Serum low density lipoprotein subclasses in asthma.
BACKGROUND
The levels of serum low-density lipoproteins (LDL) have been implicated in the inflammatory cascade in a murine model of asthma. Recent findings suggest that LDL may modulate the inflammatory state of the asthmatic airways in humans.


OBJECTIVE
We explored whether LDL subclasses are associated with the occurrence and severity of asthma.


METHODS
24 asthmatics (M/F: 11/13) and 24 healthy individuals, with normal BMI and absence of metabolic syndrome, matched for age and gender. Serum concentrations of LDL subclasses were distributed as seven bands (LDL-1 and -2 defined as large, least pro-inflammatory LDL, and LDL-3 to -7 defined as small, most pro-inflammatory LDL), using the LipoPrint(©) System (Quantimetrix Corporation, Redondo Beach, CA, USA).


RESULTS
LDL-1 was similar in the two groups (56 ± 16% vs. 53 ± 11, p = NS), while LDL-2 was significantly lower in asthmatics as compared to controls (35 ± 8% vs. 43 ± 10%, p = 0.0074). LDL-3 levels were two-fold higher in the asthmatics, but the difference did not reach the statistical significance (8 ± 7.3% vs. 4 ± 3%, p = NS). Smaller subclasses LDL-4 to LDL-7 were undetectable in controls. In asthmatics, LDL-1 was positively associated with VC% predicted (r = +0.572, p = 0.0035) and FEV1% predicted (r = +0.492, p = 0.0146). LDL-3 was inversely correlated with both VC% predicted (r = -0.535, p = 0.0071) and FEV1% predicted (r = -0.465, p = 0.0222).


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this pilot study suggest a role of LDL in asthma, and advocate for larger studies to confirm the association between asthma and dyslipidemia.
BioMedical Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties (DiBiMIS), University of Palermo, Italy; Euro-Mediterranean Institute of Science and Technology, Italy. Electronic address: nicola.scichilone@unipa.it.
Nicola
N
Scichilone
Manfredi
M
Rizzo
Alida
A
Benfante
Roberta
R
Catania
Rosaria Vincenza
RV
Giglio
Dragana
D
Nikolic
Giuseppe
G
Montalto
Vincenzo
V
Bellia
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007009:Hypolipoproteinemias / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood* / Q000145:classification; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL
Asthma pathogenesis; Dyslipidemia; FEV(1); LDL subclasses