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

J Asthma. 2022 Apr;59(4):655-662. doi: 10.1080/02770903.2021.1878533. Epub 2021 Feb 13.

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; IgE; KSA; cytokines; vitamin D.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Asthma* / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Cytokines
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin E*
  • Interferon-gamma
  • Interleukin-1* / blood
  • Interleukin-10
  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-4
  • Interleukin-6
  • Saudi Arabia / epidemiology
  • Vitamin D

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • IL37 protein, human
  • Interleukin-1
  • Interleukin-13
  • Interleukin-6
  • Interleukin-10
  • Vitamin D
  • Interleukin-4
  • Immunoglobulin E
  • Interferon-gamma