[Correlational study between lymphocyte IgE markers: membrane CD23 (mCD23) and soluble CD23 (sCD23) in an atopic...

IgE has two types of receptors: high affinity RFc sigma I and low affinity RFc sigma II. The latter may be studied by flow cytometry by the membrane marker CD23 (mCD23), expressed on B and T cells, monocytes, macrophages, Langerhans cells, eosinophils and platelets. Soluble CD23 (sCD23) corresponds with the extracellular C terminal domain of mCD23. The aim of the study was to search for a correlation between the levels of mCD23 and sCD23, comparatively with IgE, eosinophils, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) and to the cytokines IL2, IL4 and IL6. 78 patients took part in the study, divided into two groups: Group 1 = atopics (n = 61); Group 2 = controls (n = 17). The majority presented with rhinitis, asthma, atopic dermatitis isolated or associated. The results showed a highly significant correlation between mCD23 and sCD23 compared with the control group. There was also a statistically significant increase for mCD23, sCD23, cytokines IL2, IL4 and IL6, mediator ECP in parallel with eosinophils and total IgE. This study confirms amongst other things the rise in IL4 in atopy and the correlation between the level of ECP and that of eosinophils, and that there is an overall correlation between mCD23 and sCD23.