Association between asthma and IgG levels specific for rhinovirus and respiratory syncytial virus antigens in children and adults
Résumé
Background: Viral infections in childhood, especially to rhinovirus (RV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are associated with asthma inception and exacerbation. However, little is known about the role of RV- and RSV-specific antibodies in childhood versus adult asthma.
Objective: To investigate associations between RV- and RSV-specific IgG levels with asthma phenotypes, in children and adults.
Methods: The analysis included 1771 samples from 1501 participants of the Epidemiological Study on the Genetics and Environment of Asthma (EGEA) (530 children (mean(sd) age = 11.1 (2.8) and 1241 adults (mean(sd) age = 43.4(16.7), among which 274 and 498 had ever asthma, respectively). RSV- and RV-specific IgG levels were determined using micro-arrayed virus-derived antigens and peptides. Cross-sectional associations between standardized RSV- and RV-specific IgG levels and asthma phenotypes were estimated by multiple regression models.
Results: In children, ever asthma was associated with higher IgG levels specific to RV, especially to RV-A, RV-C and to RSV (adj-OR for 1-sd increase in IgG levels = 1.52 (95%CI, 1.16;1.99), 1.42 (1.10;1.83) and 1.24 (0.99;1.54), respectively). These associations were stronger for moderate-to-severe asthma than for mild asthma. Conversely in adults, ever asthma was associated with lower RV-A, RV-B and RV-C IgG levels (adjusted OR = 0.86 (0.74;0.99), 0.83 (0.73;0.95) and 0.85 (0.73;0.99), respectively).
Conclusion: Our results suggest that the association between respiratory virus specific antibody levels and asthma varies during life, with asthma associated with higher levels of IgG to RSV, RV-A and RV-C in children and lower levels of IgG responses to RV-A/B/C in adults.