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FOXP3 mRNA expression lower among children with asthma, food allergy

Children with both asthma and a food allergy demonstrated significantly lower FOXP3 mRNA expression than healthy children, and may serve as an indicator to asthma severity, according to recent research.

Aneta Krogulska, MD, PhD, of the department of pediatric allergology, gastroenterology and nutrition at Medical University of Lodz in Poland, and colleagues assessed FOXP3 mRNA expression in 82 children with asthma. Fifteen had atopic asthma and an IgE-dependent food allergy, 27 had atopic asthma without a food allergy, 20 were IgE-dependent without a food allergy, and 20 without atopic asthma served as a control group.

Researchers used a High Capacity cDNA Archive Kit (Applied Biosystems) to performed reverse transcription, and they completed the analysis by using a 7900HT real-time polymerase chain reaction system (Applied Biosystems).

Results showed the average gene expression level among children with asthma (2.2 ±1.3) was significantly lower than the level among healthy children (4.2 ± 4.2). Researchers observed the lowest expression level in children with both asthma and a food allergy (1.9 ± 1.6; P = .036).

Results revealed no significant association between gene expression and age or levels of forced expiratory volume in 1 second.

“A milder course of asthma or the degree of allergic reaction after a food challenge was associated with higher FOXP3 mRNA expression,” Krogulska and colleagues wrote.

Researchers reported a mild reaction among 30% of children with a food allergy but no asthma, and 20% of children with both a food allergy and asthma. Moderate reactions occurred among 70% of children with a food allergy but no asthma, and 40% of children with both a food allergy and asthma. Among patients who took the oral food challenge, 17.1% of children with both a food allergy and asthma displayed the most severe symptoms.

“In conclusion, children with asthma with IgE-mediated [food allergy] demonstrated a significantly lower FOXP3 mRNA expression than healthy children,” Krogulska and colleagues wrote. “FOXP3 expression did not differ among the studied phenotypes of allergic diseases. FOXP3 expression changes depend on the clinical course of allergic disease.” – by Jeff Craven

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.