Pediatr Allergy Respir Dis.  2009 Jun;19(2):173-182.

VEGF and Activated Eosinophils in Children with Asthma and Eosinophilic Bronchitis

• Kim KW
• Jee HM
• Lee KE
• Park YH
• Choi BS
• Sohn MH
• Kim KE

Abstract

PURPOSE
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important mediator of airway inflammation and remodeling in asthma. We aimed to explore whether VEGF is expressed at elevated levels in asthmatic airways or eosinophilic bronchitis (EB) and associated with eosinophilic inflammation, pulmonary function, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in children.
METHODS
One hundred seventeen asthmatic children, 77 children with EB, and 84 healthy children were enrolled. Sputum supernatants were collected and VEGF and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels were measured.
RESULTS
Asthmatic children had significantly higher levels of VEGF in induced sputum [89.04 (29.95-178.09) pg/mL] compared to children with EB [25.30 (11.02-80.23) pg/mL] and healthy children [37.37 (16.56-71.30) pg/mL; P=0.0003]. VEGF in sputum positively correlated with sputum ECP (r=0.524; P<0.0001). Negative significant correlations were found between sputum VEGF and FEV1, (r=-0.252; P=0.001) or post-bronchodilator FEV1 (r=-0.181; P=0.038) whereas nonsignificant correlations were found between sputum VEGF and sputum eosinophils.
CONCLUSION
Our findings suggest that VEGF is associated with activated eosinophils in the asthmatic airway, but not EB. Sputum VEGF could be a supportive marker that represents activation of airway eosinophils and persistent airflow limitation in asthmatic children.

Keyword

Childhood asthma; Eosinophil cationic protein; Eosinophilic bronchitis; Vascular endothelial growth factor

MeSH Terms

Asthma
Bronchitis
Child
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Eosinophils
Humans
Inflammation
Pneumonia
Sputum
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Eosinophil Cationic Protein
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A