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Project description:Maternal asthma (MA) is among the most consistent risk factors for asthma in her children. Possible mechanisms for this observation are epigenetic modifications in utero that have lasting effects on developmental programs in children of mothers with asthma. To test this hypothesis, we performed differential DNA methylation analyses of 398,186 individual CpG sites in primary bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) from 42 non-asthma controls and 88 asthma cases, including 56 without MA (NMA) and 32 with MA. We used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of 69 and 554 differentially methylated CpGs (DMCs) that were specific to NMA or MA cases, respectively, compared to controls. WGCNA grouped 66 NMA-DMCs and 203 MA-DMCs into two and five co-methylation modules, respectively. The eigenvector of one MA-associated module (turquoise) was uniquely correlated with 85 genes expressed in BECs and enriched for 36 pathways, 16 of which discriminated between NMA and MA using machine learning. Genes in all 16 pathways were decreased in MA compared to NMA cases (P=7.1x10-3), a finding that replicated in nasal epithelial cells from an independent cohort (P=0.02). Functional interpretation of these pathways suggested impaired T cell signaling and responses to viral and bacterial pathogens. The MA-associated turquoise module eigenvector was additionally correlated with clinical features of severe asthma and reflective of type 2 (T2)-low asthma (i.e., low total serum IgE, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, and eosinophilia). Overall, these data suggest that maternal asthma alters diverse epigenetically-mediated pathways that lead to distinct subtypes of severe asthma in adults including hard-to-treat T2-low asthma.
2022-05-02 | GSE201872 | GEO
Project description:Maternal asthma (MA) is among the most consistent risk factors for asthma in her children. Possible mechanisms for this observation are epigenetic modifications in utero that have lasting effects on developmental programs in children of mothers with asthma. To test this hypothesis, we performed differential DNA methylation analyses of 398,186 individual CpG sites in primary bronchial epithelial cells (BECs) from 42 non-asthma controls and 88 asthma cases, including 56 without MA (NMA) and 32 with MA. We used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of 69 and 554 differentially methylated CpGs (DMCs) that were specific to NMA or MA cases, respectively, compared to controls. WGCNA grouped 66 NMA-DMCs and 203 MA-DMCs into two and five co-methylation modules, respectively. The eigenvector of one MA-associated module (turquoise) was uniquely correlated with 85 genes expressed in BECs and enriched for 36 pathways, 16 of which discriminated between NMA and MA using machine learning. Genes in all 16 pathways were decreased in MA compared to NMA cases (P=7.1x10-3), a finding that replicated in nasal epithelial cells from an independent cohort (P=0.02). Functional interpretation of these pathways suggested impaired T cell signaling and responses to viral and bacterial pathogens. The MA-associated turquoise module eigenvector was additionally correlated with clinical features of severe asthma and reflective of type 2 (T2)-low asthma (i.e., low total serum IgE, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, and eosinophilia). Overall, these data suggest that maternal asthma alters diverse epigenetically-mediated pathways that lead to distinct subtypes of severe asthma in adults including hard-to-treat T2-low asthma.
2022-05-04 | GSE201955 | GEO
Project description:DNA methylation signatures in airway cells from adult children of asthmatic mothers reflect subtypes of severe asthma
| PRJNA867702 | ENA
Project description:DNA methylation signatures in airway cells from adult children of asthmatic mothers reflect subtypes of severe asthma (DNA methylation)
| PRJNA833397 | ENA
Project description:DNA methylation signatures in airway cells from adult children of asthmatic mothers reflect subtypes of severe asthma (RNA sequencing)
| PRJNA833856 | ENA
Project description:BackgroundThe timing and mechanisms of asthma inception remain imprecisely defined. Although epigenetic mechanisms likely contribute to asthma pathogenesis, little is known about their role in asthma inception.ObjectiveWe sought to assess whether the trajectory to asthma begins already at birth and whether epigenetic mechanisms, specifically DNA methylation, contribute to asthma inception.MethodsWe used the Methylated CpG Island Recovery Assay chip to survey DNA methylation in cord blood mononuclear cells from 36 children (18 nonasthmatic and 18 asthmatic subjects by age 9 years) from the Infant Immune Study (IIS), an unselected birth cohort closely monitored for asthma for a decade. SMAD3 methylation in IIS (n = 60) and in 2 replication cohorts (the Manchester Asthma and Allergy Study [n = 30] and the Childhood Origins of Asthma Study [n = 28]) was analyzed by using bisulfite sequencing or Illumina 450K arrays. Cord blood mononuclear cell-derived IL-1β levels were measured by means of ELISA.ResultsNeonatal immune cells harbored 589 differentially methylated regions that distinguished IIS children who did and did not have asthma by age 9 years. In all 3 cohorts methylation in SMAD3, the most connected node within the network of asthma-associated, differentially methylated regions, was selectively increased in asthmatic children of asthmatic mothers and was associated with childhood asthma risk. Moreover, SMAD3 methylation in IIS neonates with maternal asthma was strongly and positively associated with neonatal production of IL-1β, an innate inflammatory mediator.ConclusionsThe trajectory to childhood asthma begins at birth and involves epigenetic modifications in immunoregulatory and proinflammatory pathways. Maternal asthma influences epigenetic mechanisms that contribute to the inception of this trajectory.
| S-EPMC5479765 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundIt is well established that short-term exposure to ambient air pollutants can exacerbate asthma, the role of early life or long-term exposure is less clear. We assessed the association between severe asthma exacerbations with both birth and annual exposure to outdoor air pollutants with a population-based cohort of asthmatic children in the province of Quebec (Canada).MethodExacerbations of asthma occurring between 1 April 1996 and 31 March 2011 were defined as one hospitalization or emergency room visit with a diagnosis of asthma for children (<13 years old) already diagnosed with asthma. Annual daily average concentrations of ozone (O?) and nitrogen dioxide (NO?) were estimated at the child's residential postal code. Satellite based levels of fine particulate (PM2.5) estimated for a grid of 10 km by 10 km were also assigned to postal codes of residence for the whole province. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated from Cox models with a gap time approach for both birth and time-dependant exposure.ResultsOf the 162,752 asthmatic children followed (1,020,280 person-years), 35,229 had at least one asthma exacerbation. The HRs stratified by age groups and adjusted for the year of birth, the ordinal number of exacerbations, sex, as well as material and social deprivation, showed an interquartile range increase in the time-dependant exposure to NO? (4.95 ppb), O? (3.85 ppb), and PM2.5 (1.82 ?g/m³) of 1.095 (95% CI 1.058-1.131), 1.052 (95% CI 1.037-1.066) and 1.025 (95% CI 1.017-1.031), respectively. While a positive association was found to PM2.5, no associations were found between exposure at birth to NO? or O?.ConclusionsOur results support the conclusion, within the limitation of this study, that asthma exacerbations in asthmatic children are mainly associated with time dependent residential exposures less with exposure at birth.
| S-EPMC4997457 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundMany human epidemiologic studies demonstrate that maternal asthma confers greater risk of asthma to offspring than does paternal disease. However, a handful have shown the opposite. Given this disparity, a meta-analysis is necessary to determine the veracity and magnitude of the "maternal effect."Methodology/principal findingsWe screened the medical literature from 1966 to 2009 and performed a meta-analysis to compare the effect of maternal asthma vs. paternal asthma on offspring asthma susceptibility. Aggregating data from 33 studies, the odds ratio for asthma in children of asthmatic mothers compared with non-asthmatic mothers was significantly increased at 3.04 (95% confidence interval: 2.59-3.56). The corresponding odds ratio for asthma in children of asthmatic fathers was increased at 2.44 (2.14-2.79). When comparing the odds ratios, maternal asthma conferred greater risk of disease than did paternal asthma (3.04 vs. 2.44, p = 0.037). When analyzing the studies in which asthma was diagnosed by a physician the odds ratios were attenuated and no significant differences were observed (2.85 vs. 2.48, N = 18, p = 0.37). Similarly, no significant differences were observed between maternal and paternal odds ratios when analyzing the studies in which the patient population was 5 years or older (3.15 vs. 2.60, p = 0.14). However, in all cases the trend remained the same, that maternal asthma was a greater risk factor for asthma than paternal.Conclusions/significanceThe results show that maternal asthma increases offspring disease risk to a greater extent than paternal disease.
| S-EPMC2853568 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The biomarkers and therapeutic targets of neutrophilic asthma (NA) are poorly understood. Although S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9) has been shown to correlate with neutrophil activation, its role in asthma pathogenesis has not been clarified. This study investigated the mechanism by which S100A9 is involved in neutrophil activation, neutrophil extracellular trap (NET)-induced airway inflammation, and macrophage polarization in NA. The S100A9 levels (by ELISA) in sera/culture supernatant of peripheral blood neutrophils (PBNs) and M0 macrophages from asthmatic patients were measured and compared to those of healthy controls (HCs). The function of S100A9 was evaluated using airway epithelial cells (AECs) and PBNs/M0 macrophages from asthmatic patients, as well as a mouse asthma model. The serum levels of S100A9 were higher in NA patients than in non-NA patients, and there was a positive correlation between serum S100A9 levels and sputum neutrophil counts (r = 0.340, P = 0.005). Asthmatic patients with higher S100A9 levels had lower PC20 methacholine values and a higher prevalence of severe asthma (SA) (P < .050). PBNs/M0 macrophages from SA released more S100A9 than those from non-SA patients. PBNs from asthmatic patients induced S100A9 production by AECs, which further activated AECs via the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway, stimulated NET formation, and induced M1 macrophage polarization. Higher S100A9 levels in sera, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and lung tissues were observed in the mouse model of NA but not in the other mouse models. These results suggest that S100A9 is a potential serum biomarker and therapeutic target for NA.
| S-EPMC8333352 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThe airway epithelium can express factors that drive subepithelial airway remodeling. TGF-?2, vascular epithelial growth factor (VEGF), a disintegrin and metalloprotease 33 (ADAM33), and periostin are hypothesized to be involved in subepithelial remodeling and are overexpressed in adult asthmatic airways. Epidemiologic data suggest that lung function deficits in asthmatic patients are acquired in childhood.ObjectivesWe sought to determine whether airway epithelial cells (AECs) from asthmatic children differentially express TGF-?2, VEGF, ADAM33, or periostin compared with cells from atopic nonasthmatic and healthy children intrinsically or in response to IL-4/IL-13 stimulation.MethodsBronchial and nasal epithelial cells were obtained from brushings from well-characterized asthmatic (n = 16), atopic nonasthmatic (n = 9), and healthy (n = 15) children after achievement of anesthesia for elective procedures. After differentiation at an air-liquid interface (ALI) for 3 weeks, conditioned media were sampled and RNA was extracted from unstimulated and IL-4/IL-13-stimulated cultures. TGF-?2 and VEGF levels were measured with ELISA. ADAM33 and periostin expression was assessed by using real-time PCR.ResultsTGF-?2 and VEGF production was significantly greater in bronchial and nasal ALI cultures from asthmatic children than in cultures from atopic nonasthmatic and healthy children. TGF-?2 levels increased significantly in asthmatic cultures after IL-4/IL-13 stimulation. Within-subject correlation between nasal and bronchial ALI production of TGF-?2 (r = 0.64, P = .001) and VEGF (r = 0.73, P < .001) was good. Periostin expression was 3.7-fold higher in bronchial cells (P < .001) and 3.9-fold higher in nasal cells (P < .004) from asthmatic children than in cells from atopic nonasthmatic or healthy children. ADAM33 was not differentially expressed by AECs from asthmatic patients compared with that from cells from atopic nonasthmatic or healthy children.ConclusionAECs from asthmatic children differentially express TGF-?2, VEGF, and periostin compared with cells from atopic nonasthmatic and healthy children. Nasal epithelial cells might be a suitable surrogate for bronchial cells that could facilitate investigation of the airway epithelium in future longitudinal pediatric studies.
| S-EPMC3604976 | biostudies-literature