title: Increased expression of thymic stromal lymphopoietin in induced sputum from asthmatic children.
abstract: Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) plays a role in amplifying the inflammatory response in asthmatics. TSLP is also a critical factor in airway remodeling airways. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of TSLP in induced sputum from asthmatic children and to look to the impact of TNF-α and IL-37 on TSLP production in induced sputum from asthmatic children.
  
  
  
  Forty children with well-controlled asthma (20 moderate and 20 mild asthmatics) were studied. TSLP was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in induced sputum (IS) samples, and compared with 22 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Real-time quantitative PCR was used to determine TSLP mRNA expression in induced sputum cells. Sputum cells (ISCs) from 5 moderate asthmatics and 5 healthy controls (HC) were stimulated either with TNF-α or TNF-α plus recombinant IL-37 (rIL-37) comparing the suppression on TSLP production.
  
  
  
  The expression of TSLP mRNA in asthmatic patients was significantly higher than that observed in healthy controls [P=0.0001]. Induced sputum fluid TSLP and TNF-α levels were significantly higher in asthmatic patients compared to healthy controls and their levels depend on asthma severity. Sputum cells produced high TSLP levels upon stimulation with TNF-α (10pg/ml) in asthmatics. TSLP is merely produced by bronchial epithelial cells. Addition of recombinant IL-37 suppressed partially TSLP production in sputum-cultured cells and in bronchial epithelial cultured cells.
  
  
  
  The increase in TSLP and TNF-α level observed in IS fluid was found to correlate with disease severity. The increased TSLP production from asthma sputum cells was abrogated by the addition of rIL-37. Regulation of TSLP pathway may be a therapeutic approach for asthma.
authors.affiliation: Unit Research 12SP15 "Homeostasis and Cell Dysfunction", Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Department of Basic Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia; Division of Pulmonology, Department of Paediatric Respiratory Diseases, Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Anissa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berraïes
authors.affiliation: Unit Research 12SP15 "Homeostasis and Cell Dysfunction", Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Department of Basic Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia; Division of Pulmonology, Department of Paediatric Respiratory Diseases, Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Besma
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hamdi
authors.affiliation: Unit Research 12SP15 "Homeostasis and Cell Dysfunction", Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Department of Basic Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia; Division of Pulmonology, Department of Paediatric Respiratory Diseases, Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Jamel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ammar
authors.affiliation: Unit Research 12SP15 "Homeostasis and Cell Dysfunction", Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Department of Basic Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia. Electronic address: Kamel.hamzaoui@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hamzaoui
authors.affiliation: Unit Research 12SP15 "Homeostasis and Cell Dysfunction", Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia; Université de Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, Department of Basic Sciences, Tunis, Tunisia; Division of Pulmonology, Department of Paediatric Respiratory Diseases, Abderrahman Mami Hospital, Ariana, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Agnès
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hamzaoui
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D000067596:Interleukin-33 / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013183:Sputum / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016176:T-Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; C508587:IL37 protein, human; D007375:Interleukin-1; D000067596:Interleukin-33; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000094632:Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin
keywords: Asthma; Bronchial epithelial cells; Children; Induced sputum; Interleukin-37; TNF-α; TSLP