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. 2002 Nov;130(2):314-8.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2002.01985.x.

Elevated levels of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) in pleural effusion samples from patients infested with Paragonimus westermani

N Matsumoto  1 , H Mukae, F Nakamura-Uchiyama, J-I Ashitani, K Abe, S Katoh, S Kohno, Y Nawa, S Matsukura
Affiliations

Elevated levels of thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) in pleural effusion samples from patients infested with Paragonimus westermani

N Matsumoto et al. Clin Exp Immunol. 2002 Nov.

Abstract

To investigate the pathogenic mechanisms of eosinophilic pleural effusion in patients with paragonimiasis, we measured the levels of various chemokines including thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), eotaxin, RANTES and IL-8 in pleural effusion samples. Samples were obtained from 11 patients with Paragonimus westermani infection, six patients with pleural transudate, eight with tuberculous pleurisy and five with empyema. High percentages of eosinophils were detected in pleural fluid (range 9-100%, median 81%) of patients with paragonimiasis. TARC concentrations in pleural effusions of paragonimiasis were markedly higher than those of other groups. Eotaxin levels were also higher in pleural effusions of paragonimiasis patients, although significant difference was noted only against transudate samples. There was a significant correlation between TARC concentrations and percentages of eosinophils, and between TARC and eotaxin concentrations in pleural effusion. There were also significant correlations between TARC concentration and the titre of anti-P. westermani IgG and between eotaxin concentration and the titre of anti-P. westermani IgG. Our findings suggest that TARC contributes to the pathogenesis of eosinophilic pleural effusion in paragonimiasis.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Concentrations of TARC (a), eotaxin (b), RANTES (c) and IL-8 (d) in pleural effusion of various diseases. PW, paragonimiasis westermani. The short horizontal lines represent the mean values. The horizontal line across each graph represents the detection limit of each chemokine. *P < 0·05 compared with each of the other groups; **P < 0·005 compared with each of the other groups; ***P < 0·001 compared with each of the other groups; ****P < 0·0005 compared with each of the other groups.
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Concentrations of TARC (a), eotaxin (b), RANTES (c) and IL-8 (d) in pleural effusion of various diseases. PW, paragonimiasis westermani. The short horizontal lines represent the mean values. The horizontal line across each graph represents the detection limit of each chemokine. *P < 0·05 compared with each of the other groups; **P < 0·005 compared with each of the other groups; ***P < 0·001 compared with each of the other groups; ****P < 0·0005 compared with each of the other groups.
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Concentrations of TARC (a), eotaxin (b), RANTES (c) and IL-8 (d) in pleural effusion of various diseases. PW, paragonimiasis westermani. The short horizontal lines represent the mean values. The horizontal line across each graph represents the detection limit of each chemokine. *P < 0·05 compared with each of the other groups; **P < 0·005 compared with each of the other groups; ***P < 0·001 compared with each of the other groups; ****P < 0·0005 compared with each of the other groups.
Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Concentrations of TARC (a), eotaxin (b), RANTES (c) and IL-8 (d) in pleural effusion of various diseases. PW, paragonimiasis westermani. The short horizontal lines represent the mean values. The horizontal line across each graph represents the detection limit of each chemokine. *P < 0·05 compared with each of the other groups; **P < 0·005 compared with each of the other groups; ***P < 0·001 compared with each of the other groups; ****P < 0·0005 compared with each of the other groups.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
(a) Relationship between percentages of eosinophils and concentrations of TARC in pleural effusion. (b) Relationship between levels of eotaxin and TARC in pleural effusion.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
(a) Relationship between concentrations of TARC and the titre of anti-P. westermani IgG in pleural effusion. (b) Relationship between concentrations of eotaxin and the titre of anti-P. westermani IgG in pleural effusion. O.D., optical density.
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