Expression of HIF-1 in pediatric asthmatic patients

Background: Several studies have suggested that HIF-1 alpha regulates eosinophil activity and induces epithelial inflam-mation via NF-kappa B activation in the pathophysiology of asthma. The purpose of this study was to examine the expres-sion of the transcription factors HIF-1 alpha and nuclear HIF in mononuclear cells obtained from peripheral blood samples of healthy pediatric patients, asthmatic patients, and asthmatic exacerbations, regardless of disease severity.Methods: HIF-1 levels were measured using immunocytochemistry in 133 patients aged 6 to 17 years in this cross-sectional and comparative study. A microscope was used to examine glass slides, and positive cells were counted in four fields per slide using an image analyzer.Results: HIF-1 alpha and nuclear HIF levels were significantly higher in asthma patients and even higher in patients expe-riencing asthma attacks (p<0.0001, 95% CI). There was no significant difference in the percentage of HIF-1 alpha expres-sion between groups with intermittent asthma and those with mild persistent asthma, nor between patients with asthma and those experiencing asthma exacerbations.Conclusions: When compared to healthy individuals, the expression of nuclear HIF and HIF-1 alpha is increased in periph-eral mononuclear cells in asthma patients and even more so in asthma exacerbations. This suggests that HIF-1 alpha is important in the pathogenesis of this disease.