Elevation of the plasma level of RANTES during asthma attacks

Background: RANTES is considered to play an important role in various immune and allergic disorders since it is a potent chemoattractant for inflammatory cells such as eosinophils, memory T cells, and monocytes. Objective: To investigate the possible role of RANTES in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Methods: The plasma level of RANTES was measured in 12 asthma patients and 15 normal controls by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: In the patients with asthma, the plasma RANTES level was significantly elevated during acute attacks compared to that in the controls. In addition, it was higher than that during the asymptomatic state in the same patients. Plasma beta-thromboglobulin levels were also elevated in asthma patients during acute attacks and showed a correlation with the RANTES level. Conclusion: These findings suggest a role for IL RANTES in the pathogenesis of asthma and a possible role for platelets in RANTES release in asthma.