Allergic sensitization at school age is a systemic low-grade inflammatory disorder

TY - JOUR

T1 - Allergic sensitization at school age is a systemic low-grade inflammatory disorder

AU - Chawes, B. L.

AU - Stokholm, J.

AU - Schoos, A. M.M.

AU - Fink, N. R.

AU - Brix, S.

AU - Bisgaard, H.

PY - 2017/7

Y1 - 2017/7

N2 - Background: Systemic low-grade inflammation has been demonstrated in a range of the frequent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) proposing a shared mechanism, but is largely unexplored in relation to allergic sensitization. We therefore aimed to investigate the possible association with childhood allergic sensitization. Methods: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8) were measured in plasma at age 6 months (N = 214) and 7 years (N = 277) in children from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood2000 (COPSAC2000) birth cohort. Allergic sensitization against common inhalant and food allergens was determined longitudinally at ages ½, 1½, 4 and 6 years by specific IgE assessments and skin prick tests. Associations between inflammatory biomarkers and sensitization phenotypes were tested with logistic regression and principal component analyses (PCAs). Results: Adjusted for gender, recent infections, and a CRP genetic risk score, hs-CRP at 7 years was associated with concurrent elevated specific IgE against any allergen [adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.14–1.72; P = 0.001], aeroallergens (aOR, 1.43; 1.15–1.77; P = 0.001), food allergens (aOR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.02–1.67; P = 0.04), sensitization without any clinical allergy symptoms (aOR = 1.40; 1.06–1.85; P = 0.02), and with similar findings for skin prick tests. The other inflammatory markers were not univariately associated with sensitization, but multiparametric PCA suggested a specific inflammatory response among sensitized children. Inflammatory markers at age 6 months were not associated with subsequent development of sensitization phenotypes. Conclusions: Elevated hs-CRP is associated with allergic sensitization in school-aged children suggesting systemic low-grade inflammation as a phenotypic characteristic of this early-onset NCD.

AB - Background: Systemic low-grade inflammation has been demonstrated in a range of the frequent noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) proposing a shared mechanism, but is largely unexplored in relation to allergic sensitization. We therefore aimed to investigate the possible association with childhood allergic sensitization. Methods: High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 8 (CXCL8) were measured in plasma at age 6 months (N = 214) and 7 years (N = 277) in children from the Copenhagen Prospective Studies on Asthma in Childhood2000 (COPSAC2000) birth cohort. Allergic sensitization against common inhalant and food allergens was determined longitudinally at ages ½, 1½, 4 and 6 years by specific IgE assessments and skin prick tests. Associations between inflammatory biomarkers and sensitization phenotypes were tested with logistic regression and principal component analyses (PCAs). Results: Adjusted for gender, recent infections, and a CRP genetic risk score, hs-CRP at 7 years was associated with concurrent elevated specific IgE against any allergen [adjusted OR (aOR) = 1.40; 95% CI, 1.14–1.72; P = 0.001], aeroallergens (aOR, 1.43; 1.15–1.77; P = 0.001), food allergens (aOR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.02–1.67; P = 0.04), sensitization without any clinical allergy symptoms (aOR = 1.40; 1.06–1.85; P = 0.02), and with similar findings for skin prick tests. The other inflammatory markers were not univariately associated with sensitization, but multiparametric PCA suggested a specific inflammatory response among sensitized children. Inflammatory markers at age 6 months were not associated with subsequent development of sensitization phenotypes. Conclusions: Elevated hs-CRP is associated with allergic sensitization in school-aged children suggesting systemic low-grade inflammation as a phenotypic characteristic of this early-onset NCD.

KW - allergy

KW - children

KW - high-sensitivity C-reactive protein

KW - pro-inflammatory cytokines

U2 - 10.1111/all.13108

DO - 10.1111/all.13108

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27992959

AN - SCOPUS:85009885094

SN - 0105-4538

VL - 72

SP - 1073

EP - 1080

JO - Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

JF - Allergy: European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology

IS - 7

ER -