IL-35 and IL-37 are negatively correlated with high IgE production among children with asthma in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Asthma is one of the most prevalent inflammatory disorders among children in Saudi Arabia.Objective: This study aimed to determine the correlation between the serum levels of vitamin D, immunoglobulin E (IgE), and cytokine (interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-35, and IL-37) in relation to the severity of disease in patients with asthma. Methods: This case-control study was carried out at King Abdullah Specialist Children’s Hospital, Saudi Arabia, and included 48 patients with asthma and 47 matched controls, aged 6–14 years. A validated questionnaire was administered to the participants, after which each patient with asthma underwent pulmonary function tests. The serum levels of vitamin D, IgE, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-35, and IL-37 of each participant were also measured.Results: Patients with asthma demonstrated significantly higher IgE and cytokine (IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-35, and IL-37) levels compared to the control group (p value < .001). The levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 were consistently positively correlated with the serum levels of IgE among patients with asthma. However, the IgE levels in patients with asthma were consistently negatively correlated with IL-35 and IL-37. Conclusions: We found significantly higher levels of eosinophils, IgE, IL-1β, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, IL-35, and IL-37 in patients with asthma compared to the controls, but no relationship between vitamin D and asthma.

Keywords:

• Asthma
• vitamin D
• IgE
• cytokines
• KSA

Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the children that participated in the study, the children’s families, and the team at the King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for their collaborative efforts and generous support during the collection of the samples.

Authors’ contributions

AA, HA, MA, SBS, NM, and AN compiled the research hypothesis, formulated the research proposal, explored the data, designed the experimental work, while AA, HA, MA, SBS, and NM prepared the initial draft of the manuscript under AN guidance. AN, ASA, and MH conducted the ELISA and participated in the ELISA analysis. AN and AA carried out the data analysis and wrote the statistical parts of the study. AA, HA, MA, SBS, and NM contributed to the recruitment of patients and reviewed the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Funding

King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Grant Number: SP16/046) financially supported this study.

Additional information

Funding

The authors are grateful to the children that participated in the study, the children’s families, and the team at the King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for their collaborative efforts and generous support during the collection of the samples.