Markers of atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma in pediatric patients: correlation with filaggrin, eosinophil major basic protein and immunoglobulin E

Zafar Rasheed,Tarek Salem,Khaled Zedan,Maha Elkholy,Ragaa H Salama,Abdullateef A Alzolibani,Alaa Abd El-Moniem,Ahmad A Al Robaee,Ahmed A Ahmed,Ghada Bin Saif

doi:10.1186/s12948-018-0102-y

Zafar Rasheed, Tarek Salem + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12948-018-0102-y

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Abstract

BackgroundAllergic reactions have been implicated as contributions in a number of atopic disorders, including atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic rhinitis (AR) and bronchial asthma (BA). However, the potential for filaggrin protein, eosinophil major basic protein (MBP) and immunoglobulin E (IgE) to elicit allergic response or to contribute to atopic disorders remains largely unexplored in pediatric patients. This study was undertaken to investigate the status and contribution of filaggrin protein, eosinophil MBP and total IgE in pediatric patients with AD, AR and BA.MethodsSera from 395 pediatric patients of AD, AR or BA with varying levels of disease activity according to the disease activity index and 410 age-matched non-atopic healthy controls were evaluated for serum levels of atopic markers, including filaggrin, eosinophil MBP and IgE.ResultsSerum analysis showed that filaggrin levels were remarkably high in pediatric patients with AD, followed by BA and AR, whereas its levels were low in non-atopic pediatric controls. Eosinophil MBP levels in sera of atopic patients were significantly high as compared with their respective controls, but its levels were highest in AR patients, followed by AD and BA. Total IgE in sera of AD patients was markedly high, followed by AR and BA patients, whereas its levels were low in non-atopic pediatric controls. Interestingly, not only was an increased number of subjects positive for filaggrin protein, eosinophil MBP or total IgE, but also their levels were statistically significantly higher among those atopic patients whose disease activity scores were higher as compared with atopic patients with lower disease activity scores.ConclusionsThese findings strongly support a role of filaggrin protein, eosinophil MBP and IgE in the onset of allergic reactions in pediatric patients with AD, AR and BA. The data suggest that filaggrin, eosinophil MBP or IgE might be useful in evaluating the progression of AD, AR or BA and in elucidating the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of these pediatric disorders.

Highlights

The atopic disorders of childhood involve mainly atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic rhinitis (AR), and bronchial asthma (BA)
The average eosinophil major basic protein (MBP) levels (± SEM) in the patients’ sera with AD (n = 130), AR (n = 120) and BA (n = 145) were 11.97 ± 1.86, 14.39 ± 0.92 and 8.86 ± 0.77 ng/ml, respectively (Fig. 2b–d). These results showed the higher eosinophil MBP levels in all tested atopic patients and pointed out that among all atopic pediatric patients, AR patients contained highest filaggrin levels followed by AD and BA patients (Fig. 2)
The average human total immunoglobulin E (IgE) (±) SEM in patients’ sera with mild-moderate AD (n = 97), severe AD (n = 33), mild-moderate persistent AR (n = 83), severe persistent AR (n = 37), mild-moderate persistent BA (n = 93) and severe persistent BA (n = 52) was 67.18 ± 10.31, 125.21 ± 40.31, 66.97 ± 8.31, 97.37 ± 5.19, 40.93 ± 7.82 and 80.23 ± 5.25 ng/ml, respectively (Fig. 4c). These results demonstrated that filaggrin protein, eosinophil MBP or total IgE were significantly increased in the serum of patients with severe atopic disorders when compared with mild-moderate patients (p < 0.05)

Summary

Introduction

The atopic disorders of childhood involve mainly atopic dermatitis (AD), allergic rhinitis (AR), and bronchial asthma (BA). These atopic disorders share a common pathogenesis, being mediated by immunoglobulin E (IgE) [1]. It is reported that the onset of atopic disorders can be occurred due to a personal or familial propensity to produce sensitization or IgE antibodies in response to the environmental triggers [1, 2]. The potential for filaggrin protein, eosinophil major basic protein (MBP) and immunoglobulin E (IgE) to elicit allergic response or to contribute to atopic disorders remains largely unexplored in pediatric patients. This study was undertaken to investigate the status and contribution of filaggrin protein, eosinophil MBP and total IgE in pediatric patients with AD, AR and BA

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Discussion

Conclusion