Abstract
BackgroundAsthma is recognized as intimately related to immunologic factors and inflammation, although there are likely multiple phenotypes and pathophysiologic pathways. Biomarkers of inflammation may shed light on causal factors and have potential clinical utility. Individual and population genetic factors are correlated with risk for asthma and improved understanding of these contributions could improve treatment and prevention of this serious condition.MethodsA population-based sample of 108 children with clinically defined asthma and 216 control children were recruited from a small community in the northern plains of the United States. A complete blood count, high sensitivity C-reactive protein, total IgE and specific antibodies to 5 common airborne antigens (CAA), in addition to basic demographic and anthropomorphic data were obtained. Logistic regression was primarily used to determine the association between these humoral factors and risk of asthma.ResultsThe body mass index (BMI) of those with asthma and their total leukocyte counts, percentage of eosinophils, and levels of total IgE were all greater than corresponding control values in univariate analysis. The presence of detectable, specific IgE antibodies to five common airborne antigens was more likely among cases compared with controls. In multivariate analysis, total IgE was independently associated with asthma; but not after inclusion of a cumulative measure of specific IgE sensitization.ConclusionMany previously reported associations between anthropomorphic and immune factors and increased risk of asthma appear to be also present in this American Indian population. In this community, asthma is strongly associated with sensitization to CAA.
Highlights
Asthma is recognized as intimately related to immunologic factors and inflammation, there are likely multiple phenotypes and pathophysiologic pathways
The measures reported here derive from a case–control study of the environmental and genetic influences on risk of asthma among an American Indian population in north-central United States
A clearer understanding of the immune factors influencing asthma offers the possibility of further improvements in prevention, diagnosis and control, beyond those seen in the latter from the increased use of inhaled corticosteroid medications in recent decades [22]
Summary
Asthma is recognized as intimately related to immunologic factors and inflammation, there are likely multiple phenotypes and pathophysiologic pathways. Asthma has long been recognized as intimately related to immunologic factors and inflammation [1]. The complex interplay between the immune system and environmental exposures precludes any simplistic. The differing ecological and socio-economic environment of populations can produce characteristic profiles of various immune and inflammatory measures [8]. The population genetics of a community sets the stage for this complex interaction between physiology and environment. Differences in immune response and inflammatory status have been seen in comparisons between ethnic groups [11, 12] and influenced by certain genetic variants [13, 14]
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