P-SELECTIN ASSOCIATED WITH EOSINOPHILS AS A MARKER FOR ASTHMA AND CORRELATING WITH ß-1 INTEGRIN ACTIVATION

摘要

Methods are provided for the detection of P-selectin associated with eosinophils and for the use of P-selectin as a biological marker for asthma. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to methods for detecting P-selectin in a sample containing eosinophils and quantifying the total number of eosinophils. In another embodiment, the present invention relates a method for determining the proportion of eosinophils that are P-selectin positive and positive for at least partially activated ß-1 integrin. In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to kits for the detection of P-selectin and for the detection of eosinophils that are both P-selectin positive and positive for at least partially activated ß-1 integrin. In still yet another embodiment, the invention relates to a method for monitoring a biological condition.