Abstract
Periostin and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) are newly described markers of obstructive airway diseases and the mechanism by which both markers participate in immune response remains poorly understood. The aim of our study was to determine periostin and TSLP concentration in serum and induced sputum (IS) in patients with atopic asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and controls, as well as to evaluate the potential link between periostin, TSLP, and Th2 immune response. Serum and IS levels of periostin, TSLP, IL-4, and IL-13 were determined in 12 atopic asthmatics, 16 COPD sufferers, and 10 controls. We noticed a significantly higher IS periostin and TSLP concentration at protein and mRNA level in asthmatics compared to the two other groups; additionally, periostin and TSLP were correlated positively with IS eosinophil count. A strong positive correlation between IS periostin and TSLP protein levels (r = 0.96) as well as mRNA expression level (r = 0.95) was found in patients with asthma. The results of our study show that periostin and TSLP are associated with eosinophilic airway inflammation and seem to be important drivers of atopic asthma but not COPD pathobiology. Very strong correlations between local periostin, TSLP, eosinophils, and IL-4 in asthma point to the link between periostin–TSLP and Th2 response.
Highlights
Periostin is involved in various biological processes such as cell proliferation, cell invasion, and tissue development, repair, and remodeling [1,2]
Serum and induced sputum (IS) from all patients were collected and the levels of periostin, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), IL-4, IL-13 were determined at the protein level by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in these materials
The evaluated level of protein standards reconstituted in PBS–DTT dilution buffer did not differ from those dissolved in the recommended diluents; the final protein measurements were made without DTT addition to the standard
Summary
Periostin (a member of protein fasciclin family) is involved in various biological processes such as cell proliferation, cell invasion, and tissue development, repair, and remodeling [1,2]. Upgraded levels of periostin and TSLP in serum, induced sputum (IS), and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALf) have been reported in patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) [15,16,17,18,19]. To our best knowledge, there have been no studies on the simultaneous assessment of periostin and TSLP levels and their potential link with the Th2 immune response in patients with these two obstructive lung diseases. Taking into account the above data, we undertook a study to determine periostin and TSLP concentrations in the serum and induced sputum of patients with atopic asthma and COPD, as well as to evaluate the potential link between periostin, TSLP, and Th2 immune response in these two airway diseases. The specific aims of the study were to (a) measure serum periostin and TSLP concentrations; (b) assess periostin and TSLP levels in IS at the protein and mRNA levels; (c) compare the obtained values in atopic asthma, COPD, and controls; and (d) search for potential correlations between periostin, TSLP, and other biomarkers of Th2 immune response in the asthma, COPD, and control group
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