Role of serological markers of activated eosinophils in inflammatory bowel diseases.

BACKGROUND: Activated eosinophils can infiltrate the intestinal mucosa in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and eosinophils are also implicated in the histological damage seen in allergic diseases. AIM: To assess, in a group of patients with IBD in remission or with a mild disease activity, whether serological markers of eosinophil activation, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and eosinophil protein X (EPX), are related to evidence of IgE hypersensitivity and to the eosinophilia in gut mucosa. METHODS: Sixty-one patients with IBD (21 Crohn's disease and 40 ulcerative colitis) in remission or with a mild disease activity were screened for IgE hypersensitivity and serological levels of ECP and EPX. Colonic biopsies were taken to assess mucosal eosinophilic infiltration. RESULTS: Skin prick test were positive in 31.1% of the patients with IBD, showing skin reactions to food allergens in 17.7%. Skin prick test findings were unrelated to ECP or EPX levels, or to clinical activity or eosinophil counts in the gut mucosa. A significant correlation was found between ECP and EPX levels (r=0.77; P<0.0001). CONCLUSION: Serological ECP and EPX findings did not correlate with IgE hypersensitivity findings or eosinophilic colonic infiltration in patients with IBD in remission or with mild disease activity. The role of eosinophils in IBD needs to be better characterized in the colonic mucosa, instead of relying on serological tests.

Circulating soluble-CD30 (sCD30) in patients with HCV-related chronic hepatitis and in patients with alcoholic liver disease.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Serum sCD30 (soluble CD30) is a marker of cells producing Th2-type (T-helper-2-type) cytokines. High levels of sCD30 have been found in the active phase of HBV infection. The Th2-type cytokine profile has been documented in alcoholic liver diseases, which have particularly high IgE and IgA serum levels. The aims were: 1) to evaluate sCD30 levels in patients with (a) alcoholic liver diseases and (b) HCV-related chronic hepatitis before and after interferon treatment; 2) to correlate sCD30 concentrations with IgE and IgA serum levels. METHODOLOGY: Serum samples from 34 HCV-related chronic hepatitis patients, before and after interferon treatment, and 17 alcoholic liver disease patients were tested for sCD30 using the ELISA method (Dako, CD30-Ki-1 Antigen, Denmark). RESULTS: Significantly higher levels of sCD30 were found in alcoholic liver disease than in HCV-related chronic hepatitis patients (73.3 +/- 120 vs. 27.5 +/- 44 U/mL, P < 0.05). Alcoholic liver disease patients also exhibited significantly higher levels of IgA than HCV-related chronic hepatitis patients (P < 0.0001). No correlation was found between sCD30 and serum IgA or IgE or response to interferon. CONCLUSIONS: Th2 cells are strongly expanded in alcoholic liver diseases, though the particular immunoglobulin profile observed in this condition has yet to be explained. Th2 function also plays a crucial part in chronic HCV infection, but seems unrelated to interferon response.