Emerging Biomarkers Beyond Leukotrienes for the Management of Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drug (NSAID)-Exacerbated Respiratory Disease

Abstract

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD) is a unique condition characterized by aspirin/NSAID hypersensitivity, adult-onset asthma, and/or chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Arachidonic acid metabolism dysregulation and intense eosinophilic/type 2 inflammation are central mechanisms in NERD. Studies have been conducted on various biomarkers, and urinary leukotriene E4 is considered the most available biomarker of NERD. However, the pathophysiology of NERD is heterogeneous and complex. Epithelial cells and platelets can interact with immune cells in NERD, and novel biomarkers related to these interactions have recently been investigated. We summarize emerging novel biomarkers of NERD and discuss their roles in the management of NERD.

INTRODUCTION

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-exacerbated respiratory disease (NERD) is characterized by chronic eosinophilic inflammation of the respiratory tract in patients with asthma and/or chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) accompanied by nasal polyps (NPs) as well as hypersensitivity to NSAIDs, including aspirin.¹ The prevalence of NERD has been reported at 7.1% in adult asthmatic populations and ranges from 5.5% to 12.4% in general populations.² The prevalence of NERD has been estimated to be higher in severe asthmatic cohorts at 14.9%,² which is approximately twice that in asthmatic cohorts. The majority of patients with NERD suffer from more severe and persistent asthma symptoms than NSAID-tolerant asthmatics, and more severe sinus mucosal inflammation than CRS patients without NERD.¹ Therefore, there is a considerable socioeconomic burden associated with the management of NERD.

NERD as an endotype of asthma has a unique pathophysiology due to the dysregulation of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism as well as chronic and extensive type 2/eosinophilic inflammation.³ Dysregulation in the cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LO) pathway causes overproduction of cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) and prostaglandin (PG) D2 and decreases the level of PGE2, resulting in persistent eosinophilic inflammation in the upper and lower airway mucosae.¹,³ Therefore, most of the previous studies exploring the biomarkers of NERD have focused on lipid mediators, cells, cytokines, or genetic factors associated with AA metabolism and/or type 2/eosinophilic inflammation.⁴ However, the pathophysiologic mechanism underlying NERD is more complex and thought to involve interactions among immune cells, epithelial cells and platelets. Novel biomarkers related to these interactions have recently been investigated. In this review, we summarize emerging biomarkers beyond leukotrienes (LTs) that can be potentially applied in the management of NERD.

BIOMARKERS RELATED TO AA METABOLISM

LTs

LTs are synthesized from AA by various inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, mast cells, basophils, neutrophils, and macrophages.⁵ Upon oxidation by 5-LO, AA undergoes conversion in the order of LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 (called cysLTs) where LTE4 is a stable end product (Fig. 1).³,⁶ Therefore, LTE4 levels had been detected in various samples, including the urine, nasal mucosa, sputum, saliva, and blood.⁷,⁸,⁹,¹⁰,¹¹,¹²,¹³,¹⁴,¹⁵ LTE4 levels were significantly higher in the induced sputum, blood, and saliva from NERD patients than from aspirin/NSAID-tolerant asthmatics (ATAs) (Table).⁷,⁸ Urinary levels of LTE4 at baseline were higher in NERD patients than in ATA patients and further increased after aspirin challenges.⁷,¹¹,¹²,¹³ Urine collection is relatively easy to perform than other samples, and both random urine and urine collected at 24 hours after aspirin challenges have been reported to be useful for discriminating NERD from ATA.¹²,¹⁴ A recent meta-analysis has demonstrated similar diagnostic accuracy with better sensitivity between them.¹⁵ In addition, baseline urinary LTE4 levels were associated with falls in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1%) as well as upper and lower airway symptoms during aspirin challenges, and could predict the severity of airflow obstruction.¹⁶,¹⁷,¹⁸ Taken together, the urinary LTE4 level is considered a well-validated biomarker for the diagnosis of NERD and predicts the disease severity. In addition, it may be useful for pediatric patients due to its noninvasiveness and ease for collection.

Fig. 1. Arachidonic acid metabolism and therapeutic approach for the management of NERD. Arachidonic acid metabolism is initiated by 2 major enzymes, COX and 5-LO. 5-LO enzyme generates LTA4, which is then converted to LTC4 by LTC4 synthase. LTC4 is metabolized in the order of LTD4 and LTE4. LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 are designated as cysLT. LTA4 can also be converted to LTB4 by LTA4 hydrolase. COX (COX-1 and COX-2) catalyzes arachidonic acid to PGG2 and subsequently PGH2, which can be further metabolized into PGI2, PGF2, PGD2, PGE2, and TXA2 by corresponding specific synthases. NERD is characterized with systemic elevations in PGD2 along with reduction in PGE2 and overproduction of cysLTs. The inhibition of the COX pathway results in the reduction in PGE2 production and excessive production of cysLTs in NERD.

COX, cyclooxygenase; LO, lipoxygenase; LT, leukotriene; cysLT, cysteinyl leukotriene; PG, prostaglandin; TX, thromboxane; NERD, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-exacerbated respiratory disease; TP, thromboxane prostanoid; DP, D-prostanoid; CRTH2, chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on TH2 cells; HPETE, hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid.

Table. Summary of biomarkers of NERD vs. ATA.

Variables	Biomarker	Sample	Methodology	Baseline vs. ATA	Ref.	Response after ASA challenges vs. ATA	Ref.
Arachidonic acid metabolism	LTE4	Urine	Immunoassay	↑	7,11,14	↑	7,11
			Metabolomic analysis	↑	10
		Sputum	Immunoassay	↑	7
			Mass spectrometry	↑	8	↑	8
		Saliva	Immunoassay	↑	7
		Blood	Immunoassay	↑	7	↑	7
			Metabolomic analysis	↑	10	↑	10
	LTE4/PGF2α	Urine	Metabolomic analysis	↑	10	↑	10
			Mass spectrometry	↑	27
		Blood	Metabolomic analysis	↑	10	↑	10
			Mass spectrometry	↑	27
	LTB4 glucuronide	Urine	Immunoassay	↔	22	↑	22
	PGD2	Sputum	Mass spectrometry	↑	8	↑	8
	9α,11β-PGF2	Blood	Mass spectrometry	↑	19
	PGD-M	Urine	Mass spectrometry	↑	24
Eosinophilic inflammation	Eosinophils	Bronchial biopsy	Immunohistochemical staining	↑	40
		Nasal fluid	Morphological count of stained slide	↑	41,42	↑	41
	EDN	Blood	Immunoassay	↑	46
	Mast cells	Bronchial biopsy	Morphological count	↑	49
	Basophils	Nasal fluid	Morphological count			↑	41
Epithelial cells	Periostin	Blood	Immunoassay	↑	62
	TGF-β	Blood	Immunoassay	↑	64,65
	DPP10	Blood	Immunoassay	↑	65
	SPD	Blood	Immunoassay	↓	68
	FCN	Blood	Immunoassay	↑	72
Platelets	Platelet-associated leukocytes	Blood	Flow cytometry	↑	74,75
		Nasal polyp tissue	Immunohistochemistry	↑	74
	sP-selectin and sCD40L	Blood	Immunoassay	↑	75

ASA, aspirin; ATA, aspirin-tolerant asthma; NERD, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-exacerbated respiratory disease; LTE4, leukotriene E4; PGF2α, prostaglandin F2α; LTB4, leukotriene B4; PGD2, prostaglandin D2; 9α,11β-PGF2: 9 alpha, 11 beta-prostaglandin F2; PGD-M, prostaglandin D2 metabolite; EDN, eosinophil-derived neurotoxin; TGF-β, transforming growth factor-beta; DPP10, dipeptidyl-peptidase 10; SPD, surfactant protein D; FCN, folliculin; sP-selectin, soluble P-selectin; sCD40L, soluble CD40 ligand.

LTA4 can also be converted to LTB4 as well as cysLTs by LTA4 hydrolase in eosinophils, neutrophils, macrophages, and mast cells.⁶,¹⁹ LTB4 is a proinflammatory mediator with potent chemoattractant properties mediated through the G-protein-coupled surface receptor (originally termed) BLT1 expressed on target cells.²⁰ LTB4 levels were reported to be elevated in the NP tissue of NERD patients²¹ and increased in urine and peripheral blood monocytes after aspirin challenges (Table).²²,²³ However, more consistent results are warranted to apply LTB4 as a biomarker of NERD.

Prostanoids

AA is catalyzed to PGH2 by COX-1 and COX-2, which produce 5 preliminary downstream metabolites, including PGD2, PGE2, PGF2, thromboxane (TX) A2, and prostacyclin (PGI2), depending on the specific synthases.¹³ PGD2, PGE2, and TXA2 have been involved in the pathogenesis of NERD. PGD2 is the main product of COX-derived intermediates in mast cells and is also produced by eosinophils. PGD2 plays various roles through its receptors, thromboxane prostanoid (TP) receptors and D-prostanoid (DP) receptors, DP1 and DP2. PGD2 can play the role in bronchoconstriction and chemoattraction for eosinophils and basophils through chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on TH2 cells (CRTH2), also known as the DP2 receptor.⁶,¹³ Baseline levels of PGD2 and its metabolite 9α,11β-PGF2 in the blood, urine, and sputum were higher in patients with NERD than with ATA, and further increased after aspirin challenges (Table).⁸,¹⁹,²⁴ In addition, the stability of urinary 9α,11β-PGF2 was previously proven.²⁵,²⁶ Aspirin-induced PGD2 overproduction was inversely correlated with the decrease in FEV1%.¹³ These findings suggest that increased PGD2 level serves as a potential biomarker for the diagnosis of NERD. Serum and urine levels of LTE4/PGF2α were significantly higher in NERD patients than in ATA patients and healthy controls in a recent study.²⁷ Moreover, the discriminative value of NERD from ATA was slightly better in urinary LTE4/PGF2α than in urinary LTE4. Thus, cysLT/PGF2α may be a new diagnostic biomarker for NERD.

PGE2 has 4 different receptors (EP 1-4) and its action may vary, depending on these receptors.²⁸ It exerts anti-inflammatory and bronchoprotective effects through EP2. The protective effect of PGE2 is compromised in patients with NERD.²⁹,³⁰ PGE2 is known to be relatively stable in vitro.³¹,³² The baseline level of PGE2 was lower in the nasal tissue and blood of patients with NERD than in those of healthy controls.³³,³⁴ Patients with NERD had lower COX-2 expression in the airway tissue, resulting in decreased production of PGE2 in the NP tissue.³⁵,³⁶ Thus, PGE2 may be a potential therapeutic target of NERD and its applicability should be tested in further studies.

TXA2, a proinflammatory prostanoid induced by COX, is involved in platelet activation and aggregation as well as leukocyte chemoattraction. TXA2 serves as a potent bronchoconstrictor and induces airway hyperresponsiveness by interacting with the TP receptor.⁶,³⁷ The TP receptor can interact with both PGD2 metabolite and TXA2. This interaction plays a role in the development of lower respiratory symptoms and FEV1% fall during aspirin challenges in patients with NERD.¹³ TXA2 and TP receptor are considered novel therapeutic targets of NERD. A clinical trial of TP receptor antagonist in patients with NERD is ongoing.³⁸

BIOMARKERS RELATED TO INFLAMMATORY CELLS AND CYTOKINES

Eosinophil activation

Intense eosinophilic airway inflammation plays a major role in the pathogenesis of NERD, and numerous studies have described enhanced eosinophilic inflammation in NERD. Several eosinophil-related factors, such as eosinophil counts and eosinophil-related mediators, were suggested to play an important role (Fig. 2).⁴,³⁹ Patients with NERD showed an increase in the number of eosinophils in bronchial biopsies as compared to patients with ATA and healthy controls (Table).⁴⁰ The influx of eosinophils in the nasal lavage fluid after nasal aspirin challenges was significantly higher in patients with NERD than with ATA.⁴¹ The number of eosinophils in the NP tissue was higher in patients with NERD than with allergic fungal sinusitis and chronic hyperplastic eosinophilic sinusitis.⁴²,⁴³ Increased eosinophil counts in the sputum and the blood could predict the degree of eosinophilic airway inflammation, symptom severity, and treatment response in NERD patients,⁴⁴,⁴⁵ but it may not be a consistent biomarker for representing the phenotype of NERD because clinical features of NERD patients are heterogeneous.¹⁸ In addition, the plasma eosinophil-derived neurotoxin level was significantly higher in patients with NERD than with ATA and was associated with the decrease in lung functions after aspirin challenges (Table), highlighting its potential role as a novel biomarker for distinguishing the phenotype between NERD and ATA.⁴⁶

Fig. 2. Inflammatory pathway and therapeutic approach for the management of NERD. Various exogenous factors, such as viruses, bacteria, and environmental factors, can initiate epithelial injury and release of alarmins, IL33, IL25, and TSLP. These elevated levels of alarmins and cytokines from epithelial cells induce type 2 inflammatory responses by activating mast cells and ILC2 which are capable of activating eosinophils. Activated mast cells and eosinophils release various cytokines and chemokines that can induce mucosal inflammation and bronchoconstriction. The increased burden of platelet-associated leukocytes in NERD can further enhance the production of cysLTs, PGD2, and TXA2.

NERD, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug-exacerbated respiratory disease; IL, interleukin; TSLP, thymic stromal lymphopoietin; ILC2, innate lymphoid type-2 cell; cysLT, cysteinyl leukotriene; PGD2, prostaglandin D2; TXA2, thromboxane A2; TGF, transforming growth factor; DPP10, dipeptidyl peptidase 10; SPD, surfactant protein D; LT, leukotriene; PG, prostaglandin; TX, thromboxane; INF, interferon.

Mast cells/basophils

Mast cells are known to release large amounts of key mediators, including cysLTs and PGD2, and have been demonstrated to play a central role in the pathogenesis of NERD, although there are some inconsistent reports (Fig. 2).⁴⁰,⁴³,⁴⁷,⁴⁸ The number of mast cells was reported to be higher in bronchial biopsies of NERD patients than of ATA patients (Table),⁴⁹ and elevated levels of serum tryptase during aspirin challenges in NERD patients reflected mast cell activation.⁵⁰ Mast cell activation is mediated by both IgE-dependent and -independent mechanisms.⁴⁸ The IgE level was significantly higher in the NP tissue from NERD patients than from ATA patients with CRS with/without NP, and was associated with faster recurrence of NP.⁵¹ In addition, IgE antibodies to staphylococcal enterotoxins enhanced eosinophil activation of NPs in patients with NERD.⁵²,⁵³ However, a higher total IgE level is not a reliable biomarker of NERD, as it depends on the atopy status of patients with NERD or ATA. Considering that there are consistent reports demonstrating significantly higher levels of LTE4 and PGD2 after aspirin challenges in NERD patients, activated mast cells are thought to play a key role in the pathogenesis of NERD. However, further investigations are needed to identify reliable biomarkers in order to represent the status of mast cell activation in NERD patients.

Basophils, another potent granulocyte type, can release various proinflammatory mediators such as histamine, cysLTs, interleukin (IL) 4, and IL5.⁵⁴ Basophils play crucial roles in type 2 inflammation, but only a few studies have investigated their potential as a biomarker of respiratory disease and NERD. The percentage of basophils in the nasal lavage fluid after nasal aspirin challenges was significantly higher in patients with NERD than with ATA (Table).⁴⁰ In a recent study, the number of basophils in the NP tissue was found to be significantly higher in NERD patients than in CRS patients with NP (CRSwNP). The blood basophil count was also higher in NERD patients than in CRSwNP patients and correlated with eosinophil counts in NERD patients.⁵⁴ Basophils may, thus, act as an important biomarker for predicting upper respiratory disease severity of NERD, although further studies are imperative.

Cytokines

Numerous studies have investigated the roles of cytokines and chemokines in NERD, which was found to exhibit both type 2- and type 1-like immune profiles.⁴,³⁹ Eosinophilic asthma and sinus disease are characterized by type 2 cytokine profiles, including IL4, IL5, IL13, granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and eotaxin.⁵⁵,⁵⁶ Increased expression of type 2 cytokines, including IL5 (which is related to eosinophil activation and prolonged survival), was observed in the NP tissue of patients with NERD. Eosinophil cationic protein levels in the nasal tissue were higher (about 5-fold) in patients with NERD than with ATA with CRSwNP.⁵⁷ More evidence is warranted to support type 2 cytokines as biomarkers of NERD beyond eosinophilic inflammation.

NERD also appears as a type 1 inflammatory milieu with prominent expression of interferon (IFN)-γ.⁴,³⁹ The elevated expression of IFN-γ in the nasal tissue could distinguish NERD from chronic hyperplastic eosinophilic sinusitis.⁵⁸ Other type 1 cytokines, including IL6 and IL8, were also associated with NERD. Baseline serum levels of IL8 were significantly higher in NERD patients than in ATA patients, and serum levels of IL6 decreased after oral aspirin challenges in NERD patients.⁵⁹ The clinical utility of these type 1 inflammatory milieu as biomarkers of NERD needs to be further evaluated and validated.

Epithelial cells

The airway epithelium is a first-line barrier involved in the innate immunity through secretion of alarming cytokines such as IL33, IL25, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin, which results in the activation of type 2 innate lymphoid cells, eosinophils, and basophils in asthmatic airways. The interaction between the epithelium and immune cells is thought to be a key phenomenon in airway inflammation and airway remodeling in asthma patients including those with NERD.⁶⁰

Several studies have been conducted on the roles of different molecules released into the airway epithelium as biomarkers of NERD. Periostin (a secreted protein mainly induced by IL4 and IL13 from airway epithelial cell) is found to be stable in serum.⁶¹ Periostin accelerates eosinophilic inflammation and airway remodeling in asthma and appears to be a useful biomarker of type 2 immunity. The serum level of periostin was reported to be increased in patients with NERD as compared to those with ATA, and positively correlated with the eosinophil count in the blood and sputum (Table).⁶² Therefore, periostin is a potential biomarker for identifying a subgroup of NERD patients with eosinophilic inflammation.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 plays a central role in epithelial cell apoptosis, subepithelial fibrosis, and mucus hypersecretion, and is involved in airway inflammation and remodeling. Previous studies have suggested a crosstalk between periostin and TGF-β1, wherein periostin is thought to induce TGF-β1 production. Serum levels of TGF-β1 and periostin were higher in eosinophilic asthma patients than in non-eosinophilic asthma patients, and positively correlated with each other.⁶³ Furthermore, serum levels of TGF-β1 were significantly higher in NERD patients than in ATA patients or healthy controls, and positively correlated with urinary LTE4 level (Table).⁶⁴ TGF-β1 is considered an ancillary biomarker for the diagnosis of NERD, which warrants further studies.

Dipeptidyl peptidase 10 (DPP10) expressed in the airway epithelium is associated with asthma and lung function decline.⁶⁵,⁶⁶ Higher serum DPP10 levels negatively correlated with FEV1% in patients with NERD than in those with ATA (Table). Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between serum levels of DPP10 and TGF-β1 in patients with NERD.⁶⁵ A genome-wide association study (GWAS) demonstrated the significant association of a single nucleotide polymorphism in DPP10 with NERD.⁶⁶,⁶⁷ These findings have suggested that DPP10 could contribute to the decline in the lung function in NERD. DPP10 may be able to accelerate type 2 inflammation through orchestration with TGF-β1 and periostin, and affect the subphenotypes of NERD. DPP10 may be a potential biomarker to distinguish NERD from ATA and predict disease severity.

Surfactant protein D (SPD), a member of the collectin family of proteins, is mainly produced by airway epithelial cells. SPD induces phagocytosis of pathogens by interacting with phagocytic cells and may exert protective functions against eosinophilia.⁶⁸,⁶⁹ SPD levels were elevated in the sera of asthmatic, and were associated with the severity of airway dysfunction.⁶⁹ However, serum SPD levels were lower and negatively correlated with FEV1% decrease after aspirin challenges in patients with NERD than with ATA (Table). SPD treatment may attenuate airway inflammation and remodeling in mice,⁶⁸ suggesting its role as a novel therapeutic target as well as a biomarker for the diagnosis of NERD.

Folliculin is an intracellular protein expressed in various types of cells, including airway epithelial cells, and has been thought to regulate cell-cell adhesion and affect the integrity of the epithelial barrier.⁷⁰ Epithelial barrier disruption and cellular attachment to the basement membrane were noted in NERD patients with CRSwNP.⁷¹ Higher serum levels of folliculin were reported in patients with NERD than in those with ATA (Table),⁷² suggesting that folliculin may be a biomarker of epithelial activation and a therapeutic target for epithelial barrier dysfunction in NERD. These epithelium-derived biomarkers are expected to better differentiate between NERD and ATA than other type 2 biomarkers, therefore, they would be novel biomarkers for NERD.

Platelets

The main function of platelets is to repair damaged vessels, but these cells also have the capacity to interact with other immune cells and facilitate granulocyte recruitment. Platelets are known to be involved in various inflammatory diseases, including asthma,⁷³ and are thought to be associated with NERD.⁷³,⁷⁴ Higher serum levels of soluble P-selectin and soluble CD40 ligand were observed in patients with NERD than with ATA (Table).⁷⁵ Platelet-associate leukocyte counts were elevated in the NP tissue from NERD patients than from ATA patients and positively correlated with urinary LTE4 levels, but negatively correlated with the lung function.⁷⁴,⁷⁵ Thus, activated platelets may serve as additional therapeutic targets for NERD.

GENETIC BIOMARKERS

Most studies on the genetic mechanism of NERD have focused on genes related to CysLT synthesis and eosinophil activation.³,⁴ LTC4S, ALOX5, CYSLTR1, and CYSLTR2 are the most significant genetic biomarkers involved in AA metabolism in NERD.⁶⁷ Several GWASs have been conducted to explore potential genetic biomarkers that distinguish NERD from ATA.⁴,⁶⁷ HLA DPB1*0301 is known to be a significant allele that could potentially represent the phenotype of NERD. Further studies are imperative to determine a valid genetic marker.

MANAGEMENT OF NERD AND APPLICATION OF BIOMARKERS

The standard management of NERD is based on the management of asthma, CRS, and NSAID hypersensitivity. Patients with NERD should avoid aspirin and NSAIDs, and alternative NSAIDs should be confirmed by drug provocation tests. The majority of patients with NERD could be managed according to asthma treatment guidelines, including inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting beta-2 agonists with/without LT modifiers.¹,³ The management of NERD with CRS is similar to that of patients without NSAID hypersensitivity, and involves intranasal corticosteroids as a first-line treatment. Nasal irrigation, systemic steroids, and antibiotics can be used to alleviate severe nasal symptoms. In addition, aspirin desensitization (AD) is an option for patients with severe NERD as it can improve nasal and asthmatic symptoms, olfactory function, and quality of life.¹,³,⁷⁶ However, AD could not alleviate the increased levels of LTE4, PGD2, and TXA2, contrary to improved symptoms,¹³,¹⁶,⁷⁷,⁷⁸ indicating that there are no available biomarkers for predicting AD status.

Some patients with NERD need more specific strategies to control asthma and/or CRS symptoms. Several specific treatment options according to pathophysiological mechanisms have been considered (Figs. 1 and 2). The efficacy of leukotriene-modifying drugs (LTMDs) has been proven in patients with NERD in terms of improved lung function, decreased rescue inhaler usage, and improved quality-of-life.¹,³,⁷⁹,⁸⁰ LTMD treatment could reduce aspirin-induced bronchospasm⁸¹ and has been widely prescribed in adults and children due to relatively few side-effects. NERD is mainly adult-onset disease, but 3.5% of patients with NERD reported early onset of the disease (before 18 years of age).⁸² LTMD can be helpful to pediatric patients with clinical features of NERD. Serum and urinary levels of LTE4 and LTE4/PGF2α remained high in NERD patients treated with LTRA and were related to eosinophilic inflammation and disease severity.²⁷ An additional treatment is warranted for NERD patients with sustained high levels of cysLTs despite LTRA treatment.

For patients with severe NERD, some biologics are recommended to control both asthma and CRS symptoms. Omalizumab, a monoclonal antibody against human IgE, is efficacious in patients with severe allergic asthma and other allergic diseases.⁸³ It is beneficial to control asthma and CRS/NP in patients with severe NERD. Omalizumab treatment reduced urinary LTE4 and PGD2 and 9a,11b-PGF2 levels, indicating that it could suppress mast cells.⁸³ In a recent randomized controlled study, omalizumab treatment decreased the concentration of urinary LTE4 and respiratory symptoms during oral aspirin challenges,⁸⁴ which suggests its potential therapeutic application for severe NERD.¹,³

Anti-IL5 monoclonal antibodies such as mepolizumab, reslizumab, and benralizumab are approved for severe eosinophilic asthma, and have been effective in treating CRS and NPs.⁸⁵,⁸⁶,⁸⁷,⁸⁸ Blood eosinophil counts and eosinophil-derived neurotoxin levels significantly decreased after 1 month of anti-IL5 antibody treatment, but no change in periostin and TGF-β1 levels was observed.⁸⁵ Dupilumab, anti-IL4α receptor antibody blocking both IL4 and IL13 signaling, is approved for moderate-severe type 2 asthma and is the first biologic agents approved for the treatment of CRSwNP.⁸⁶ These biologics have been considered to be more effective in NERD; however, a few studies have investigated their therapeutic efficacy for NERD.³ A recent study in patients with NERD showed improved CRSwNP outcomes, including clinical symptoms and abnormal radiographic findings, and type 2 inflammatory biomarkers such as FeNO, total serum IgE, and 24 hour urine LTE4 levels after 6 months of dupilumab treatment.⁸⁷

Recent clinical trials for NERD have investigated the efficacy of platelet-targeted therapy including a P2Y12-receptor antagonist and a TP receptor antagonist. Prasugrel, a P2Y12 inhibitor used in acute coronary syndromes for its antiplatelet activity, is known to attenuate the platelet-leukocyte aggregation.³,⁸⁹ Prasugrel alleviated aspirin-induced reactions only in a small subset of NERD patients with higher baseline platelet activation and milder upper respiratory symptoms, but did not reduce aspirin-induced symptoms in most patients with NERD.⁹⁰ Either urinary levels of LTE4, PGD2 metabolite, and TXB2 or serum levels of tryptase were not increased after aspirin challenges in this subset of NERD patients. These results are thought to be associated with the low release of lipid mediators by mast cells. Ifetroban, an oral TP receptor antagonist, is suggested to have a preventive effect on aspirin-induced reactions. A clinical study is ongoing in patients with NERD.³⁸ The investigation of biomarkers of platelet activation in NERD is necessary for NERD management and phenotyping.

PGD2 activates and recruits effector cells through CRTH2 in NERD. Two recent clinical trials have investigated CRTH2 antagonists for blocking PGD2 signaling in asthma.⁹¹ The clinical utility of CRTH2 as a biomarker of NERD is yet to be determined.

CONCLUSION

Studies on biomarkers of NERD have mainly been conducted in relation to cysLT overproduction and eosinophilic inflammation. Urinary LTE4 is still the most significant biomarker for the diagnosis of NERD. Epithelial cell markers, such as periostin, folliculin, and DPP10, have recently emerged as novel biomarkers of NERD, although further studies are essential to confirm their stability, reproducibility, as well as discriminative and predictive values. NERD is a heterogeneous disease with diverse clinical manifestations and complex mechanisms. It is, therefore, necessary to develop various biomarkers that can be individually applied according to the subtype along with the commonly used biomarkers for the diagnosis and management of NERD.