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Published on: April 16, 2019
Children With Asthma Have Impaired Innate Immunity and Increased Numbers of Type 2 Innate Lymphoid Cells Compared
Banafshe Hosseini1, Bronwyn S Berthon1, Malcolm R Starkey1,2,3
1Priority Research Centre for Healthy Lungs, Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.
Insights
Children with asthma exhibit impaired immune responses and reduced lung function. This study highlights altered immune cell subsets and cytokine production, crucial for understanding childhood asthma management.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric immunology
- Respiratory medicine
- Cellular immunology
Background:
- Childhood asthma is a leading cause of hospitalization.
- Limited understanding of asthma's impact on pediatric immune responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate cytokine responses, immune cell composition, and lung function in children with and without asthma.
- Investigate immune cell subsets and cytokine profiles in response to viral and bacterial stimuli.
Main Methods:
- Case-control study comparing 48 children with asthma and 14 healthy controls.
- Assessed peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) cytokine production (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-5, IL-6) after stimulation with rhinovirus-1B (RV1B), house dust mite (HDM), and lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
- Measured lung function using impulse oscillometry and nitrogen multiple breath washout.
Main Results:
- Asthmatic children had higher group 2 innate lymphoid cells and deficient IFN-γ production to RV1B and LPS.
- Elevated RV1B-induced IL-1β and HDM-stimulated IL-5 in asthmatics; reduced IL-1β and IL-6 with HDM/LPS stimulation.
- Asthmatic children showed reduced pulmonary function, including lower respiratory reactance and higher lung clearance index.
Conclusions:
- Childhood asthma is associated with impaired immune responses and altered immune cell subsets.
- Findings suggest a link between reduced lung function and immune dysregulation in pediatric asthma.
- Understanding these immune responses is key for tailoring childhood asthma management strategies.
Background:
Asthma is the most frequent cause of hospitalisation among children; however, little is known regarding the effects of asthma on immune responses in children.
Objective:
The present study aimed to evaluate cytokine responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), PBMC composition and lung function in children with and without asthma.
Methods:
Using a case-control design, we compared 48 children with asthma aged 3-11 years with 14 age-matched healthy controls. PBMC composition and cytokine production including interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-5 and lL-6 following stimulation with rhinovirus-1B (RV1B), house dust mite (HDM) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were measured. Lung function was assessed using impulse oscillometry and nitrogen multiple breath washout.
Results:
The frequency of group 2 innate lymphoid cells were significantly higher in asthmatics and PBMCs from asthmatics had deficient IFN-γ production in response to both RV1B and LPS compared with controls (P<0.01). RV1B-induced IL-1β response and HDM-stimulated IL-5 production was higher in asthmatics than controls (P<0.05). In contrast, IL-1β and IL-6 were significantly reduced in response to HDM and LPS in asthmatics compared to controls (P<0.05). Children with asthma also had reduced pulmonary function, indicated by lower respiratory reactance as well as higher area of-reactance and lung clearance index values compared with controls (P<0.05).
Conclusion:
Our study indicates that children with asthma have a reduced lung function in concert with impaired immune responses and altered immune cell subsets. Improving our understanding of immune responses to viral and bacterial infection in childhood asthma can help to tailor management of the disease.
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