Research Information System
JOURNAL OF BREATH RESEARCH, vol.8, no.4, 2014 (SCI-Expanded)
Airway epithelium plays an important role as a physical barrier and a modulator of allergic response. Junctions between cells provide epithelial integrity and barrier function. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of atopy on airway epithelial integrity in asthma and to measure E-cadherin levels in exhaled breath condensate as an indicator epithelial damage. A total of 74 patients with asthma (35 atopic and 39 non-atopic) and 39 healthy children were enrolled in this case-control study. Sociodemographic characteristics and asthma severity parameters in the last three-month period were recorded and pulmonary function tests were performed. Blood samples were obtained to measure serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and peripheral blood eosinophil count, and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) was obtained to measure E-cadherin. EBC E-cadherin levels were significantly lower in the asthmatics when compared to non-atopic controls (0.109 (0.076) versus 0.191 (0.184) ng mL(-1) respectively, p = 0.01). Atopic and non-atopic asthmatic groups had lower EBC E-cadherin levels compared to the control group. (0.112 (0.060) ng ml(-1), 0.106 (0.089) ng ml(-1) and 0.191 (0.184) ng ml(-1), p = 0.02 and p < 0.01 respectively). However, EBC E-cadherin levels were not different between atopic and nonatopic asthmatics.