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Sputum TWEAK expression correlates with severity and degree of control in non‐eosinophilic childhood asthma
Author(s) -
Kim Soo Yeon,
Kim Jong Deok,
Sol In Suk,
Kim Min Jung,
Kim Mi Na,
Hong Jung Yeon,
Kim Hye Ran,
Kim Yoon Hee,
Lee Yong Ju,
Kim Kyung Won,
Sohn Myung Hyun
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
pediatric allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.269
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1399-3038
pISSN - 0905-6157
DOI - 10.1111/pai.12827
Subject(s) - medicine , sputum , asthma , methacholine , immunology , pathogenesis , eosinophil , eosinophil cationic protein , inflammation , tumor necrosis factor alpha , gastroenterology , respiratory disease , lung , pathology , tuberculosis
Background Tumor necrosis factor‐like weak inducer of apoptosis ( TWEAK ) is known to play a role in the pathogenesis of various inflammatory diseases. However, no study has been performed on childhood asthma. Methods Ninety‐five children with asthma and 78 controls aged 5‐18 years were included. Sputum induction, pulmonary function test ( PFT ), and methacholine challenge test were performed. The subjects were divided into the eosinophilic airway ( EA ) and non‐ EA ( NEA ) groups based on sputum analysis and into the high and low TWEAK groups according to the TWEAK cutoff level (263.0 pg/ mL ). TWEAK in induced sputum supernatant was measured through enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Results Children with asthma had higher TWEAK levels than healthy controls (493.0 [157.1‐904.3] vs 118.2 (67.5‐345.5) pg/ mL , P < .001). Sputum TWEAK levels were significantly correlated with PFT parameters reflecting airway obstruction. This association was particularly prominent in subjects with NEA inflammation. Significant differences in FEF 25‐75 (maximum mid‐expiratory flow, % predicted; P = .017), AX (reactance area; P < .001), R5‐R20 (difference between resistance at 5 and 20 Hz; P = .025), and X5 (reactance at 5 Hz, % predicted; P < .001) were noted between the high and low TWEAK groups within the NEA group. Sputum TWEAK level also showed significant positive correlations with asthma severity ( r = .358, P = .001) and control status ( r = .470, P < .001), distinctively in subjects with NEA inflammation. Conclusions Airway TWEAK may play a role in small airway inflammation especially in children with non‐eosinophilic asthma.