Prasanna Raju
Subash Sundar
Preethi Suresh
Jayaprakash Thulukanam
Padmanaban S.
A comparative study on the utility of biomarkers – serum interleukin-13 against serum immunoglobulin E in assessing the severity of asthma
Prasanna Raju
Subash Sundar
Preethi Suresh
Jayaprakash Thulukanam
Padmanaban S.
Department of Paediatrics, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur Campus, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
Department of Paediatrics, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur Campus, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
Department of Paediatrics, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur Campus, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
Department of Microbiology, SRM Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattankulathur Campus, Chennai, Tamilnadu, India
Department of Statistics, NIRT, Indian Council of Medical Research, Chennai, India
Received: 1 November 2024 / Revised: 20 February 2025 / Accepted: 4 March 2025 / Published: 30 June 2025
Abstract
Introduction and aim. Asthma is a complex respiratory condition with fluctuating symptoms, airflow obstruction, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and inflammation. Interleukin (IL)-13 induces various biological responses, including B-cell immunoglobulin E (IgE), eosinophil chemo-attractants, and mucus-secreting goblet cell maturation. B-cell immunoglobulin E antibodies are essential for the onset and propagation of the inflammatory cascade, triggering the allergic response. The aim was to compare the utility of biomarkers – serum IL-13 against serum IgE in assessing the severity of asthma.
Material and methods. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted involving 68 asthmatic children aged 6–12 years and 68 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. Asthma severity was assessed using spirometry and categorized as mild, moderate, or severe based on GINA guidelines. Serum IL-13 and IgE levels were measured using validated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
Results. The study confirmed elevated levels of serum IL-13 and IgE in children with asthma compared to the control group, suggesting their involvement in the development of asthma (p<0.001). The threshold values for identifying the existence of asthma were 1.86 pg/mL for IL-13 and 314 ng/ml for IgE. The IL-13 level could accurately classify asthmatic children as having either moderate or severe asthma, using a cut-off value of ≥2.66 pg/mL, with a statistically significant p=0.001. However, no such results were observed with IgE.
Conclusion. Bronchial asthma patients had markedly higher levels of total IgE and IL-13 compared to the healthy controls included in the study. Furthermore, it has been shown that IL-13 plays a role in discerning the extent of asthma severity.
Cite
Prasanna R, Sundar S, Suresh P, Thulukanam J, Padmanaban S. A comparative study on the utility of biomarkers – serum interleukin-13 against serum immunoglobulin E in assessing the severity of asthma. Eur J Clin Exp Med. 2025;23(2):445–452. doi: 10.15584/ejcem.2025.2.27.
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