A qPCR-based metric of Th2 airway inflammation in asthma.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Using microarray profiling of airway epithelial cells, we previously identified a Th2-high molecular phenotype of asthma based on expression of periostin, CLCA1 and serpinB2 and characterized by specific inflammatory, remodeling, and treatment response features. The goal of the current study was to develop a qPCR-based assay of Th2 inflammation to overcome the limitations of microarray-based methods. METHODS:Airway epithelial brushings were obtained by bronchoscopy from two clinical studies comprising 44 healthy controls and 62 subjects with asthma, 39 of whom were studied before and after a standardized 8 week course of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS). The qPCR-based expression of periostin, CLCA1 and serpinB2 were combined into a single metric. RESULTS:In asthma, the three-gene-mean of periostin, CLCA1 and serpinB2 correlated with FeNO (r?=?0.75, p?=?0.0002), blood eosinophils (r?=?0.58, p?=?0.003) and PC20 methacholine (r?=?-0.65, p?=?0.0006), but not total serum IgE (r?=?0.33, p?=?0.1). Higher baseline three-gene-mean correlated with greater improvement in FEV1 with ICS at 2, 4 and 8 weeks (all p?

SUBMITTER: Bhakta NR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3724712 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature