Hee Seon Lee, MD
,
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Kyung Eun Lee, PhD
,
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Jung Yeon Hong
,
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Mi Na Kim
,
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Min Jung Kim, MD
,
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
In Suk Sol, MD
,
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Seo Hee Yoon, MD, PhD
,
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Yoon Hee Kim, MD
,
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Kyung Won Kim, MD, PhD
,
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Myung Hyun Sohn, MD, PhD
,
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Kyu-Earn Kim, MD, PhD
,
Department of Pediatrics and Institute of Allergy, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
Background: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is soluble pattern recognition receptor, and acute phase protein that has emerged as a new serological marker reflecting tissue inflammation and damage under diverse diseases. We determined whether sputum PTX3 levels are elevated in patients with childhood asthma. We also investigated the relationship between sputum PTX3 levels and airway inflammation, pulmonary function, and bronchial hyperresponsiveness in children. Methods: A total of 260 children (140 patients with asthma and 120 control subjects) were enrolled in this study. PTX3 levels were measured in sputum supernatants with ELISA. We performed spirometrys and methacholine challenge tests while measuring total eosinophil count, and serum levels of total IgE and ECP in all children.
Results: Sputum PTX3 concentration was significantly higher in children with asthma (mean ± SE, 1094.55 ± 224.65 pg/mL) than control subjects (mean ± SE, 177.36 ± 30.00 pg/mL, p < 0.001). Positive significant correlations were found between sputum PTX3 and bronchodilator response (r = 0.25, p = 0.013). Sputum PTX3 levels negatively correlated with FEV1 (r = -0.30, p = 0.001), FEV1/FVC (r = -0.27, p = 0.002), FEF25-75 (r = -0.392, p < 0.001). Sputum PTX3 levels also showed significant negative correlation with post- bronchodilator (BD) FEV1 (r = -0.25, p < 0.001) and post-BD FEV1/FVC (r = -0.25, p < 0.001).
Conclusions: Our results could support that PTX3 is involved in the pathogenesis of asthmatic airway. Sputum PTX3 would be a supportive biomarker reflecting asthmatic airway inflammation and remodeling in childhood asthma.
