CD203c expression on human basophils is associated with asthma exacerbation

• Published in: Journal of allergy and clinical immunology Vol. 125; no. 2; pp. 483 - 489.e3
• Main Authors: Ono, Emiko, MD, PhD, Taniguchi, Masami, MD, PhD, Higashi, Noritaka, MD, PhD, Mita, Haruhisa, PhD, Kajiwara, Keiichi, Yamaguchi, Hiromichi, MD, Tatsuno, Sayaka, MD, Fukutomi, Yuma, MD, Tanimoto, Hidenori, MD, Sekiya, Kiyoshi, MD, Oshikata, Chiyako, MD, Tsuburai, Takahiro, MD, PhD, Tsurikisawa, Naomi, MD, PhD, Otomo, Mamoru, MD, PhD, Maeda, Yuji, MD, Hasegawa, Maki, MD, PhD, Miyazaki, Eishi, MD, PhD, Kumamoto, Toshihide, MD, PhD, Akiyama, Kazuo, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.02.2010; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Airway inflammation; Allergies; Allergy and Immunology; Antibodies, Anti-Idiotypic - immunology; Antigens, CD - biosynthesis; Antigens, CD - immunology; Antigens, Dermatophagoides - immunology; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - biosynthesis; Antigens, Differentiation, T-Lymphocyte - immunology; Arthropod Proteins; Asthma; Asthma - immunology; Asthma - metabolism; asthma exacerbation; Autoimmune diseases; basophil activation; basophil surface marker; Basophils - immunology; Basophils - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; biomarker; Biomarkers - analysis; CD203c; Cell Separation; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Cysteine Endopeptidases; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus; Disease; Female; Flow Cytometry; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fundamental immunology; Histamine Release - immunology; Humans; Immunopathology; Interleukin-3 - immunology; Interleukin-3 - metabolism; Lectins, C-Type - biosynthesis; Lectins, C-Type - immunology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Nitric oxide; Pathogenesis; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases - biosynthesis; Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases - immunology; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins - biosynthesis; Platelet Membrane Glycoproteins - immunology; Pneumology; Pyrophosphatases - biosynthesis; Pyrophosphatases - immunology; Respiratory Function Tests; Sarcoidosis. Granulomatous diseases of unproved etiology. Connective tissue diseases. Elastic tissue diseases. Vasculitis; Tetraspanin 30; Young Adult; PGD2; CD203c; Mean fluorescence intensity; basophil surface marker; ENO; Exhaled nitric oxide; Prostaglandin D2; biomarker; 15(R)-methyl prostaglandin D2; PEF; 15R-MePGD2; MFI; Airway inflammation; basophil activation; Peak expiratory flow; asthma exacerbation; Human; Lung disease; Immunopathology; Respiratory disease; Granulocyte; Biological marker; Activation; Inflammation; Respiratory system; Basophil; Asthma; Respiratory tract; Exacerbation; Association; Immunology; Bronchus disease; Obstructive pulmonary disease
• ISSN: 0091-6749; 1097-6825
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2009.10.074

Background CD203c is a basophil cell surface marker used to diagnose and monitor various allergic diseases, but its relationship to asthma is not clear. Objective We determined whether CD203c expression levels are associated with stable and exacerbated asthma. Methods We used flow cytometry to compare spontaneous expression levels of surface markers on basophils from patients with stable or exacerbated asthma and from healthy subjects. Longitudinal changes in these expression levels were measured after basophil stimulation by IgE-dependent or IgE-independent mechanisms and compared with patients' asthma status. Results Spontaneous expression levels of CD203c were significantly higher on basophils from patients with asthma exacerbation than patients with stable asthma or healthy subjects. In contrast, no differences in spontaneous expression levels of CD63 or CD69 were observed among the 3 groups. Anti-IgE–induced expression of CD203c significantly increased in basophils during asthma exacerbation ( P = .005). Low concentrations of Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus or IL-3 induced higher expression levels of CD203c during asthma exacerbation than during clinical improvement; induction of CD203c expression by these antigens therefore correlates with asthma control. In the patients with clinical improvement, there was a correlation between spontaneous CD203c expression levels and the percent predicted values of FEV1 ( r = -0.761; P = .022). Conclusion Asthma exacerbation was accompanied by increased expression of CD203c on basophils that decreased significantly during remission. Basophil expression levels of CD203c might therefore be used to monitor asthma in patients.