Rationale
Wheeze is a common respiratory symptom in preschool children. Several clinical parameters, including gestational age at birth, parental atopy, and early-life sensitization, are associated with the development of asthma and are used to differentiate between asthma and transient wheeze in early infancy; however, they are only moderately successful. Here, we investigated respiratory viruses and various cytokines/chemokines in transient wheeze cases and established asthma cases.
Methods
We analyzed peripheral eosinophil counts, and 27 cytokines/chemokines in acute exacerbations among 14 transient wheeze and 32 asthma cases, controls (no wheeze) aged from 6 months to 6 years, and in non-symptomatic transient wheeze and asthma cases. Viruses were detected using antigen detection kits and/or RT-PCR, followed by direct DNA sequencing analysis. Serum cytokines/chemokines were measured using a multi-cytokine detection system.
Results
The two major viruses detected, rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial (RS) virus, were dominant in acute asthma cases. However, RS virus, rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, coronavirus, and human bocavirus were detected at almost equal levels in transient wheeze cases. Serum IL-4, IL-6, and IL-9 levels were significantly elevated in acute asthma compared with transient wheeze. Conversely, IL-8 and IL-12 values were significantly higher in transient wheeze than in acute asthma. Elevated IL-5 and IP-10 levels compared with controls were significantly higher in acute asthma than in non-symptomatic asthma cases. On the other hand, only IP-10 was significantly higher in transient wheeze than in non-symptomatic transient wheeze cases.
Conclusions
Cytokine profiles differ between transient wheeze and childhood asthma.
836