TY - JOUR T1 - Clinical variables and protein biomarkers associated with blood eosinophil count and asthma in young adults JF - European Respiratory Journal JO - Eur Respir J DO - 10.1183/13993003.congress-2021.PA3122 VL - 58 IS - suppl 65 SP - PA3122 AU - Maura Kere AU - Sophia Björkander AU - Susanna Klevebro AU - Maria Ödling AU - Sandra Ekström AU - Ida Mogensen AU - Marianne Van Hage AU - Anna Bergström AU - Inger Kull AU - Erik Melén Y1 - 2021/09/05 UR - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/58/suppl_65/PA3122.abstract N2 - Male sex and high FeNO levels are associated with eosinophilic asthma (EA). Our aim was to investigate clinical variables and inflammation-related plasma proteins in relation to blood eosinophil count in subjects with and without asthma, to identify signatures associated with eosinophil count in general or specifically with EA.The study population consisted of young adults from the 24-year follow-up of the Swedish BAMSE cohort and included subjects with complete information regarding asthma, eosinophil count in blood and plasma protein levels analyzed by the OlinkTM Proseek Multiplex Inflammation Panel (92 proteins). We investigated differences in clinical variables and protein levels and used logistic regression to analyze associations in relation to eosinophil count in asthmatic (n=239) and non-asthmatic (n=1824) subjects.Male sex, sensitization and eczema (p<0.001) were associated with eosinophil count independent of asthma, although the prevalence of sensitization and eczema was higher in asthmatic subjects. FeNO levels were positively associated with eosinophil count but was highest in EA (p<0.001). We found 8 proteins that were significantly associated (p<0.01) with eosinophil count independent of asthma status: CCL19, CCL20, CD5, IL12B, IL17A, MCP4, TRAIL and TRANCE. uPA was specifically associated with non-eosinophilic asthma (NEA) and 3 proteins were significantly associated with EA: IL10RB, MMP10 and TNFRSF9.In summary, male sex, sensitization and eczema were associated with eosinophil count regardless of asthma. uPA was identified as a possible biomarker for NEA. Several biomarkers were associated with eosinophil count with and without concurrent asthma.FootnotesCite this article as: European Respiratory Journal 2021; 58: Suppl. 65, PA3122.This abstract was presented at the 2021 ERS International Congress, in session “Prediction of exacerbations in patients with COPD”.This is an ERS International Congress abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only). ER -