title: Effect of treatment with inhaled corticosteroid on serum periostin levels in asthma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Periostin is a biomarker of eosinophilic airway inflammation and may contribute to airway remodeling in asthma. The anti-inflammatory activity of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) for asthma control is widely recognized. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of ICS on serum periostin levels and its relationships to inflammation and airway geometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-two healthy controls and 20 patients with steroid-naïve asthma before and after treatment with fluticasone propionate (800 μg/day for 16 weeks) were examined. Serum periostin, lung function and inflammatory cell counts in sputum were measured. Airway dimensions were determined by quantitative computed tomography (total area of the airway (Ao), wall area (WA), wall thickness (T) and percentage wall area (WA%) ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum periostin concentrations were significantly higher in patients with asthma than in controls. Periostin levels were correlated with airway wall thickness and sputum eosinophilia and inversely correlated with airflow limitation in asthma. ICS significantly decreased serum periostin (P < 0.01), decreased WA corrected for body surface area (WA/BSA, P < 0.05), T/√BSA (P < 0.01) and WA% (P < 0.01), reduced the percentage of sputum eosinophils (P < 0.01) and improved airflow limitation. The decrease in serum periostin levels was associated with an increased per cent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (r = -0.64, P < 0.01), decreased WA/BSA (r = 0.46, P < 0.05) and decreased sputum eosinophils (r = 0.71, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum periostin levels respond partially to ICS and may reflect a reduction in airway inflammation and wall thickening in asthma.
authors.affiliation: Division of Clinical Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Atami Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, Atami, Japan.
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoshino
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Atami Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, Atami, Japan.
authors.forename: Junichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ohtawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Atami Hospital, International University of Health and Welfare, Atami, Japan.
authors.forename: Kenta
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Akitsu
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000328:Adult; D056151:Airway Remodeling / Q000276:immunology; D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D000068298:Fluticasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000379:methods; D013183:Sputum / Q000166:cytology; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C512835:POSTN protein, human; D000068298:Fluticasone
keywords: airway dimension; asthma; inflammation; inhaled corticosteroid; periostin