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Experimental Biology 2010: Airway Platelet Activation Is Associated With Airway Eosinophilic Inflammation In Asthma
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Airway Platelet Activation Is Associated With Airway Eosinophilic Inflammation In Asthma
A.S. Benton1, N. Kumar2, J. Lerner1, A. Wiles1, M. Foerster1, S.J. Teach3,4,5, R.J. Freishtat1,4,5; 1.Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 2. George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC 3.Center for Clinical and Community Research, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 4. Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 5.Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences , Washington, DC
Purpose of Study: Allergic asthma is characterized by inflammation associated with recruitment/activation of eosinophils. In mice, allergen exposure induces platelet migration to the airways that is necessary for eosinophil recruitment. Therefore, we hypothesized that measures of platelet activation would be positively associated with measures of eosinophil activation in the airways of humans with asthma as well as with measures of clinical asthma severity. Methods Used: As an ancillary pilot study to an ongoing cross-sectional study of urban children aged 6-20y with physician diagnosed asthma, we used a flow cytometric bead-based analyte detection assay to measure total p-selectin (as a measure of platelet activation) and eosinophil cationic protein (as a measure of eosinophil activation) in nasal washings. These were compared with each other and with clinical measures of asthma severity. Summary of Results: Nasal washings were available for 75/125 (60%) participants. Regression analyses revealed a positive association between log10 p-selectin levels and eosinophil cationic protein (Beta = 21.87 ng/mL [95%CI: 6 to 37.7 ng/mL]; P = 0.008). P-selectin was not positively associated with the rate of prior acute asthma exacerbations, asthma-related quality of life, neutrophil activation, or spirometric measures. Conclusions: Our cross-sectional pilot study shows a positive association between platelet activation and eosinophil activation in nasal washings from urban children with asthma. These data provide a first step toward human validation of the prior murine studies showing a critical role for platelets in airway eosinophilia.
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