Study IDs Inflammatory Pathways Contributing to Asthma Exacerbations in Children
TUESDAY, Aug. 12, 2025 -- Inflammatory pathways that contribute to asthma exacerbations have been identified in children with eosinophilic asthma receiving mepolizumab, according to a study published online July 14 in JAMA Pediatrics.
Matthew C. Altman, M.D., from the University of Washington in Seattle, and colleagues characterized respiratory illnesses among 290 urban children with eosinophilic asthma enrolled in the Mechanisms Underlying Asthma Exacerbations Prevented and Persistent With Immune-Based Therapy: A Systems Approach Phase 2 trial, comparing treatment with mepolizumab versus placebo to identify distinct molecular mechanisms implicated in asthma exacerbations.
Overall, 108 participants were sampled during 176 acute respiratory illness events. The researchers found that children receiving mepolizumab had reduced expression of an eosinophil-associated module associated with T2 inflammation during illness events resulting in asthma exacerbations but had increased expression of gene modules associated with epithelial and macrophage inflammatory pathways relative to children receiving placebo. Relative to nonexacerbation illnesses, during exacerbations, both groups showed higher expression of mucus secretion and cellular stress response pathways. Upregulation of epithelial inflammatory pathways was seen in the mepolizumab group in exacerbations, regardless of a respiratory virus, while there was a specific contribution for macrophage pathways to viral exacerbations. The majority of the heterogeneity among exacerbations in the two groups was seen for three distinct, semiorthogonal inflammatory axes.
"There are multiple different types of inflammatory responses that are involved in exacerbations, and they're driving exacerbations differentially," coauthor Rajesh Kumar, M.D., from the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, said in a statement.
Several authors disclosed ties to biopharmaceutical companies.
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Read this next
AAP: Pediatric Golf Cart-Related Injuries Mainly Caused by Falls
TUESDAY, Sept. 30, 2025 -- Pediatric/young adult golf cart-related injuries are mainly caused by falls from the golf cart, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of...
Study Chronicles War-Related Injuries in Gaza
TUESDAY, Sept. 30, 2025 -- A special article published online Sept. 25 in The BMJ chronicles war-related injuries seen in Gaza. Omar El-Taji, a research fellow from...
Self-Reported Cognitive Disability Rates Increased in U.S. Adults From 2013 to 2023
TUESDAY, Sept. 30, 2025 -- Rates of self-reported cognitive disability rose in U.S. adults from 5.3 to 7.4 percent in the last decade, particularly among younger adults, according...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.