Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2012 Jun;32(2):92-100.

The Role of C-Kit Receptor Level as a Serological Marker for Predicting the Extent of Upper and Lower Airway Inflammation in Patients Sensitized to House Dust Mites

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Allergic rhinitis can progress to asthma. Both allergic rhinitis and asthma are characterized by Th2-dependent inflammation due to activated mast cells and eosinophils. Mast cells are dependent on kit-mediated activation, and the stem cell factor (SCF)/c-kit pathway leads to eosinophil infiltration. We investigated whether inflammation through the SCF/c-kit pathway would be associated with upper and lower airway inflammation.
METHODS
We enrolled 71 allergic asthma patients with rhinitis (group I) and 47 patients with allergic rhinitis alone (group II), and 59 non-atopic healthy controls (group III). Groups I and II showed positive responses to house dust mites in skin prick tests. The serum concentrations of c-kit receptor and SCF were measured by using ELISA. Eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were measured by using the CAP system. Other clinical parameters were analyzed.
RESULTS
There were significant differences in the mean values of c-kit receptor levels between the 3 groups (117.27+/-41.05 vs. 93.13+/-37.21 vs. 88.45+/-24.32 ng/mL, P<0.001). The c-kit receptor level was the highest in group I. However, no significant differences were found in SCF levels between the 3 groups. A positive correlation was found between c-kit receptor and ECP levels in groups I and II (r=0.31, P=0.016). Moreover, a positive correlation was found between c-kit receptor levels and total eosinophil counts in groups I and II (r=0.34, P<0.001). However, there were no significant associations between c-kit receptor levels and clinical parameters, such as forced expiratory volume 1% predicted value in group I.
CONCLUSION
Serum c-kit receptor levels can be a useful serologic marker for predicting the extent of eosinophilic inflammation in upper and lower airway inflammation.

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Dust
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Eosinophils
Forced Expiratory Volume
Humans
Inflammation
Mast Cells
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
Pyroglyphidae
Rhinitis
Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial
Skin
Stem Cell Factor
Dust
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-kit
Stem Cell Factor