Question

Biomarkers for bronchial asthma.

Hint:

Monitoring biomarkers like FeNO and serum eosinophils can help tailor asthma treatment, especially for patients with eosinophilic inflammation.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding Bronchial Asthma.
Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways characterized by variable airflow obstruction, bronchospasm, and airway hyperresponsiveness. Inflammation is primarily driven by immune cells such as eosinophils, mast cells, and T-helper cells, and it is associated with an increased production of various biomarkers.

Step 2: Biomarkers for Bronchial Asthma.
Biomarkers are measurable substances in the body that indicate the presence or severity of a disease. For asthma, several biomarkers are used to monitor inflammation, identify triggers, and guide treatment:
1. Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FeNO): Elevated levels of FeNO indicate eosinophilic airway inflammation and are used to assess the degree of inflammation and responsiveness to corticosteroids.
2. Serum Eosinophil Count: Eosinophils are involved in the inflammation process in asthma. An elevated eosinophil count in the blood correlates with asthma severity and may predict a good response to corticosteroids.
3. Immunoglobulin E (IgE): Elevated total IgE levels are often seen in allergic asthma. Specific IgE antibodies to allergens (e.g., pollen, dust mites) are also important in identifying allergen sensitization.
4. Sputum Eosinophils: Analysis of sputum for eosinophils can provide direct evidence of eosinophilic inflammation in the airways and help monitor disease activity.
5. Cytokines (e.g., IL-5, IL-4): Interleukins like IL-5 and IL-4 play a key role in the activation and survival of eosinophils and the overall allergic inflammatory process.
6. Periostin: Periostin is a protein that is associated with airway remodeling and eosinophilic inflammation. It can serve as a biomarker for assessing asthma severity and the presence of airway remodeling.

Step 3: Conclusion.
Biomarkers in bronchial asthma are crucial for assessing disease severity, monitoring treatment response, and identifying specific inflammatory pathways. They also offer potential for personalized asthma management.