Kyung Won Kim1, Hye Mi Jee1, Yeo Hoon Park1, Bong Seok Choi1, Myung Hyun Sohn2, Kyu-Earn Kim1. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Allergy, BK21 Project for Medical Science, Research Center for Human Natural Defense System, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. 2. Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Allergy, BK21 Project for Medical Science, Research Center for Human Natural Defense System, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. Electronic address: mhsohn@yuhs.ac.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Amphiregulin, a member of the epidermal growth factor family, has been shown to promote the growth of fibroblasts, to be associated with the T-helper type 2 cell adaptive immune response, and to up-regulate mucin gene expression. We aimed to determine whether sputum amphiregulin is expressed at elevated levels in patients with asthma or eosinophilic bronchitis (EB), and whether it is associated with eosinophilic inflammation, pulmonary function, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in children. METHODS: A total of 117 children with asthma, 77 with EB, and 84 control subjects were enrolled in this study. Amphiregulin and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were measured in sputum supernatants. We performed pulmonary function and methacholine challenge tests while measuring total eosinophil count, and serum levels of total IgE and ECP in all children. RESULTS: The children with asthma had significantly higher levels of sputum amphiregulin (mean, 10.80 pg/mL; range, 4.07 to 38.75 pg/mL) than both the children with EB (mean, 5.76 pg/mL; range, 0.61 to 21.65 pg/mL; p = 0.013) and the control subjects (mean, 6.56 pg/mL; range, 0.51 to 17.98 pg/mL; p = 0.003). Sputum amphiregulin levels positively correlated with levels of sputum eosinophils (gamma = 0.221; p = 0.007) and sputum ECP (gamma = 0.601; p < 0.0001). Negative significant correlations were found between sputum amphiregulin and FEV(1) (gamma = -0.181; p = 0.006) or post-bronchodilator therapy FEV(1) (gamma = -0.233; p = 0.002). In children with asthma who were not receiving any controller medications, sputum amphiregulin level was negatively correlated with the provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV(1) (r = -0.398; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that childhood asthma is associated with sputum amphiregulin, whereas EB is not, and that sputum amphiregulin would be a supportive marker of airway inflammation in asthma.
BACKGROUND:Amphiregulin, a member of the epidermal growth factor family, has been shown to promote the growth of fibroblasts, to be associated with the T-helper type 2 cell adaptive immune response, and to up-regulate mucin gene expression. We aimed to determine whether sputum amphiregulin is expressed at elevated levels in patients with asthma or eosinophilic bronchitis (EB), and whether it is associated with eosinophilic inflammation, pulmonary function, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in children. METHODS: A total of 117 children with asthma, 77 with EB, and 84 control subjects were enrolled in this study. Amphiregulin and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were measured in sputum supernatants. We performed pulmonary function and methacholine challenge tests while measuring total eosinophil count, and serum levels of total IgE and ECP in all children. RESULTS: The children with asthma had significantly higher levels of sputum amphiregulin (mean, 10.80 pg/mL; range, 4.07 to 38.75 pg/mL) than both the children with EB (mean, 5.76 pg/mL; range, 0.61 to 21.65 pg/mL; p = 0.013) and the control subjects (mean, 6.56 pg/mL; range, 0.51 to 17.98 pg/mL; p = 0.003). Sputum amphiregulin levels positively correlated with levels of sputum eosinophils (gamma = 0.221; p = 0.007) and sputum ECP (gamma = 0.601; p < 0.0001). Negative significant correlations were found between sputum amphiregulin and FEV(1) (gamma = -0.181; p = 0.006) or post-bronchodilator therapy FEV(1) (gamma = -0.233; p = 0.002). In children with asthma who were not receiving any controller medications, sputum amphiregulin level was negatively correlated with the provocative concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in FEV(1) (r = -0.398; p = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that childhood asthma is associated with sputum amphiregulin, whereas EB is not, and that sputum amphiregulin would be a supportive marker of airway inflammation in asthma.
Authors: Yilin Qi; Darwin J Operario; Christopher M Oberholzer; James J Kobie; R John Looney; Steve N Georas; Tim R Mosmann Journal: J Allergy Clin Immunol Date: 2010-10-30 Impact factor: 10.793
Authors: Taylor A Doherty; Naseem Khorram; Jinny E Chang; Hee-Kyoo Kim; Peter Rosenthal; Michael Croft; David H Broide Journal: Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol Date: 2012-08-03 Impact factor: 5.464
Authors: Jamie L Todd; Fran L Kelly; Andrew Nagler; Kane Banner; Elizabeth N Pavlisko; John A Belperio; David Brass; S Sam Weigt; Scott M Palmer Journal: Am J Transplant Date: 2019-12-01 Impact factor: 8.086
Authors: Mohib Uddin; Laurie C Lau; Grégory Seumois; Pandurangan Vijayanand; Karl J Staples; Dinesh Bagmane; Victoria Cornelius; Paul Dorinsky; Donna E Davies; Ratko Djukanović Journal: PLoS One Date: 2013-09-11 Impact factor: 3.240