TY - JOUR T1 - Possible role of IL-33 in the pathophysiology of asthma: A cross-sectional study JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J VL - 38 IS - Suppl 55 SP - p475 AU - Hideki Inoue AU - Isao Ito AU - Akio Niimi AU - Hisako Matsumoto AU - Tsuyoshi Oguma AU - Hitoshi Nakaji AU - Tomoko Tajiri AU - Toshiyuki Iwata AU - Tadao Nagasaki AU - Michiaki Mishima Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p475.abstract N2 - Background: IL-33 and its receptor ST2 have been recognized as key molecules in Th2 inflammation. Clinical roles of serum levels of IL-33/ST2 have not been well evaluated in asthmatic patients.Aims: To investigate relationships between serum IL-33/ST2 levels and clinical measurements in patients with stable asthma.Methods: Seventy-two patients with stable, mild-to-severe asthma aged 55.0±18.4 (mean ± SD) years were analyzed cross-sectionally. Serum levels of IL-33 and ST2 were measured by ELISA. Relationships between serum levels of IL-33/ST2 and clinical measurements were evaluated. Clinical measurements include spirometric values, exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels, induced sputum cell differentials, blood eosinophil count and serum total and specific IgE results.Results: Forty-nine patients were positive for at least one IgE CAP RAST. Serum levels of IL-33 were positively correlated with disease duration (r = 0.34, p < 0.01), and negatively correlated with FEV1/FVC (r = -0.25, p = 0.04). IL-33 levels were also positively correlated with FeNO levels (r = 0.26, p = 0.04), blood eosinophil counts (r = 0.35, p < 0.01) and serum IgE levels (r = 0.29, p = 0.01). There was no difference in median values of serum IL-33 between CAP RAST-positive and CAP RAST-negative subgroups. Serum levels of ST2 had no correlation with any of the clinical indices.Conclusions: Serum levels of IL-33 may reflect atopic status as represented by serum total IgE levels as well as degree of airway inflammation as assessed by peripheral blood eosinophilia and FeNO levels. ER -