title: Exhaled breath condensate MMP-9 level and its relationship wıth asthma severity and interleukin-4/10 levels in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) are key mediators in airway remodeling, and MMP- 9 is the main type investigated to discover its implication for the pathogenesis and severity of asthma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate MMP-9 and its natural tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-1) levels of exhaled breath condensate (EBC) in children with asthma. We also analyzed any potential relationship between these enzymes and EBC interleukin (IL)-4/10 levels as well as asthma severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three study groups were formed: group 1, children with persistent asthma (n = 20); group 2, children with intermittent asthma (n = 10), and group 3, healthy controls (n = 12). Pulmonary functions were measured as forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow from 25% to 75% of vital capacity values by spirometry, and MMP-9, TIMP-1 and IL-4/10 levels in EBC were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MMP-9 levels of EBC were found to be 57.7 ± 17.5, 35.4 ± 11.7, and 30.6 ± 3.7 ng/mL in children belonging to group 1, group 2 and group 3, respectively. Children belonging to group 1 and group 2 showed significantly higher MMP-9 levels of EBC in comparison with the controls (P < .001 and P = .047, respectively). No statistically significant difference was found between groups regarding TIMP-1 levels of EBC. EBC MMP-9 levels were inversely correlated with both FEV(1) and PEF values (r = -0.472, P = .011, and r = -0.571, P = .002, respectively) in children with asthma. Positive correlations were also seen between MMP-9 levels and IL-4/10 levels of EBC (r = 0.419, P = .027 and r = 0.405, P = .032, respectively) in children with asthma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We showed that MMP-9 levels of EBC are elevated in children with asthma and correlated with lung functions and other inflammatory markers such as IL-4/IL10 in EBC.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Allergy–Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cukurova, Balcali, Adana, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulbin Bingol
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Karakoc
authors.forename: Ayfer
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yukselen
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Derya Ufuk
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Altintas
authors.forename: Seval Guneser
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Kendirli
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D001944:Breath Tests / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D045853:Exhalation; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9