Proteins regulating iron metabolism in asthmatic children

Proteomic discovery program has identified a panel of proteins indicating involvement of iron metabolism pathways in asthma. Ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and hemopexin are predominantly liver-synthesized acute phase proteins that may modulate systemic inflammatory response through inhibition of oxidative stress and iron sequestration and may be involved in tissue repair. We aimed to study serum levels of ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and hemopexin in asthmatic children and correlate their levels to pulmonary functions. Sixty moderate to severe persistent asthmatics (30 during attacks & 30 in-between attacks) aged 6-13 years and 30 non-atopic, non-asthmatic matched healthy control children were included. All were subjected to assessment of serum ceruloplasmin; haptoglobin and hemopexin levels. Pulmonary function tests were done for patients. Serum ceruloplasmin and haptoglobin were significantly higher in asthmatic children between attacks (448.04±386.79),(993.33±554.56) compared to controls (168.42±13.46), (473.33±350.3) (p=0.002, p<0.0001) and to asthmatics during exacerbations (288.8±219.6), (620±467.86) (p =0.014, p=0.006). Serum hemopexin was significantly higher in asthmatics between attacks (509.33±341.51) compared to controls (296.67±158.38) (p<0.003) but no significant difference compared to acute exacerbations (477.33±396.6). No significant correlations were found between previous protein levels and pulmonary functions or severity of asthma. Conclusion: Iron metabolism pathways may be involved in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma. Serum levels of ceruloplasmin, haptoglobin and hemopexin can be used as noninvasive inflammatory markers for diagnosis of asthma.