Altered Systemic Adipokines in Patients with Chronic Urticaria

Background: Increasing evidence suggests that adipokines affect immune responses and chronic urticaria (CU) is associated with an altered immune response related to chronic systemic inflammation. Our objectives were to investigate whether adipokines are involved in CU pathogenesis and to outline relationships between adipokines and urticaria severity and quality of life. Methods: Serum adiponectin, leptin, lipocalin-2 (LCN2), interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays in 191 CU patients and 89 healthy controls. The effect of LCN2 on N-formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (fMLP)-induced neutrophil chemotaxis was assessed using migration assays. CU severity was assessed based on the urticaria activity score (UAS). To explore relationships between adipokines and UAS and the chronic urticaria-specific quality of life (CU-QoL) questionnaire, a structural equation model was used. Results: Mean levels of serum LCN2, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly higher in CU patients than in controls. Adiponectin levels were significantly lower in patients with CU than in controls. While serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in Received: March 16, 2016 Accepted after revision: October 17, 2016 Published online: December 1, 2016 Correspondence to: Dr. Young-Min Ye Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine 164 Worldcup-ro, Yongtong-gu Suwon 16499 (South Korea) E-Mail ye9007 @ ajou.ac.kr © 2016 S. Karger AG, Basel