Abstract
Tumor necrosis factor receptors (TNF-R) are expressed on the cell membrane in asthma and soluble receptors are released into the extracellular space. The aim of the present study was to assess whether a correlation exists between bronchial hyperreactivity and the serum sTNF-R1 level in symptom-free, previously asthmatic adults and their offspring. Thirty-eight adults (suffered from bronchial asthma in childhood) and 43 children (offspring of asthmatic parents) were examined (mean age 35 and 15 years, respectively). Bronchial hyperreactivity was present in 21 adults and in 22 children, proved by stepwise methacholine (0.125, 0.25, 0.5%) airway challenge. Serum sTNF-R1 was determined by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) method. Serum sTNF-R1 level was significantly higher in patients with bronchial hyperreactivity; all with hyperreactivity: 1.36 ± 0.29 ng/mL (mean ± SD, n = 43) versus without 1.20 ± 0.19 ng/mL (n = 38), p = 0.0065; children with hyperreactivity: 29 ± 0.26 ng/mL (n = 22) versus without 1.13 ± 0.11 ng/mL (n = 21), p = 0.0132; adults with hyperreactivity: 1.44 ± 0.31 ng/mL (n = 21) versus without 1.29 ± 0.24 ng/mL (n = 17), ns. In adults there was a significant negative correlation between serum sTNF-R1 level and the PD20 FVC of methacholine. In addition, a significant correlation was found between the sTNF-R1 level and the body mass index in adults. sTNF-R1 is elevated in hyperreactive patients. The activation of the TNF system might contribute to the pathogenesis of alteration of the respiratory system in bronchial hyper-reactivity.
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