A molecule called ST2 may indicate disease severity and be a potential therapeutic target in patients with systemic mastocytosis (SM), according to an abstract published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
“ST2 levels were significantly elevated in SM patients compared to healthy controls, especially in advanced SMAdvanced SM In these subtypes of SM, mast cells begin to damage organs. Advanced SM includes the subtypes aggressive SM, mast cell leukemia and SM with an associated hematological neoplasm. patients,” the authors wrote.
ST2, also known as interleukin 1 receptor-like 1, is a protein that binds with the alarmin interleukin-33 (IL-33), promoting inflammation and other immune responses. Previous research has suggested that alarmins and their receptors play a role in mast cellMast cell A type of white blood cell produced in the bone marrow. They help defend against infections and play a key role in allergic reactions. In SM, mast cells become overactive and build up throughout the body. biology. Therefore, the authors sought to determine their role as possible biomarkers in SM.
The study included 72 individuals with SM and 20 healthy controls. The researchers measured levels of ST2, IL-33 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) in blood samples from each patient. In patients with SM, they also measured tryptaseTryptase A protein enzyme that is primarily produced by mast cells and stored in small pockets within the cells, known as granules. High levels of tryptase are a key indicator of SM. levels and KIT D816V variant allele frequency, two known disease biomarkers with therapeutic implications.
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Of the three molecules evaluated, only ST2 emerged as a potential disease biomarker. Levels of ST2 also correlated with levels of tryptase and frequency of the KIT D816V mutation. This trend was not statistically significant, though.
Patients who did not report previous episodes of anaphylaxisAnaphylaxis A severe allergic reaction that can turn fatal without treatment. Patients with SM are at a higher risk of developing anaphylaxis. had greater ST2 levels than those who did. In addition, individuals with skeletal symptoms had elevated ST2 levels compared with those who did not report bone manifestations.
Levels of IL-33 and TSLP, on the other hand, were similar between patients and controls. Neither correlated with tryptase levels or KIT D816V mutation frequency.
These preliminary findings highlight the potential of ST2 as a novel biomarker of SM, with possible relevance for diagnosis and treatment. Future research is needed to determine the precise role of ST2 in the pathophysiology of the disease.
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