Interleukin-25 in sputum as a marker of airway inflammation in children asthma

IL-25 expression in induced sputum may serve as a reliable biomarker in children with bronchial asthma

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction and persistent airway inflammation, presenting as a highly heterogeneous disorder in children. Further understanding of its complexity is essential to identify applicable biomarkers and targeted therapies. Interleukin-25 (IL-25) has been shown to play a critical role in the pathogenesis of asthma.

METHODS

To investigate the association between IL and 25 expression and clinical characteristics, we enrolled46 children with asthma (age 6-17 years)and15 age-matched healthy controls. Asthma patients were stratified intoGroup A (untreated, n = 24)andGroup B (treatment-controlled, n = 22). IL-25 protein levels in serum and IL-25 mRNA in induced sputum were quantified usingELISA and PCR, respectively.

RESULTS

No significant intergroup differences existed in age (P = 0.32), sex (P = 0.67), or BMI (P = 0.144).IL-25 mRNA in sputumwas significantly elevated in both groups versus controls (P < 0.001 in Group A and P < 0.05 in Group B).Sputum IL-25 protein levelswerehigher in Group A versus controls (P < 0.001) and Group B (P < 0.05). IL-25 mRNA expression in sputumwas significantly higher in Group A (without anti-asthma drugs) compared to Group B (with controlled asthma treated with anti-asthma drugs) (P < 0.05 in both induced sputum and blood). Furthermore, IL-25 mRNA expression correlated with CRP (P = 0.007), FeNO (P = 0.04), FEV1/FVC (%) (P = 0.01), induced sputum eosinophil count (%) (P = 0.03), disease severity (P = 0.042), and anti-asthma treatment (P < 0.05). Notably, IL-25 levels in induced sputum decreased significantly at both molecular and gene levels following anti-asthma treatment, suggesting its potential as a biomarker for evaluating treatment efficacy and asthma control.

CONCLUSION

IL-25 expression in induced sputum may serve as a reliable biomarker in children with bronchial asthma, though further large-scale studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Downregulation of miR-3934 in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Asthmatic Patients and Its Potential Diagnostic Value

Background

The present study focused on the potential clinical significance of miR-3934 in the occurrence and development of asthma.

Methods

80 asthma and 80 healthy controls were recruited in this study. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and serum samples of the asthma patients as well as the healthy controls were isolated, and the expression levels of miR-3934 in PBMCs were examined by RT-qPCR methods. Furthermore, the relationship between the level of miR-3934 in PBMCs and the disease severity has been analyzed, and the potential diagnostic value of miR-3934 was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve. Finally, the expression level of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-33 have been detected using the ELISA kits, and Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between the level of miR-3934 in PBMCs and the serum expression of those inflammatory cytokines in asthma patients.

Results

miR-3934 was dramatically decreased in PBMCs of the asthma patients, and miR-3934 was markedly reduced in PBMCs of patients with severe asthma vs. mild asthma. Furthermore, ROC analysis showed that levels of miR-3934 in PBMCs can distinguish asthma patient, especially the severe asthma patients from the controls. Finally, the levels of miR-3934 in PBMCs were negatively correlated with the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, and IL-33 in asthma patients, respectively.

Conclusions

miR-3934 was downregulated in PBMCs of asthmatic patients and may function as a potential diagnosis biomarker.