Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) as a local biomarker of hypertrophic changes in the synonasal mucosa in children with atopic bronchial asthma (BA) and allergic rhinitis (AR)

Abstract

<b>Introduction:</b> Th2-dependent allergic inflammation in patients with BA and AR can be associated with nasal mucosa remodeling, accompanied by hypertrophic and hyperplastic processes. TSLP is a key cytokine produced by epithelial cells and is actively involved in allergic inflammation. <b>Purpose of the study:</b> To study TSLP content in nasal secretion of children with atopic BA and AR. <b>Methods:</b> We examined 43 patients with atopic BA and AR at the age of 8,11 [7,0; 13,0] years, of which boys 67% (29/43), girls – 33% (14/43), nasal mucosa state was assessed using rhino-endoscopy and TSLP content in nasal secretion by the enzyme immunoassay by the test-sistem Human TSLP Quantikine ELISA Kit (R&amp;D Systems, Inc.) <b>Results:</b> Hypertrophic or polypouschanges in the nasal mucosa and/or paranasal sinuses were detected in 30% (13/43) of patients. TSLP content in the nasal secretion in these patients was 908,5 [48,9; 2098,7] pg/mg, which is statistically significantly higher than in patients with BA and AR without sinonasal hypertrophy (132,3 [4,2; 325,9] pg/mg, p=0,036). AR exacerbation was accompanied by a statistically significant increase of TSLP content in the nasal secret compared with the remission period (p=0,002). <b>Conclusion:</b> Hypertrophic changes in the nasal mucosa are accompanied by a statistically significant increase of TSLP content in the nasal secret in children with atopic BA and AR, which allows to consider this biomarker as a potential non-invasive predictor of pathological airway remodeling in patients with chronic allergic airway inflammation.