The association of plasma cytokines including VEGF with recurrent wheezing in allergic patients

Abstract

Background: Various cytokines have been studied to determine their functions in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and their potential as therapeutic targets, but the roles and clinical applicability of many of these cytokines still remain unclear.Objective: We aimed to measure the plasma levels of eight cytokines known to be relevant to allergic diseases, and to determine their association with the diagnostic characteristics of allergic patients. Methods:The levels of a panel of eight cytokines (IL-5, IL-10, IL12p70, Leptin, CXCL5/ENA-78, CCL2/MCP-1, PDGFBB, and VEGF) were measured in plasma obtained from 83 allergic patients. We investigated whether the cytokine levels differed between children and adults. Statistical analyses were then performed to examine their association with the diagnostic characteristics of allergic patients. Results:The levels of leptin, CCL2/MCP-1, PDGFBB, and VEGF were significantly higher in adult patients with allergic rhinitis than in children. Among patients with asthma, the levels of leptin and PDGFBB were elevated in adults. PDGFBB and VEGF levels were significantly associated with asthma. Interestingly, there was a significant association between VEGF level and recurrent wheezing regardless of the analyzed conditions. The levels of VEGF and PDGFBB or CCL2/MCP-1 showed a significant increase together in the presence of recurrent wheezing in child patients. Conclusion:The plasma levels of four cytokines, particularly VEGF, showed significant associations with some diagnostic characteristics in allergic patients. We suggested that plasma VEGF, which performs pleiotropic functions in allergic responses, could serve as a serological marker relevant to recurrent wheezing in allergic patients.

Role of Leptin as a Link between Asthma and Obesity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Most of them reported a stronger severity of asthma symptoms or higher exacerbations in obese patients, characterized by increased leptin levels and low adiponectin levels, compared with their non-obese counterparts. These results are supported by other studies [48,49], including the French EGEA study, which found that patients with severe asthma were characterized by high leptin levels, poor lung function, a chronic cough, high BMI, and high circulating neutrophil levels [50]. In addition, weight loss was associated with significant changes in the systemic and pulmonary inflammatory profiles in asthmatic patients, leading to a better control due to an increase in some anti-inflammatory mediators (e.g., adiponectin) and a reduction in pro-inflammatory mediators, including leptin [51].…”

Leptin/obR signaling exacerbates obesity-related neutrophilic airway inflammation through inflammatory M1 macrophages

“…The pathogenic effects of leptin and M1 macrophages can be verified in asthmatic patients. Obese asthmatic patients with higher serum leptin levels and BMI are more likely to have severe clinical symptoms than nonobese asthmatic patients (Nadif et al 2020 ; Chang et al 2022 ; Zhang et al 2017 ). Patients with obesity-related asthma are mostly characterized by low serum IgE levels and low numbers of eosinophils in sputum (Telenga et al 2012 ; Gibeon et al 2013 ).…”