Abstract
To explore the post-therapeutic change of cathelicidin LL-37 in asthmatics of different inflammatory phenotypes. Thirty-four patients with initially diagnosed asthma (asthma group) and 14 normal subjects (control group) were recruited at Nanfang Hospital from August 2009 to August 2010 for this prospective study. Sputum and venous blood samples were collected and analyzed for cell differential. Eosinophilic asthma was defined as the count of sputum eosinophils ≥ 3%. The LL-37 concentrations in plasma and sputum supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The subjects were treated with budesonide/formoterol (160/4.5 µg) one inhalation twice daily and re-examined after 1 month. Prior to treatment, there were no differences between the asthma and control groups in the levels of LL-37 in plasma and sputum supernatant (P = 0.427,0.427). The plasma concentrations of LL-37 in asthma group were negatively correlated with baseline forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1), r = -0.470, P = 0.005), percent predicted of FEV(1) (FEV(1)%pred, r = -0.421, P = 0.013) and forced vital capacity (FVC, r = -0.367, P = 0.033). After treatment, the plasma and sputum supernatant concentrations of LL-37 (M (Q(R))) in the asthma group (5.6 (16.2), 65.6 (184.0) µg/L) were significantly higher than those baseline concentrations (5.03 (9.21), 28.40(109.76) µg/L, P = 0.005, 0.015). In the eosinophilic asthma subgroup, the plasma and sputum supernatant concentrations of LL-37 (M (Q(R))) after treatment (5.3 (19.3), 65.6 (185.2) µg/L) were significantly higher than those baseline concentrations (6.7 (8.9) L, 35.3 (102.0) µg/L, P = 0.021,0.014). And in the non-eosinophilic asthma subgroup, the changes of plasma and sputum supernatant concentrations of LL-37 showed no significant differences (P = 0.139, 0.386). In the asthma group, the correlations between plasma concentrations of LL-37 and FEV(1), FEV(1)%pred, FVC were not statistically significant (P = 0.283, 0.706,0.272) after treatment. LL-37 may participate in the aggravation of asthma. The elevated concentrations of LL-37 in eosinophilic asthma is probably due to the resolved suppression of LL-37 expression by eosinophilic inflammation. But its mechanism needs further researches.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.