title: Airway molecular phenotypes in pediatric asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The review discusses what is known regarding airway molecular phenotypes in pediatric asthma, specifically biomarkers that have been studied and their relation to the various clinical phenotypes of asthma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pediatric asthma is a complex and heterogeneous disease that consists of several clinical phenotypes. There have been numerous studies investigating inflammatory markers that would increase our understanding of the underlying pathogenesis of asthma as well as facilitate the discovery of therapies for these patients. Some of these biomarkers, such as exhaled nitric oxide, exhaled breath condensate, urine leukotriene E4 and induced sputum are less invasive measures of inflammation than obtaining bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in children. Although recent data reveal that some of these measures may be helpful in classifying and managing pediatric asthma, further studies are critically needed before any of these biomarkers are able to be routinely used in clinical asthma care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The search for noninvasive biomarkers to help elucidate specific underlying molecular phenotypes in pediatric asthma should be a continued priority as we work towards improved care and management of these children.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. shean.aujla@chp.edu
authors.forename: Shean J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Aujla
authors.forename: Kristie R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Chmiel
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Holguin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000145:classification* / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine; D017999:Leukotriene E4 / Q000652:urine; D008168:Lung / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D017999:Leukotriene E4