Association Between Epithelial Cytokines and Clinical Phenotypes of Elderly Asthma.
10.4168/aair.2019.11.1.79
- Author:
Bastsetseg ULAMBAYAR
1
;
So Hee LEE
;
Eun Mi YANG
;
Young Min YE
;
Hae Sim PARK
Author Information
1. Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea. hspark@ajou.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Asthma;
older adults;
epithelial cells;
interleukin-33;
interleukin-31;
eotaxin-2, TGF-beta1
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged*;
Asthma*;
Chemokine CCL24;
Cohort Studies;
Comorbidity;
Cytokines*;
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;
Eosinophil Cationic Protein;
Eosinophils;
Epithelial Cells;
Forced Expiratory Volume;
Humans;
Immunoglobulin E;
Immunoglobulins;
Interleukin-33;
Interleukin-8;
Interleukins;
Phenotype*;
Prevalence;
Tertiary Care Centers;
Transforming Growth Factor beta
- From:Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research
2019;11(1):79-89
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: Asthma in the elderly has different clinical features including more severe phenotypes with higher comorbidities. Epithelial cells are known to initiate innate/adaptive immune responses in asthmatic airways. We investigated clinical features and epithelial derived cytokine levels in elderly asthmatics compared to non-elderly asthmatics in a cross-sectional cohort of adult asthmatics in order to further understand its pathogenic mechanisms. METHODS: A total of 1,452 adult asthmatics were enrolled from a single tertiary hospital and were classified into 2 groups: 234 elderly (≥ 60 years at initial diagnosis) and 1,218 non-elderly (< 60 years at initial diagnosis) asthmatics. Asthma-related clinical parameters were compared between the 2 groups. Serum levels of epithelial cell-derived cytokines including interleukin (IL)-31, IL-33, IL-8, eotaxin-2, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1) and periostin were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Significantly higher prevalence rates of late-onset asthma (onset age ≥ 40 years) and severe asthma, as well as the lower rate of atopy, blood/sputum eosinophil counts, total immunoglobulin E and eosinophil cationic protein levels were noted in elderly asthmatics compared to non-elderly asthmatics (P < 0.05, respectively). The forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1, % predicted) level tended to be lower in elderly asthmatics (P = 0.07). In addition, serum IL-33 and IL-31 levels were significantly lower in elderly asthmatics, while no differences were found in the serum level of IL-8, eotaxin-2, TGF-β1 or periostin. Among elderly asthmatics, subjects with severe asthma had lower FEV1 (% predicted) value, but showed significantly higher serum levels of eotaxin-2 and TGF-β1, than those with non-severe asthma (P < 0.05 for each). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that age-related changes of epithelial cell-derived cytokines may affect clinical phenotypes and severity of elderly asthma: decreased levels of IL-33 and IL-31 may contribute to less Th2 phenotype, while increased levels of eotaxin-2 and TGF-β1 may contribute to severity.
