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Exhaled eicosanoid profiles in children with atopic asthma and healthy controls

Edyta Glowacka1, Urszula Jedynak-Wasowicz, Marek Sanak

  • 1University Children Hospital, Kraków, ul. Wielicka, Poland.

Pediatric Pulmonology
|July 12, 2012
PubMed

Insights

This study found specific eicosanoid profiles in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) of children with asthma. These profiles, particularly the eicosanoids asthma classification ratio (EACR), show promise for diagnosing and monitoring childhood asthma non-invasively.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Biomarker Discovery

Background:

  • Chronic endobronchial inflammation in pediatric asthma involves the arachidonic acid pathway.
  • Non-volatile metabolites of this pathway can be measured in exhaled breath condensate (EBC).
  • Previous studies explored single substances as biomarkers for childhood asthma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare a wider range of eicosanoids in EBC between children with asthma and healthy controls.
  • To evaluate the diagnostic potential of these eicosanoids and derived ratios.

Main Methods:

  • EBC samples were collected from 33 children with stable atopic asthma and 25 healthy controls.
  • High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS2) was used to quantify 13 eicosanoids.
  • Exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR) were also assessed.

Main Results:

  • Significantly higher levels of PGEM, PGD2, 6keto-PGF1α, LTC4, trans-LTC4, and 5HETE were found in asthmatic children.
  • 11-dehydro TXB2 levels were significantly lower in asthmatics.
  • An eicosanoids asthma classification ratio (EACR), using PGEM, PGD2, LTC4, and 5HETE, effectively discriminated asthmatic from healthy children.

Conclusions:

  • Feasible measurement of specific eicosanoids (PGEM, PGD2, LTC4, 5HETE) in small EBC volumes using HPLC-MS2.
  • The EACR demonstrated superior discrimination compared to FEV1, FeNO, or BHR.
  • Further evaluation of EACR is warranted for diagnosing and monitoring childhood asthma.
Abstract

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