Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 11, 2026
Murine Model of Allergen Induced Asthma
Published on: May 14, 2012
Relation between serum CC16 levels and asthma predictive index in pre-schoolers with recurrent wheezing
J A Castro-Rodriguez1, I Atton1, G Villarroel1
1Division of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
Insights
Serum CC16 levels do not appear to predict recurrent wheezing in preschoolers. This study found no significant difference in CC16 levels between children with positive and negative asthma predictive index scores.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Pulmonology
- Biomarkers in Respiratory Disease
- Asthma Etiology
Background:
- Serum Clara Cell Protein 16 (CC16) levels have been linked to asthma in adults, but data in children is limited and inconsistent.
- Recurrent wheezing in preschoolers is a common clinical problem, and identifying predictive biomarkers is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between serum CC16 levels and recurrent wheezing in preschool children.
- To determine if serum CC16 can serve as a predictive biomarker for a positive Asthma Predictive Index (API).
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted with 48 preschool children diagnosed with recurrent wheezing.
- Children were categorized based on stringent Asthma Predictive Index (API) criteria as positive or negative.
- Serum CC16 levels were measured and compared between the API-positive and API-negative groups.
Main Results:
- No significant difference was observed in serum CC16 levels between preschool children with positive API (median 9.2) and negative API (median 9.4).
- The area under the curve for serum CC16 to predict a positive API was 0.6 (p=0.3), indicating poor predictive value.
- A positive correlation was found between serum CC16 levels and age (r=0.36, p=0.01), but not with peripheral eosinophil counts.
Conclusions:
- Serum CC16 levels do not appear to play a role in recurrent wheezing or a positive API in preschool children.
- Further research is required to validate these findings and explore other potential biomarkers.
Background:
Low levels of serum CC16 were reported in asthmatic adults, but the studies on children were scarce and conflicting. The aim of this study was to compare serum CC16 levels in pre-school children with recurrent wheezing assessed using an asthma predictive index (API).
Methods:
We performed a case-control study based on API, with all enrolled pre-school children who had recurrent wheezing episodes (>3 episodes/last year confirmed by a physician) and had presented at one paediatric clinic in Santiago, Chile. The population was divided according to stringent API criteria into positive or negative.
Results:
In a one-year period, 60 pre-schoolers were enrolled. After excluding 12, 48 pre-schoolers remained (27 males, age range from 24 to 71 months) and completed the study; 34 were API positive and 14 were API negative. There were no significant differences in demographics between groups. The level of serum CC16 levels for pre-schoolers with a positive API and negative API were (median 9.2 [7.1-11.5] and 9.4 [5.5-10], p=0.26, respectively). The area under the curve for the serum CC16 levels to predict a positive API was 0.6, 95% CI [0.43-0.77], p=0.3. A correlation between serum CC16 levels and age was found (r=0.36 [0.07-0.59], p=0.01], but not between serum CC16 levels and peripheral eosinophils blood.
Conclusion:
There was no evidence that serum CC16 levels played a role in recurrent wheezing and a positive API in pre-school children. More studies are needed to confirm this finding.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
01:24Asthma-III: Symptoms and Complications
Classification of Asthma
01:30Asthma-IV: Diagnostic and Management
Clinical Assessment for Asthma:
This is the first step in diagnosing and managing asthma. It includes:
01:20Asthma: Pathogenesis and Management
Asthma is classified as allergic and non-allergic. Allergens such as dust mites, pollen, and pet dander trigger allergic asthma, while factors like cold air, intense emotions, or exercise can induce non-allergic asthma.
01:26Asthma-II: Pathophysiology and Classification
Additionally, environmental and genetic factors play crucial roles in determining an individual's susceptibility to asthma and the severity of their condition.
Critical processes in asthma pathophysiology include:
02:27Predicting Molecular Geometry