iTRAQ‑based proteomic analysis reveals potential regulatory networks in dust mite‑related asthma treated with subcutaneous allergen immunotherapy

Nasal Lavage Fluid Proteomics Reveals Potential Biomarkers of Asthma Associated with Disease Control

Purpose

Little research has explored the proteomic characteristics of nasal lavage fluid from asthmatic patients. This study aims to investigate whether differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in nasal lavage fluid can serve as a biomarker to differentiate asthma patients from healthy controls (HCs) and to discern between individuals with well controlled and poorly controlled asthma.

Patients and Methods

We enrolled patients with allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, or both conditions, and HCs in this study. We recorded patients' demographic and medical history data and administered asthma quality of life questionnaire (AQLQ) and asthma control questionnaire (ACQ). Nasal fluid samples were collected, followed by protein measurements, and proteomic analysis utilizing the data-independent acquisition (DIA) method.

Results

Twenty-four with asthma, 27 with combined asthma+ AR, 25 with AR, and 12 HCs were enrolled. Four proteins, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), serpin B7 (SERPINB7), kallikrein-13 (KLK13), and bleomycin hydrolase (BLMH) were significantly upregulated in nasal lavage fluid samples of asthma without AR, compared to HCs (Fold change ≥2.0, false-discovery rate [FDR] <0.05). Conversely, 56 proteins including secretoglobin family 2A member 1 (SCGB2A1) were significantly downregulated (fold change ≥2.0, FDR <0.05). Furthermore, 96.49% of DEPs including peptidase inhibitor 3 (PI3) and C-X-C motif chemokine 17 (CXCL17) were upregulated in poorly controlled asthma patients without AR relative those with well- or partly controlled asthma (fold change ≥1.5, FDR <0.05). Search tool for the retrieval of interacting genes/proteins (STRING) analysis showed that PI3, with 18 connections, may be pivotal in asthma control.

Conclusion

The study revealed significant alteration in the nasal lavage proteome in asthma without AR patients. Moreover, our results indicated a potential association between the expression of proteome in the upper airway and the level of asthma control. Specifically, PI3 appears to be a key role in the regulation of asthma without AR.

Serum proteomics identifies novel diagnostic biomarkers for asthma in preschool children

Background

Asthma is characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, reversible airway obstruction, and chronic airway inflammation. It is the most common chronic disease in childhood. However, the diagnosis of childhood asthma remains challenging, and there is an urgent need to develop new diagnostic methods.

Methods

To identify biomarkers of asthma in children, we adopted the Orbitrap-based data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry proteomics method to analyze the serum proteomic signatures of children with acute asthma and convalescent children.

Results

We identified 747 proteins in 46 serum samples and 50 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) that distinguished between asthmatic and healthy children. Next, functional enrichment analysis of the DEPs was conducted, it was indicated that the DEPs were significantly enriched in immune-related and function terms and pathways. Furthermore, we performed statistical analysis and identified MMP14, ABHD12B, PCYOX1, LTBP1, CFHR4, APOA1, IGHG4, ANG and IGFALS proteins as the diagnostic biomarker candidates. Ultimately, a promising asthma diagnostic model for preschool children based on IGFALS was built and evaluated. The area under the curve (AUC) of the IGFALS model was 0.959.

Conclusions

In this study, the DIA proteome strategy was used and the largest number of proteins of asthmatic children serum proteomics was identified. The proteomics results showed that the DEPs play the central role of the inflammation-immune mechanism in asthma pathogenesis, suggesting that these proteins may be used in asthma diagnosis, prognosis, or therapy, and suggested biomarkers for asthma of preschool children. In conclusion, our results provide insight into the pathophysiology of asthma. We believe that the diagnostic model will facilitate clinical decision-making regarding asthma in preschool children.

Genetic Variants Associated with Bronchial Asthma Specific to the Population of the Russian Federation

Bronchial asthma (BA) is a disease that still lacks an exhaustive treatment protocol. In this regard, the global medical community pays special attention to the genetic prerequisites for the occurrence of this disease. Therefore, the search for the genetic polymorphisms underlying bronchial asthma has expanded considerably. As the present study progressed, a significant amount of scientific medical literature was analyzed and 167 genes reported to be associated with the development of bronchial asthma were identified. A group of participants (n = 7,303) who had voluntarily provided their biomaterial (venous blood) to be used in the research conducted by the Federal Medical Biological Agency of Russia was formed to subsequently perform a bioinformatic verification of known associations and search for new ones. This group of participants was divided into four cohorts, including two sex-distinct cohorts of individuals with a history of asthma and two sex-distinct cohorts of apparently healthy individuals. A search for polymorphisms was made in each cohort among the selected genes, and genetic variants were identified whose difference in occurrence in the different cohorts was statistically significant (significance level less than 0.0001). The study revealed 11 polymorphisms that affect the development of asthma: four genetic variants (rs869106717, rs1461555098, rs189649077, and rs1199362453), which are more common in men with bronchial asthma compared to apparently healthy men; five genetic variants (rs1923038536, rs181066119, rs143247175, rs140597386, and rs762042586), which are more common in women with bronchial asthma compared to apparently healthy women; and two genetic variants (rs1219244986 and rs2291651) that are rare in women with a history of asthma.

Current Insights on the Impact of Proteomics in Respiratory Allergies

Respiratory allergies affect humans worldwide, causing extensive morbidity and mortality. They include allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS), aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD), and nasal polyps (NPs). The study of respiratory allergic diseases requires new technologies for early and accurate diagnosis and treatment. Omics technologies provide the tools required to investigate DNA, RNA, proteins, and other molecular determinants. These technologies include genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. However, proteomics is one of the main approaches to studying allergic disorders' pathophysiology. Proteins are used to indicate normal biological processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention. In this field, the principal goal of proteomics has been to discover new proteins and use them in precision medicine. Multiple technologies have been applied to proteomics, but that most used for identifying, quantifying, and profiling proteins is mass spectrometry (MS). Over the last few years, proteomics has enabled the establishment of several proteins for diagnosing and treating respiratory allergic diseases.