Increases in peripheral SIRT 1: A new biological characteristic of asthma

Background and objective Silent information regulator 1 ( SIRT 1) is a class III histone deacetylase that exerts both anti‐inflammatory and anti‐aging effects. However, no data are available regarding SIRT 1 expression in patients with asthma. Here, we studied SIRT1 levels in the serum of patients with asthma and analysed the distribution of SIRT 1 in both the serum and the lungs in an asthmatic mouse model to determine its clinical significance. Methods Serum SIRT 1 levels, total immunoglobulin E ( IgE ) levels and peripheral blood eosinophil percentages as well as pulmonary function were quantified in 97 patients with asthma and 118 healthy volunteers. BALB /c mice were sensitized and challenged using ovalbumin ( OVA ) to produce the asthmatic model, and SIRT 1 levels in both the serum and the lung tissues were subsequently measured. Results The serum SIRT 1 levels were significantly elevated in the patients with asthma compared with the controls. Serum SIRT 1 levels positively correlated with total IgE levels and negatively correlated with pulmonary function. In the OVA ‐sensitized and challenged mice, an increased serum SIRT 1 level was confirmed, whereas decreased SIRT 1 expression was observed in the lung tissues. Conclusions These data indicate that lung SIRT 1 expression decreased while serum SIRT 1 increased in the setting of asthma. Serum SIRT 1 levels correlate positively with both IgE levels and negatively with pulmonary function, suggesting that increased peripheral SIRT 1 levels represent a new biological characteristic of asthma. Increased serum SIRT 1 may be an auxiliary index for the diagnosis of asthma and elevating lung SIRT 1 levels may be a new strategy for asthma therapy.