Methods: CD23, Histamine release, total IgE and various Th1, Th2 cytokines were determined in blood samples of patients with bronchial asthma (n = 23), bronchiolitis (n = 20) and bronchial pneumonia (n =20) and age & sex matched normal children (n = 20) were taken as controls.
Results: Serum sCD23 was significantly increased (p<0.01) in bronchial asthma (1209.8 ± 68.01 pg/mL), bronchiolitis (1455.52 ± 146.92 pg/mL) and bronchial pneumonia (1406.35 ± 98.26 pg/mL) when compared to controls (691.5 ± 74.94 pg/mL). Serum IgE and blood histamine levels were increased significantly (P<0.05) and IFN-γ (Th1 cytokine) was significantly lower (P<0.01) in both bronchial asthma and bronchiolitis than in controls where as IFN-γ (Th1 cytokine) increased significantly in bronchial pneumonia compared to the other three groups.
Conclusions: Our observations provide evidence on CD23 expression in children with and without asthma and a preferential activation of Th2 (IL-5) and suppression of Th1 (IFN- γ) cytokine in children with asthma. Comparable CD23 response in children with bronchial pneumonia and bronchial asthma, suggests nonspecific nature of CD23.