Relationship between Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin, Eosinophil Cationic Protein, Cytokines, and Atopic Sensitization in Patients with Allergic Diseases

Table 5

NGAL and proinflammatory cytokines in allergic patients according to the ECP level and ECP/Eo ratio.

Parameters	ECP test		ECP/Eo ratio
	Positive ()	Negative ()	Elevated ()	Nonelevated ()
Lipocalin
NGAL (ng/mL)	140.5 (71.2–183.0)	128.0 (61.5–164.5)	143.5 (80.2–193.7)	131.0 (60.5–171.8)
Proinflammatory cytokines
IL-5 (pg/mL)	15.8 (10.4–29.5)	7.3 (5.1–20.6)	16.4 (9.8–30.7)	8.7 (4.9–21.4)
TNF-α (pg/mL)	52.7 (8.5–281.2)	46.2 (7.6–252.9)	54.1 (9.3–273.1)	48.5 (6.2–265.3)
TGF-β1 (ng/mL)	2.76 (1.59–4.61)	2.43 (1.47–3.84)	2.83 (1.52–4.86)	2.47 (1.45–3.96)
Allergic parameters
tIgE (IU/mL)	423.5 (32.6–904.7)	212.3 (19.2–650.8)	482.6 (41.3–981.5)	210.7 (18.3–612.4)
sIgE score	4 (2–5)	2 (1–3)	4 (2–5)	2 (1–3)

Data are expressed as median (IQR). Significant (), compared with the corresponding group. NGAL: neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin; IL-5: interleukin-5; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-α; TGF-β1: transforming growth factor-β1; tIgE: total immunoglobulin E; sIgE: specific IgE; ECP: eosinophil cationic protein; and ECP/Eo ratio: ECP/eosinophil count ratio.