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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Breath Collection from Children for Disease Biomarker Discovery
Published on: February 14, 2019
A novel biomarker for tiny breaths: linking pulmonary impedance, wheeze phenotypes and atopy in preschoolers
Gulten Tuncerler1, Simge Atar Bese2, Duygu Erge3
1Department of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Denizli Statemnet Hospital, Denizli, Türkiye.
Background:
Pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) is a humoral pattern recognition receptor involved in innate immunity and inflammation regulation, but its relationship with lung function remains unclear.
Objective:
This study investigated the association between serum PTX-3 levels and respiratory function in preschool wheezy children (CW), considering wheezing phenotypes and atopy.
Methods:
In this cohort study, 165 preschoolers were divided into 84 wheezy children (CW) and 81 healthy controls (HC). Serum PTX-3 levels, eosinophil counts, and pulmonary function using impulse oscillometry (IOS) were assessed. IOS parameters included zR5, zR20, R5-20, zX5, zX20, Fres, and AX. Comparisons were made according to wheezing phenotype (multi-trigger vs episodic) and atopy status. Correlation analysis between PTX-3 and IOS parameters was performed.
Results:
The CW group had higher PTX-3 levels (p = 0.010), increased IOS parameters (zR5, zR20, R5-20, Fres, AX; p < 0.05), and reduced zX5 (p < 0.001). PTX-3 positively correlated with zR5, zR20, and AX (r:0.220-0.226, p < 0.05). Multi-trigger wheezing and atopy were associated with higher R5-20 and PTX-3 (p < 0.05). Children with parental atopy also showed higher PTX-3 and airway resistance.
Conclusion:
Elevated PTX-3 is associated with impaired lung function in preschool wheezy children and may serve as a biomarker for respiratory function, phenotype differentiation, and atopy.
