Allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergic
asthma (AA) exhibit similar inflammatory response in the airways. However, the remodelling is more extensive in the lower airways, suggesting that the
inflammation itself is not sufficient for allergic phenotype. We aimed to analyse whether the expression of selected 27 inflammatory and
fibrosis-related
proteins may be altered in AR and AA in the paediatric population and whether the expression pattern is either similar (due to the
inflammation) or disease-specific (due to the remodelling). We analysed 80 paediatric subjects: 39 with AA, 21 with AR and 20 healthy children. The diagnosis of AR and AA was based on clinical manifestation, lung function, positive skin prick tests and increased
immunoglobulin E levels. Serum levels of selected inflammatory
proteins were measured with custom Magnetic Luminex Assay. Statistical analysis was performed in Statistica v.13. CCL2/MCP1,
GM-CSF, gp130 and
periostin concentrations were significantly lower, whereas
IL-5 levels were higher in AA compared to the control group. CD-40L, CHI3L1/YKL-40,
EGF,
GM-CSF and
periostin levels were significantly decreased in patients with AR than in the control group. Comparison of AA and AR patients revealed significant changes in CHI3L1/YKL-40 (P = 0.021),
IL-5 (P = 0.036),
periostin (P = 0.013) and VEGFα (P = 0.046). Significantly altered
proteins were good predictors to distinguish between AA and AR (P < 0.001, OR 46.00, accuracy 88.57%). Our results suggest that the expression of four fibrotic
proteins was significantly altered between AA and AR, suggesting possible differences in
airway remodelling between upper and lower airways.