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Published on: March 15, 2018

Endothelial activation and systemic inflammation in obese asthmatic children

Fengyang Huang1, Blanca Estela del-Río-Navarro, Juan José Luis Sienra Monge

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City, Mexico.

Allergy and Asthma Proceedings
|October 18, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Obesity is linked to endothelial activation in children, but mild asthma does not worsen this. Systemic inflammation is associated with endothelial activation in asthmatic children, particularly those with obesity.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Asthma and obesity are common, impacting public health significantly.
  • The relationship between obesity and asthma, particularly concerning endothelial activation, requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate if asthma exacerbates endothelial activation in children.
  • To determine the link between systemic inflammation and endothelial activation in obese asthmatic children.

Main Methods:

  • Studied 89 children (10-16 years) grouped as asthma, obese non-asthmatic, and obese asthmatic, plus 20 healthy controls.
  • Measured serum levels of adhesion molecules (E-selectin, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1) and C-reactive protein (CRP).
  • Utilized correlation and multiple regression analyses to assess relationships between variables.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) levels were found in obese non-asthmatic and obese asthmatic children compared to controls and lean asthmatics.
  • No significant differences in CRP, E-selectin, or soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) levels were observed among groups.
  • E-selectin correlated with body mass index (BMI), CRP, and other adhesion molecules; CRP depended on BMI; sICAM-1 correlated with CRP and BMI.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity is confirmed to cause endothelial activation in children.
  • Mild, non-allergic asthma did not exacerbate endothelial activation in this cohort.
  • A significant association exists between systemic inflammation and endothelial activation in asthmatic children, especially those with obesity.

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