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. 2024 Jul;39(4):659-667.
doi: 10.3904/kjim.2024.003. Epub 2024 Jul 1.

Association between specific IgE to staphylococcal enterotoxin B and the eosinophilic phenotype of asthma

Soyoon Sim  1 , Youngwoo Choi  2 , Eun-Mi Yang  1 , Hae-Sim Park  1
Affiliations

Association between specific IgE to staphylococcal enterotoxin B and the eosinophilic phenotype of asthma

Soyoon Sim et al. Korean J Intern Med. 2024 Jul.

Abstract

Background/aims: Sensitization to staphylococcal superantigens (SAgs) could contribute to asthma severity. However, its relevance with eosinophilic phenotype has not yet been clarified. This study aimed to investigate associations between serum specific IgE levels to SAg and eosinophilic airway inflammation in adult asthmatics.

Methods: The serum specific IgE levels to 3 SAgs, including staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) and B (SEB), and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) were measured by ImmunoCAP in 230 adult asthmatic patients and 50 healthy controls (HCs). Clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters, including serum total/free IgE, and 2 eosinophil-activation markers, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN), were analyzed according to blood eosinophil counts (BEC; 150 cells/μL) and serum specific IgE levels to 3 SAgs (0.35 kU/L).

Results: Asthmatic patients showed higher serum specific IgE levels to 3 SAgs than HCs (p < 0.05 for all). The serum total/clinfree IgE levels were significantly higher in asthmatics with positive IgE responses to 3 SAgs than those without (p < 0.05 for all). There were no significant differences in clinical parameters including age, asthma severity, comorbidities, or smoking according to IgE responses to 3 SAgs. Patients with positive IgE responses to SEB (not to SEA/TSST-1) had higher serum specific IgE levels to house dust mites and ECP/EDN as well as higher BEC with positive correlations between serum SEB-specific IgE levels and BEC/ECP/EDN (p < 0.05 for all).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that serum SEB-specific IgE levels could contribute to eosinophil activation as well as IgE production in adult asthma.

Keywords: Asthma; Eosinophil; IgE; Staphylococcus aureus; Superantigen.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest

The authors disclose no conflicts.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Correlations between (A) serum SEB-specific IgE levels, (B) blood eosinophil counts, and (C) serum ECP/EDN levels. Data are presented as Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient r (p value). SEB, staphylococcal enterotoxin B; ECP, eosinophil cationic protein; EDN, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin.
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References

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