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Vanin-1 expression and methylation discriminate pediatric asthma corticosteroid treatment response
Chang Xiao1, Jocelyn M Biagini Myers1, Hong Ji1
1Division of Asthma Research, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio.
Insights
Biomarkers like vanin-1 (VNN1) may predict how well children with asthma respond to corticosteroid treatment. VNN1 gene expression and promoter methylation in nasal cells could identify non-responders, guiding personalized asthma care.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Molecular Medicine
- Biomarker Discovery
Background:
- Asthma treatment response varies significantly among children.
- Identifying predictors of corticosteroid response is crucial for effective asthma management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify biomarkers for corticosteroid treatment response in pediatric asthma.
- To evaluate the clinical utility and underlying mechanisms of these biomarkers.
Main Methods:
- Analyzed gene expression ratios in nasal epithelial cells from children with acute asthma exacerbations.
- Prospectively validated candidate biomarkers in a new cohort.
- Investigated vanin-1 (VNN1) in an experimental asthma model and assessed its promoter methylation.
Main Results:
- VNN1 mRNA expression changes correlated with systemic corticosteroid treatment response.
- VNN1 was essential for optimal corticosteroid response in an experimental asthma model.
- Differential methylation of a VNN1 promoter CpG site distinguished treatment response groups and correlated with VNN1 expression.
Conclusions:
- Identified a biological basis for poor corticosteroid response in a subgroup of children with asthma.
- VNN1 plays a role in corticosteroid responsiveness.
- VNN1 nasal epithelial mRNA expression and promoter methylation show potential as clinical biomarkers for treatment response in pediatric asthma.
Background:
There is considerable heterogeneity in asthma treatment response.
Objective:
We sought to identify biomarkers of corticosteroid treatment response in children with asthma and evaluate the utility and mechanistic basis of these biomarkers.
Methods:
Children (5-18 years) presenting to the emergency department with an acute asthma exacerbation were recruited and followed during hospitalization. Nasal epithelial cells were collected on presentation to the emergency department (T0) and 18 to 24 hours later (T1), and T1/T0 gene expression ratios were analyzed to identify genes associated with good and poor corticosteroid treatment response phenotypes. The utility of these genes in discriminating between systemic corticosteroid treatment response groups was then tested prospectively in a new cohort of patients. A gene candidate (vanin-1 [VNN1]) that consistently distinguished good versus poor response phenotypes was further studied in an experimental asthma model, and VNN1 promoter methylation was measured by means of bisulfite pyrosequencing in patients.
Results:
VNN1 mRNA expression changes were associated with systemic corticosteroid treatment response in children with acute asthma, and VNN1 was required for optimal response to corticosteroid treatment in an experimental asthma model. A CpG site within the VNN1 promoter was differentially methylated between good versus poor treatment response groups, and methylation at this site correlated with VNN1 mRNA expression.
Conclusions:
We have identified a biological basis for poor corticosteroid treatment response that can be used to distinguish a subgroup of asthmatic children who respond poorly to systemic corticosteroid treatment. VNN1 contributes to corticosteroid responsiveness, and changes in VNN1 nasal epithelial mRNA expression and VNN1 promoter methylation might be clinically useful biomarkers of treatment response in asthmatic children.
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