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

Table 6

NGAL, ECP, and proinflammatory cytokines according to sIgE and hsCRP levels.

Parameters	sIgE score		Positive ECP test
	High ()	Low ()	Elevated hsCRP ()	Nonelevated hsCRP ()
Lipocalin
NGAL (ng/mL)	152.0 (75.3–194.0)	128.0 (62.5–171.5)	181.5 (127.0–236.5)	90.2 (60.5–143.0)
Allergic parameters
ECP (μg/L)	62.5 (28.7–95.3)	31.4 (25.6–58.1)	50.1 (30.6–82.3)	43.2 (29.3–72.8)
ECP/Eo ratio	0.35 (0.15–9.24)	0.14 (0.04–5.61)	0.28 (0.13–7.06)	0.23 (0.07–6.84)
Proinflammatory cytokines
IL-5 (pg/mL)	14.3 (7.2–24.6)	12.7 (6.9–23.5)	14.5 (7.0–25.8)	12.9 (6.5–24.1)
TNF-α (pg/mL)	55.2 (7.1–263.8)	42.9 (6.5–243.2)	62.8 (10.4–312.6)	30.6 (6.4–231.2)
TGF-β1 (ng/mL)	2.87 (1.59–4.83)	2.51 (1.49–3.65)	3.49 (1.92–5.08)	1.81 (1.24–3.25)

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