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Sputum TWEAK expression correlates with severity and degree of control in non-eosinophilic childhood asthma

Soo Yeon Kim1, Jong Deok Kim1,2, In Suk Sol1

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Allergy, Severance Hospital, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Pediatric Allergy and Immunology : Official Publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
|October 26, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is elevated in children with asthma, particularly in those with non-eosinophilic airway inflammation. Higher TWEAK levels correlate with increased asthma severity and airway obstruction.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Inflammation Research

Background:

  • Tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) is implicated in inflammatory diseases.
  • The role of TWEAK in childhood asthma has not been previously investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between TWEAK levels and childhood asthma.
  • To explore the relationship between TWEAK and airway inflammation patterns in pediatric asthma.

Main Methods:

  • Ninety-five children with asthma and 78 controls (aged 5-18 years) were enrolled.
  • Sputum induction, pulmonary function tests, and methacholine challenge tests were performed.
  • TWEAK levels in induced sputum were measured using ELISA and correlated with clinical and functional parameters.

Main Results:

  • Children with asthma exhibited significantly higher sputum TWEAK levels compared to healthy controls.
  • Sputum TWEAK levels correlated with pulmonary function parameters indicative of airway obstruction, especially in the non-eosinophilic airway (NEA) asthma group.
  • TWEAK levels showed a positive correlation with asthma severity and control status in NEA subjects.

Conclusions:

  • Airway TWEAK may contribute to small airway inflammation in childhood asthma.
  • TWEAK is a potential biomarker for non-eosinophilic asthma in children.
Abstract

Keywords:
airway inflammationasthmachildrentumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)

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