Serum IFNγ-induced protein 10 (IP10/CXCL10): association with asthma exacerbations and severity in children.

Objective: Asthma is a chronic disorder of the airways, in which chemokines coordinate airway inflammation and determine its severity. We aimed to study the chemokine interferonγ-inducible protein 10 kDa (IP10/CXCL10), a member of the CXC receptor 3 (CXCR3) ligand family, at the protein level in the serum of children, to evaluate the association between CXCL10 and exacerbations of childhood asthma.

Methods: Patients experiencing an asthma exacerbation (42 patients) and stable patients (43 patients) were investigated for serum CXCL10 levels.

Increased expression of serum periostin and YKL40 in children with severe asthma and asthma exacerbation.

Children with severe asthma or acute asthma exacerbation may encounter difficulties in performing pulmonary function tests. In this situation, serum biomarkers can play a great role in evaluation of such patients. The aim of this study was to estimate the serum levels of human chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL40) and periostin in a group of Egyptian children with asthma during acute asthma exacerbation and in stable asthmatics compared with healthy control, and to correlate these findings with the severity of asthma.

Plasma microRNA-21, microRNA-146a and IL-13 expression in asthmatic children.

Childhood asthma represents a worldwide problem, involving genetic, immune defense and environmental components. MicroRNAs (miRs) are non-coding, single-stranded RNAs involved in immune regulation. The aim was to evaluate clinical potential of plasma miR-21 and miR-146a involved in T helper differentiation in childhood asthma and non-asthmatic controls.