Endothelial Dysfunction and Pentraxin-3 in Clinically Stable Adult Asthma Patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Asthma is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, prothrombotic state, and premature atherosclerosis. Objective: To evaluate the relationships between asthma, inflammatory biomarkers, and parameters of endothelial dysfunction. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery using ultrasound in 92 clinically stable adult asthmatics and 62 well-matched controls. We also measured blood levels of selected inflammatory and asthma-specific biomarkers, including interleukin (IL) 4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-17A, IL-23, and interferon γ, as well as a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 33 (ADAM-33). In addition, we assessed endothelial damage using 2 laboratory biomarkers: circulating von Willebrand factor (vWF) and pentraxin-3. We analyzed relationships between the study variables and asthma severity, lung function abnormalities, airway remodeling indices on computed tomography, and transthoracic echocardiography parameters. RESULTS: Asthmatics had higher IL-6, IL-10, and ADAM-33 levels. They were also characterized by 23% lower FMD% and 15% thicker IMT, as compared with controls (P<.001, both). In asthma, vWF was related to age (ß=0.28 [95%CI, 0.15-0.41]) and remained inversely associated with FEV1 (ß=-0.2 [95%CI, -0.05 to -0.35]). Surprisingly, a negative correlation was revealed between vWF and pentraxin-3 (ß=-0.17 [95%CI, -0.3 to -0.04]). Pentraxin-3 remained positively associated with airway remodeling indices. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma is characterized by endothelial dysfunction associated with airway obstruction. The biological role of pentraxin-3 is unknown, although our data suggest a protective role against endothelial damage and atherosclerosis.

Endothelial Dysfunction and Pentraxin-3 in Clinically Stable Adult Asthma Patients

Background: Asthma is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, prothrombotic state, and premature atherosclerosis. Objective: To evaluate the relationships between asthma, inflammatory biomarkers, and parameters of endothelial dysfunction. Material and Methods: We analyzed flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of the brachial artery and intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery using ultrasound in 92 clinically stable adult asthmatics and 62 well-matched controls. We also measured blood levels of selected inflammatory and asthma-specific biomarkers, including interleukin (IL) 4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-17A, IL-23, and interferon γ, as well as a disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain–containing protein 33 (ADAM-33). In addition, we assessed endothelial damage using 2 laboratory biomarkers: circulating von Willebrand factor (vWF) and pentraxin-3. We analyzed relationships between the study variables and asthma severity, lung function abnormalities, airway remodeling indices on computed tomography, and transthoracic echocardiography parameters. Results: Asthmatics had higher IL-6, IL-10, and ADAM-33 levels. They were also characterized by 23% lower FMD% and 15% thicker IMT, as compared with controls (P<.001, both). In asthma, vWF was related to age (ß=0.28 [95%CI, 0.15-0.41]) and remained inversely associated with FEV1 (ß=–0.2 [95%CI, –0.05 to –0.35]). Surprisingly, a negative correlation was revealed between vWF and pentraxin-3 (ß=–0.17 [95%CI, –0.3 to –0.04]). Pentraxin-3 remained positively associated with airway remodeling indices. Conclusions: Asthma is characterized by endothelial dysfunction associated with airway obstruction. The biological role of pentraxin-3 is unknown, although our data suggest a protective role against endothelial damage and atherosclerosis (AU)

Antecedentes: El asma se asocia con inflamación sistémica de bajo grado, con un estado protrombótico y la existencia de aterosclerosisprematura.Objetivo: Evaluar las relaciones entre asma, biomarcadores inflamatorios y parámetros de disfunción endotelial.Material y métodos: Se ha analizado la dilatación mediada por flujo (DMF) de la arteria braquial y el grosor íntima-media (GIM) dela arteria carótida común mediante ecografía, en 92 adultos asmáticos clínicamente estables y 62 controles. También se midieron losniveles sanguíneos de determinados biomarcadores inflamatorios específicos de asma, incluyendo interleucina (IL) -4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10,IL-12 (p70), IL-17A, IL-23, interferón γ, así como desintegrina y la metaloproteinasa que contiene el dominio proteína 33 (ADAM-33),junto con marcadores de laboratorio de daño endotelial: pentraxina-3 circulante y actividad plasmática del factor von Willebrand (vWF).Analizamos las relaciones de las variables estudiadas con la gravedad del asma, las anomalías de la función pulmonar, los índices detomografía computarizada (TC) pulmonar de remodelación de las vías respiratorias y los parámetros de ecocardiografía transtorácica.Resultados: Los asmáticos tuvieron mayores niveles de IL-6, IL-10 y ADAM-33. También se caracterizaron por tener un 23% menos deDMF y un 15% más grueso el GIM, en comparación con los controles (p <0,001, ambos). En el asma, vWF se relacionó con la edad (ß =0,28 [IC 95%: 0,15 a 0,41]) y se mantuvo en una relación inversa con FEV1 (ß = -0,2 [IC 95%: -0,05 a -0,35]). Sorprendentemente, seobservó una correlación negativa entre vWF y pentraxina-3 (ß = -0,17 [IC 95%: -0,3 a -0,04]). La pentraxin-3 se asoció positivamentecon los índices CT de remodelación de la vía aérea...(AU)