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Published on: August 7, 2017
Exploration of early-life candidate biomarkers for childhood asthma using antibody arrays
Haili Xu1,2, Timothy Radabaugh1,3, Zhenqiang Lu1,4
1Southwest Environmental Health Sciences Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
Insights
Childhood asthma biomarkers were identified using proteomic analysis. Lower erythropoietin (EPO) and higher soluble GP130 (sGP130) plasma levels at age 3 were associated with asthma, linking to eczema and wheeze respectively.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Immunology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Proteomic biomarker discovery for asthma has been limited.
- Asthma diagnosis and management require improved early detection methods.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify plasma protein biomarkers for childhood asthma using proteomic approaches.
- To investigate the association of identified biomarkers with asthma risk factors.
Main Methods:
- An antibody array analyzed 444 proteins in plasma from children with and without asthma at age 3.
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) validated candidate biomarkers.
- Associations with eczema and wheeze were examined.
Main Results:
- Four proteins showed differential ranks between asthma and non-asthma groups.
- Lower erythropoietin (EPO) and higher soluble GP130 (sGP130) levels were found in asthmatic children.
- EPO correlated with early eczema, while sGP130 correlated with early wheeze.
Conclusions:
- Plasma EPO and sGP130 levels at age 3 are associated with childhood asthma.
- These proteins may serve as early diagnostic or prognostic indicators for asthma.
Background:
Proteomic approaches identifying biomarkers have been applied to asthma to only a very limited extent.
Methods:
With an antibody array (RayBiotech, Norcross, GA, USA), the relative intensity and rank differences of 444 proteins were compared in 24 plasma samples obtained at age 3, 11 from children with and 12 without asthma diagnoses at ages 5 and 9. Protein candidates identified by antibody array were quantitated by ELISA in an enlarged sample. Proteins found to differentiate children with and without asthma were also examined for association with known Year 1 asthma risk factors, eczema, and wheeze.
Results:
In the antibody array, four proteins had rank differences between asthma and non-asthma groups (FDR <0.1). By ELISA, mean log (±s.e.m.) erythropoietin (EPO) level (IU/l) was lower (0.750 ± 0.048 vs. 0.898 ± 0.035; p = 0.006) and mean (±s.e.m.) soluble GP130 (sGP130) level (ng/ml) was higher in the asthma vs. the non-asthma group (302 ± 13 vs. 270 ± 8; p = 0.041). The other 2 array proteins (galactin-3 and eotaxin-3) did not differ by ELISA by asthma. EPO related to the asthma risk factor, first year eczema, whereas sGP130 related to first year wheeze.
Conclusions:
Through two independent assessments, age 3 plasma levels of EPO and sGP130 were found related to childhood asthma.
