild Asthma after Inhaled Salbutamol

Abstract

Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways associated with selective recruitment of activated eosinophils. P-selectin, a cell adhesion molecule, may be an important controller of the inflammation by mediating selective eosinophil cell influx to the lung. Serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) have been used as a marker of eosinophil inflammation, and indirectly as a marker of disease activity of asthma. ECP levels may not be elevated in some patients with asthma, and this fact prompted us to search for additional surrogate markers for monitoring disease activity in asthma. Objectives: To evaluate whether repeated inhalations of salbutamol, a β-2-receptor agonist used for bronchodilation, would lead to reduced serum levels of P-selectin and/or ECP. Methods: Fourteen patients with asymptomatic mild stable asthma were enrolled into a randomised crossover study. Salbutamol was inhaled three times every 3 h. Blood was sampled 4 h after the last inhalation. Nine non-treated healthy volunteers served as control subjects. Serum ECP and P-selectin levels were measured using radioimmunoassay and ELISA, respectively. Results: P-selectin and ECP levels in serum obtained from asymptomatic asthmatics were close to those of the volunteers, and inter-day variability tended to be lower for levels of P-selectin than for ECP. Significant decreases of P-selectin (p = 0.01) and ECP (p = 0.03) were recorded after salbutamol inhalation. There was no association between the changes in ECP and P-selectin levels in serum. Conclusions: We conclude that decreases in P-selectin and ECP may have different kinetics, suggesting different pathways of action of salbutamol. We judge that P-selectin may be used as a sensitive marker in mild asthma.

Pharmacokinetics and Anti-asthmatic Potential of Non-parenterally Administered Recombinant Human Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist in Animal Models

“…A similar relationship was observed for the Pselectin levels in the present study. P-selectin is known to play a role in the allergen-induced peribronchial inflammation and airway hyperreactivity, and it is postulated to be an important controller of the inflammation by mediating selective eosinophil cell influx to the lung (34). As the severity of allergic asthma is associated with the intensity of peribronchial inflammation, a specific inhibitor of P-selectin-mediated leukocyte endothelial-cell interactions like rhIL-1ra may therefore attenuate the inflammatory processes associated with allergic airway disease (35).…”

Association between β₂-Adrenergic Receptor Genetic Polymorphisms and Total Serum IgE in Asthmatic Patients of Chinese Han Nationality

“…First, it is conceivable that this polymorphism is directly involved in altering IgE responsiveness. β 2 -AR agonists have anti-inflammatory actions in vitro and in vivo [12,13,14]. The Glu27 form of the receptor downregulates to a lesser extent than the Gln27 form of the receptor after agonist exposure, and hence, it is believed that individuals with the Gln27 receptor have chronically downregulated airway β 2 -AR, resulting from exposure to endogenous catecholamines.…”

Serum biomarkers for allergy in children

“…Therefore, ECP may be helpful in the assessment of asthma control . Like serum ECP in AD, also in asthma, decreased ECP levels were seen after treatment , suggesting ECP is a good marker for monitoring effectiveness of treatment. In allergic rhinitis, severity of nasal obstruction was positively correlated with the duration of rhinitis and the levels of serum ECP in childhood persistent allergic rhinitis, indicating that disease severity might be related to chronic inflammatory process .…”