Association of Serum Surfactant Protein D and SFTPD gene variants with
asthma in Danish children, adolescents and young adults
Abstract
Background: Surfactant Protein D (SP-D) is a pattern recognition
molecule belonging to the collectin family expressed in multiple human
organ systems including the lungs. Previous studies have shown that SP-D
concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavage samples decreases and serum
concentrations increases in patients with asthma possibly attributable
to a combination of induced SP-D synthesis and decreased air-blood
barrier integrity. The aims of this study were to investigate if the
serum level of SP-D and common variations in the SP-D gene were
associated to asthma in adolescents and young adults. Methods:
Prospective observational study including 449 adolescents and young
adults (age 11-27 years) previously diagnosed with asthma during a
two-year period from 2003 to 2005 (0-16 years). At follow-up from 2016
to 2017 314 healthy controls with no medical history of asthma were
recruited. Serum SP-D was analyzed on samples obtained at baseline as
well as samples obtained at follow-up. SP-D genotyping was performed for
rs721917, rs2243639 and rs3088308. Results: No differences were found in
mean levels of sSP-D and SFTPD genotype among subjects with current
asthma, no current asthma and controls. Serum SP-D and SFTPD genotype
were not associated to any clinical parameters of asthma. Furthermore,
baseline sSP-D was not associated to asthma at follow-up. Conclusion:
Serum surfactant protein D and common SP-D gene variants were not
associated with asthma in Danish adolescents and young adults with mild
to moderate asthma. Serum surfactant protein D did not demonstrate any
value as a clinical biomarker of asthma.