Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research, 2019. 11(1), 104-115, DOI: https://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2019.11.1.104

Different Biological Pathways Are Up-regulated in the Elderly With Asthma: Sputum Tranomic Analysis

Byung-Keun Kim, Hyun-Seung Lee;Kyoung-Hee Sohn;Suh-young Lee;Sang-Heon Cho;Heung-Woo Park

Abstract

Background: Elderly asthma (EA) is increasing, but the pathogenesis is unclear. This study aimed to identify EA-related biological pathways by analyzing genome-wide gene expression profiles in sputum cells.

Methods: A total of 3,156 gene probes with significantly differential expressions between EA and healthy elderly controls were used for a hierarchical clustering of genes to identify gene clusters. Gene set enrichment analysis provided biological information, with replication from Gene Expression Omnibus expression profiles.

Results: Fifty-five EA patients and 10 elderly control subjects were enrolled. Two distinct gene clusters were found. Cluster 1 (n = 35) showed a lower eosinophil proportion in sputum and less severe airway obstruction compared to cluster 2 (n = 20). The replication data set also identified 2 gene clusters (clusters 1 and 2). Among 5 gene sets significantly enriched in cluster 1 and 3 gene sets significantly enriched in cluster 2, we confirmed that 2 were significantly enriched in the replication data set (OXIDATIVE_PHOSPHORYLATION gene set in cluster 1 and EPITHELIAL MESENCHYMAL TRANSITION gene set in cluster 2).

Conclusions: The findings of 2 distinct gene clusters in EA and different biological pathways in each gene cluster suggest 2 different pathogenesis mechanisms underlying EA.

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4168/aair.2019.11.1.104
• ISBN or ISSN: 2092-7355

• 본 연구는 질병관리본부 연구개발과제연구비를 지원받아 수행되었습니다.
• This research was supported by a fund by Research of Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.