Jasmine I Caulfield1,2,3, Allison M Ching2, Erin M Cover2, Avery August4, Timothy Craig5, Helen M Kamens2,3, Sonia A Cavigelli6,7. 1. Huck Institute for Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, 101 Life Sciences Building, University Park, PA, USA. 2. Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, USA. 3. Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. 4. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA. 5. Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Section, Department of Medicine and Pediatrics, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, USA. 6. Department of Biobehavioral Health, Pennsylvania State University, 219 Biobehavioral Health Building, University Park, PA, USA. sac34@psu.edu. 7. Center for Brain, Behavior, and Cognition, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA. sac34@psu.edu.
Abstract
RATIONALE: Allergic asthma, typically controlled with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), is the leading chronic health condition for youth under 18 years of age. During this peri-adolescent period, significant brain maturation occurs. Prior studies indicate that both chronic inflammation and corticosteroid medications increase risk for developing an internalizing disorder like anxiety. OBJECTIVES: To determine if chronic ICS treatments exacerbate or alleviate anxiety symptoms associated with developmental allergic asthma, we used a mouse model to isolate the influence of ICS (fluticasone propionate, FLU) vs. airway inflammation (induced with house dust mite extract, HDM). METHODS: During development, male and female BALB/cJ mice were repeatedly exposed to HDM or saline plus one of four FLU doses (none/vehicle, low, moderate, or high). In adulthood, we assessed lung inflammation, circulating and excreted corticosteroids, anxiety-like behavior, and gene expression in stress and emotion regulation brain regions. RESULTS: FLU treatment decreased body weight and anxiety-like behavior and increased fecal corticosterone metabolite concentrations and Crhr2 gene expression in ventral hippocampus. FLU effects were only observed in saline/non-HDM-exposed mice, and the FLU doses used did not significantly decrease HDM-induced airway inflammation. Females had greater serum and fecal corticosterone concentrations, less anxiety-like behavior, and lower Crhr1 gene expression in ventral hippocampus and prefrontal cortex than males. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that steroid medications for youth with allergic asthma may not exacerbate anxiety-related symptoms, and that they should be avoided in children/adolescents without a health condition. The results are informative to future work on the use of corticosteroid medications during childhood or adolescent development.
RATIONALE: Allergic asthma, typically controlled with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), is the leading chronic health condition for youth under 18 years of age. During this peri-adolescent period, significant brain maturation occurs. Prior studies indicate that both chronic inflammation and corticosteroid medications increase risk for developing an internalizing disorder like anxiety. OBJECTIVES: To determine if chronic ICS treatments exacerbate or alleviate anxiety symptoms associated with developmental allergic asthma, we used a mouse model to isolate the influence of ICS (fluticasone propionate, FLU) vs. airway inflammation (induced with house dust mite extract, HDM). METHODS: During development, male and female BALB/cJ mice were repeatedly exposed to HDM or saline plus one of four FLU doses (none/vehicle, low, moderate, or high). In adulthood, we assessed lung inflammation, circulating and excreted corticosteroids, anxiety-like behavior, and gene expression in stress and emotion regulation brain regions. RESULTS: FLU treatment decreased body weight and anxiety-like behavior and increased fecal corticosterone metabolite concentrations and Crhr2 gene expression in ventral hippocampus. FLU effects were only observed in saline/non-HDM-exposed mice, and the FLU doses used did not significantly decrease HDM-induced airway inflammation. Females had greater serum and fecal corticosterone concentrations, less anxiety-like behavior, and lower Crhr1 gene expression in ventral hippocampus and prefrontal cortex than males. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that steroid medications for youth with allergic asthma may not exacerbate anxiety-related symptoms, and that they should be avoided in children/adolescents without a health condition. The results are informative to future work on the use of corticosteroid medications during childhood or adolescent development.
Authors: Lara J Akinbami; Jeanne E Moorman; Cathy Bailey; Hatice S Zahran; Michele King; Carol A Johnson; Xiang Liu Journal: NCHS Data Brief Date: 2012-05
Authors: H William Kelly; Alice L Sternberg; Rachel Lescher; Anne L Fuhlbrigge; Paul Williams; Robert S Zeiger; Hengameh H Raissy; Mark L Van Natta; James Tonascia; Robert C Strunk Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2012-09-03 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Alejandro M Teper; Alejandro J Colom; Carlos D Kofman; Alberto F Maffey; Santiago M Vidaurreta; Ignacio Bergadá Journal: Pediatr Pulmonol Date: 2004-02