Microbiota and Potential Asthma Markers: A Case Control Study in a Sample of Egyptian Children

Enas R. Abdelhamid¹, Amira S. El Refay^1*, Alshaimaa A. ElKhatib¹, Ayman F. Armaneous¹, Lobna S. Sherif ¹, Shahinaz M. Hussien², Adel Hashish⁴, Nayra  Mehanna ³

¹Child Health, National Research Centre, El-Bohouth Street, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.

²Pediatric department, El Azhar university, Cairo, Egypt.

³Food and Dairy Microbiology, Central Laboratory Network, National Research Centre (NRC), Bohouth street, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.

⁴Children with special needs, National Research Centre, Bohouth street, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

Corresponding Author E-mail: amirasayed.ak@gmail.com

Abstract: Background: It is well known that allergy development is linked to alteration in microbiome and cytokines levels. colonization of children gut by wide array of microbes and bacteria is associated with mucosal and systemic immune responses as well as allergy development. Investigating the role of gut microbiota and serum cytokines clarifies the pathophysiology of the disease and enhance development of management plan. This study aimed to assess fecal microbiota in asthmatic children and correlate it with serum CXCL8 and p38 MAPK as potential asthma severity markers. Results: This case control study enrolled 56 asthmatic children aged 2-8 years, and 20 non asthmatic children of matched sex and age group as a control. Fresh stool samples were obtained from enrolled children for analysis of gut microbiota through DNA extraction and Real time PCR, using species-specific primers, serum CXCL8 and P38MAPK levels were estimated by ELISA. Higher level of Bifidobacterium and lower level of Lactobacillus was reported in asthmatic compared to non-asthmatic children, current results showed significant difference between asthmatic and non-asthmatic subgroups regarding CXCL 8 serum level. Study reported significant negative correlation between presence of asthma and serum markers CXCL8 and p38MAPK while significant positive correlation between presence of asthma and Bifidobacterium Log. Conclusions: the association between CXCL8 level, p38 MAPK and microbiome suggesting a link between gut bacteria and inflammatory status. Moreover, elevated CXCL8 , and p38 MAPK level increase symptoms severity. The alteration of microbiome level associated with elevated markers level suggesting the protective role of gut microbiome in asthma control.

Keywords: Asthma; Bifidobacterium; Children; Cytokines; CXCL8; Lactobacillus; Microbiota; p38 MAPK

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