Kimura H, Shimizu K, Tanabe N, Makita H, Taniguchi N, Kimura H, Suzuki M, Abe Y, Matsumoto-Sasaki M, Oguma A, Takimoto-Sato M, Takei N, Matsumoto M, Goudarzi H, Sato S, Ono J, Izuhara K, Hirai T, Nishimura M, Konno S. Further evidence for association of YKL-40 with severe asthma airway remodeling.
Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2022;
128:682-688.e5. [PMID:
35342020 DOI:
10.1016/j.anai.2022.03.016]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Revised: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND
The chitinase-like protein YKL-40 is associated with airflow limitation on spirometry and airway remodeling in patients with asthma. It remains unclear whether YKL-40 is associated with morphologic changes in the airways and parenchyma or with future progression of airflow limitation in severe asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association of circulating YKL-40 levels with morphologic changes in the airways and parenchyma and with longitudinal progression of airflow limitation.
METHODS
The patients were participants in the Hokkaido Severe Asthma Cohort Study (n = 127), including smokers. This study consisted of 2 parts. In analysis 1, we analyzed associations between circulating YKL-40 levels and several asthma-related indices, including computed tomography-derived indices of proximal wall area percentage, the complexity of the airways (airway fractal dimension), and the parenchyma (exponent D) cross-sectionally (n = 97). In analysis 2, we evaluated the impact of circulating YKL-40 levels on forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) decline longitudinally for a 5-year follow-up (n = 103).
RESULTS
Circulating YKL-40 levels were significantly associated with proximal wall area percentage and airway fractal dimension (r = 0.25, P = .01; r = -0.22, P = .04, respectively), but not with exponent D. The mean annual change in FEV1 was -33.7 (± 23.3) mL/y, and the circulating YKL-40 level was a significant independent factor associated with annual FEV1 decline (β = -0.24, P = .02), even after controlling for exponent D (β = -0.26, P = .01).
CONCLUSION
These results provide further evidence for the association of YKL-40 with the pathogenesis of airway remodeling in severe asthma.
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