The monitoring of inflammation by specific cellular markers

Abstract

The use of specific assays for unique secretory components of various inflammatory cells in the clinical evaluation of inflammatory diseases is a new and fascinating possibility, since these assays seem to be more sensitive indicators of inflammatory activity than the conventionally used methods and since these unique cellular markers in addition provide us with useful pathophysiological information. So far the most widely used markers are eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) from the eosinophil and neutrophil markers such as myeloperoxidase and elastase. Serum measurements of the former are used quite extensively in the evaluation of the inflammatory process in the lung of asthmatics whereas the latter predominantly are used in relation to bacterial infections and as compatibility markers in relation to extracorporeal circulation. Recent developments have shown that the serum measurement of a new protein from the neutrophil, human neutrophil lipocalin (HNL), is a superior means to distinguish acute bacterial and viral infections. The future access to a panel of unique cellular markers of inflammatory cells will undoubtedly reveal new exciting possibilities in the diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring of patients with inflammatory diseases.