Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt.
Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut 71515, Egypt.
J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2024 Mar;82:127364. doi: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2023.127364. Epub 2023 Dec 12.
The study investigated heavy metals levels [urinary cadmium (U-Cd), erythrocytic cadmium (E-Cd), urinary arsenic (U-As), and whole blood lead (WB-Pb)] in children with bronchial asthma (BA) and tested their associations with serum periostin, miRNA-125b and miRNA-26a levels, and with asthma severity clinically and laboratory [blood eosinophils count (BEC) and serum total immunoglobin E (IgE)]. Also, we tested cut-off points, for the studied parameters, to distinguish BA cases from healthy children.
This case-control study included 158 children divided into control group; n = 72 and BA group; n = 86. Heavy metals were measured by an inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometer. Serum periostin and IgE levels were measured by their corresponding ELISA kits. miRNAs relative expressions were estimated by RT-qPCR using the 2 method.
Heavy metals, serum periostin, and miR-125b levels were significantly high in BA group (p < 0.001). Heavy metals levels correlated positively with serum periostin, miR-125b and IgE levels, BEC, and asthma severity. The reverse was observed regarding serum miR-26a levels. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis showed good to excellent abilities of U-Cd, E-Cd, U-As, WB-Pb, serum periostin, miRNA-125b, and miRNA - 26a, and total IgE levels to distinguish BA cases from healthy children.
Heavy metal toxicity in children is associated with BA severity, increased serum periostin and miRNA-125b levels, and decreased miRNA-26a levels. Specific measures to reduce children's exposure to heavy metals should be taken. Future research should consider blocking miRNA-125b action or enhancing miRNA-26a action to manage BA cases.
本研究调查了支气管哮喘（BA）患儿体内重金属水平[尿镉（U-Cd）、红细胞镉（E-Cd）、尿砷（U-As）和全血铅（WB-Pb）]，并检测了它们与血清骨桥蛋白、miRNA-125b 和 miRNA-26a 水平的相关性，以及与临床和实验室[血嗜酸性粒细胞计数（BEC）和血清总免疫球蛋白 E（IgE）]的哮喘严重程度的相关性。此外，我们还检测了研究参数的截止值，以区分 BA 病例和健康儿童。
这项病例对照研究纳入了 158 名儿童，分为对照组（n=72）和 BA 组（n=86）。采用电感耦合等离子体-光学发射光谱仪测定重金属含量。采用相应的 ELISA 试剂盒测定血清骨桥蛋白和 IgE 水平。采用 RT-qPCR 法检测 miRNA 相对表达量。
BA 组重金属、血清骨桥蛋白和 miR-125b 水平显著升高（p<0.001）。重金属水平与血清骨桥蛋白、miR-125b 和 IgE 水平、BEC 和哮喘严重程度呈正相关，而血清 miR-26a 水平则相反。ROC 曲线分析显示，U-Cd、E-Cd、U-As、WB-Pb、血清骨桥蛋白、miRNA-125b 和 miRNA-26a 以及总 IgE 水平对区分 BA 病例和健康儿童具有良好到极好的能力。
儿童重金属毒性与 BA 严重程度、血清骨桥蛋白和 miRNA-125b 水平升高以及 miRNA-26a 水平降低有关。应采取具体措施减少儿童对重金属的暴露。未来的研究应考虑阻断 miRNA-125b 的作用或增强 miRNA-26a 的作用，以管理 BA 病例。
