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Exhaled breath condensate levels of eotaxin and macrophage‐derived chemokine in stable adult asthma patients
Author(s) -
Ko F. W. S.,
Lau C. Y. K.,
Leung T. F.,
Wong G. W. K.,
Lam C. W. K.,
Lai C. K. W.,
Hui D. S. C.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
clinical and experimental allergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.462
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2222
pISSN - 0954-7894
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02398.x
Subject(s) - eotaxin , exhaled breath condensate , asthma , medicine , interquartile range , eosinophil , immunology , gastroenterology , exhaled nitric oxide , chemokine , spirometry , inflammation
Summary Background Asthma is associated with esoinophilic airway inflammation and overproduction of T‐helper type 2 (Th2) lymphocyte‐related cytokines. Objective This study assessed the eosinophil chemoattractant eotaxin and Th2‐specific macrophage‐derived chemokine (MDC) in the adult asthmatic airway. Eotaxin and MDC levels were determined in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) obtained from adult patients with asthma. Methods Fifty‐four asthmatics (20 male, mean (SD) age 40 (12) years and percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1 ) 81.7 (20.8)) and 20 age‐ and sex‐matched controls were studied. EBC was collected using EcoScreen by 10 min of tidal breathing with a nose clip. Concentrations of eotaxin and MDC were measured by ELISA. Results Asthma patients on inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) had a higher median interquartile range (IQR) level of eotaxin than the steroid‐naïve asthmatics (18.5 (17.7–20.1) vs. 17.9 (17.0–18.6) pg/mL, P =0.02) and controls (18.5 (17.7–20.1) pg/mL vs 17.4 (16.3–18.0) pg/mL, P =0.001). Eotaxin level in EBC had a significant negative correlation with the FEV 1 /forced vital capacity ratio ( r =−0.43, P =0.03) in steroid‐naïve asthmatics. EBC MDC level was higher in subjects on ICS than the steroid naïve asthmatics (120 (118–125) vs. 117 (116–119) pg/mL, P =0.01) and the controls (120 (118–125) vs. 117 (116–120) pg/mL, P =0.02). Conclusions Eotaxin and MDC could be measured in EBC of adults with asthma. EBC eotaxin and MDC levels were higher in asthmatics on ICS than the steroid‐naïve asthmatics or controls. Exhaled chemokines may be potential non‐invasive markers for assessing airway inflammation in asthmatics.