Association Between Plasma Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Plasmin System Regulators and Recurrent Early Wheeze.
- Author:
So Yeon KIM
1
;
Sang Mi KWON
;
Hye Jin PARK
;
Woo Taek KIM
;
Jin Kyung KIM
;
Eun Jin CHOI
;
Kye Hyang LEE
;
Hai Lee CHUNG
;
Sang Gyung KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, Daegu, Korea. hlchung@cu.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Vascular endothelial growth factor;
Plasmin system;
Wheezing
- MeSH:
Asthma;
Biomarkers;
Child;
Endothelial Growth Factors;
Endothelins;
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;
Fibrinolysin*;
Humans;
Inflammation;
Plasma*;
Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1;
Plasminogen Activators;
Recurrence;
Respiratory Sounds;
Tissue Plasminogen Activator;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
- From:Pediatric Allergy and Respiratory Disease
2007;17(4):354-361
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE:Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is known to play an important role in the process of angiogenesis and chronic inflammation. Plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) are main regulators of the plasmin system. The functions of these components are shown to be closely associated and recent studies have reported their potential roles in the asthmatic airways. We determined plasma levels of soluble VEGF (sVEGF), PAI-1, tPA and endothelin (ET)-1 in children with recurrent early wheeze. Our purpose was to examine whether there would be any difference in these biomarkers in relation to the relapse rate of wheezing. METHODS:Fifty-eight children aged 2-6 years who were admitted with acute wheezing were enrolled. They were divided into two groups: patients with more than three relapses of wheezing (group 1, n=34) and those with less than one relapse (group 2, n=24). Plasma levels of sVEGF, PAI-1, ET-1 and tPA on admission were measured using ELISA in the two patient groups and controls (n=16). RESULTS:PAI-1, sVEGF and tPA significantly increased during acute wheezing episode. The levels of these biomarkers were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2 (P<0.01). ET-1 showed no significant difference between the patient groups and controls. CONCLUSION:Our study showed significantly elevated plasma levels of sVEGF and plasmin system regulators in children with recurrent early wheeze, which was even higher in the group with more frequent relapses. Our results suggest that these biomarkers may be associated with airway inflammation and may contribute to the later development of asthma in these children.
