Lower anti‐echovirus antibody responses in children presenting to hospital with asthma exacerbations

Abstract

The associations of lower antibody titres of asthmatic children to echovirus reported here and those of our previous findings of a heightened response to rhinovirus suggest a dichotomy where respiratory enterovirus infection/immunity increases the probability of developing asthma and enteric infections lower the risk. This provides further support for the concept of intestinal infection playing a key role in the development of allergic respiratory disease.

Effect of enterovirus infections on asthma in young children: A national cohort study

“…The most crucial finding of this study is that the risk of incident asthma was higher in the EV cohort than in the non‐EV cohort, comprising children aged 0‐5 years (<1, 1‐3 and 3‐5 years), regardless of sociodemographic factors (urbanization level and parental occupation), seasonal change and comorbidities. The association of EV infection with asthma is a novel finding, which has rarely been previously reported; thus, EV may play a key role in asthma .…”

“…Mertz et al also reported that EV68 is associated with asthma in children. These reports imply that EV may play a key role in allergic respiratory diseases such as asthma …”

“…Enterovirus (EV) infections are systemic infections . Iwasaki et al reported low‐Ab responses against EV, such as echovirus, in children aged 2‐5 years presenting to hospitals with asthma exacerbations . Mertz et al also reported that EV68 is associated with asthma in children.…”

Enterovirus infection during pregnancy is inversely associated with atopic disease in the offspring

“…One reason may lie in the route of infection; IAV and M. pneumoniae are respiratory microbes, whereas EVs can replicate also in the gut. 6,7 A recent study showed reduced anti-echovirus 30 antibody titres in asthmatic children as compared with non-asthmatics, 8 which was contrary to a previous rhinovirus antibody finding. 3,11 Our group has previously observed an inverse association between neutralizing antibodies against echoviruses, belonging to the enterovirus genus, and atopy.…”

“…1 Accordingly, extensive data suggest that a variety of environmental exposures in early childhood can influence the development of atopic diseases. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Recently, it has become increasingly evident that already the in utero environment may be important in the development of atopic diseases. [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] Recently, it has become increasingly evident that already the in utero environment may be important in the development of atopic diseases.…”