Połomska Joanna, Sozańska Barbara
1st Department and Clinic of Paediatrics, Allergology and Cardiology, Wrocław Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland.
J Clin Med. 2022 Jan 4;11(1):252. doi: 10.3390/jcm11010252.
(1) Background: L-arginine (L-ARG) and its metabolites are involved in some aspects of asthma pathogenesis (airway inflammation, oxidative stress, bronchial responsiveness, collagen deposition). Published data indicate that lungs are a critical organ for the regulation of L-ARG metabolism and that alterations in L-ARG metabolism may be significant for asthma. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of L-ARG and its metabolites in pediatric patients with asthma in serum and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) by mass spectrometric analysis and compare them with non-asthmatic children. (2) Methods: Sixty-five children (37 pediatric patients with bronchial asthma and 28 healthy control subjects) aged 6-17 participated in the study. All participants underwent a clinical visit, lung tests, allergy tests with common aeroallergens, and serum and EBC collection. The levels of biomarkers were determined in both serum and EBC. Analytical chromatography was conducted using an Acquity UPLC system equipped with a cooled autosampler and an Acquity HSS T3 column. Mass spectrometric analysis was conducted using the Xevo G2 QTOF MS with electrospray ionization (ESI) in positive ion mode. (3) Results: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) levels in serum and EBC did not differ significantly in asthmatic children and healthy control subjects. We found no correlation between forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and L-ARG and its metabolites, as well as between interleukin-4 (IL-4) serum level and L-ARG and its metabolites. Concentrations of ADMA, SDMA, citrulline (CIT), and ornithine (ORN) were higher in serum than EBC in asthmatics and non-asthmatics. By contrast, concentrations of dimethylarginine (DMA) were higher in EBC than serum. ADMA/L-ARG, SDMA/L-ARG, and DMA/L-ARG ratios were significantly higher in EBC than in serum in asthmatics and in non-asthmatics. (4) Conclusions: Serum and EBC concentrations of L-ARG and its metabolites were not an indicator of pediatric bronchial asthma in our study.
(1) 背景：L-精氨酸（L-ARG）及其代谢产物参与哮喘发病机制的某些方面（气道炎症、氧化应激、支气管反应性、胶原蛋白沉积）。已发表的数据表明，肺是调节L-ARG代谢的关键器官，且L-ARG代谢的改变可能对哮喘具有重要意义。本研究的目的是通过质谱分析评估哮喘患儿血清和呼出气冷凝液（EBC）中L-ARG及其代谢产物的水平，并将其与非哮喘儿童进行比较。(2) 方法：65名年龄在6至17岁的儿童（37名支气管哮喘患儿和28名健康对照受试者）参与了本研究。所有参与者均接受了临床检查、肺部测试、常见气传变应原的过敏测试以及血清和EBC采集。在血清和EBC中均测定了生物标志物的水平。使用配备冷却自动进样器和Acquity HSS T3柱的Acquity UPLC系统进行分析色谱分析。使用Xevo G2 QTOF MS在正离子模式下通过电喷雾电离（ESI）进行质谱分析。(3) 结果：哮喘患儿和健康对照受试者血清和EBC中的不对称二甲基精氨酸（ADMA）和对称二甲基精氨酸（SDMA）水平无显著差异。我们发现一秒用力呼气量（FEV1）与L-ARG及其代谢产物之间，以及白细胞介素-4（IL-4）血清水平与L-ARG及其代谢产物之间均无相关性。哮喘患者和非哮喘患者血清中的ADMA、SDMA、瓜氨酸（CIT）和鸟氨酸（ORN）浓度均高于EBC。相比之下,EBC中的二甲基精氨酸（DMA）浓度高于血清。哮喘患者和非哮喘患者EBC中的ADMA/L-ARG、SDMA/L-ARG和DMA/L-ARG比值均显著高于血清。(4) 结论：在我们的研究中，血清和EBC中L-ARG及其代谢产物的浓度并非小儿支气管哮喘的指标。
