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Elevated Complement Factor H Levels in Asthmatic Sputa

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Abstract

Background

The alternative pathway of the complement system is known to play a role in the generation of asthmatic airway inflammation, but its regulatory complement protein, factor H has not been investigated in this disease.

Purpose

Our aim was to determine the local bronchial complement factor H (CFH) levels in asthma, and to investigate its relationship with complement activation, systemic CFH concentrations and clinical characteristics of patients.

Methods

Induced sputum and plasma were collected from 21 healthy and 26 asthmatic subjects, and complement factor H and SC5b-9 concentrations were assessed by ELISA. Total protein concentrations were determined by biuret-reaction based microassay system from induced sputa.

Results

CFH was detectable in 81 % of healthy and 100 % of asthmatic subjects, while SC5b-9 exceeded the detection limit in 62 % of healthy subjects and 85 % of asthmatic patients. Sputum CFH concentrations and CFH/protein ratios were increased in samples from asthmatic patients, and correlated with loss of lung function, asthma control, severity and medication intensity, but not with plasma CFH concentrations. Sputum CFH/protein ratios were in positive correlation also with sputum eosinophilic cell counts in asthma. SC5b-9 concentrations were not higher in the asthmatic sputa, although they correlated with sputum CFH concentrations.

Conclusions

CFH level is elevated on asthmatic airway surface, and may be associated with uncontrolled inflammation in asthma.

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Abbreviations

C:

Complement

CFH:

Complement factor H

FVC:

Forced vital capacity

FENO:

Fractional exhaled nitric oxide

FEF 25–75:

Forced expiratory flow at 25–75 percentage of FVC

FEV1 :

Forced expiratory volume in one second

GINA:

Global initiative for asthma

ICS:

Inhaled corticosteroid

IQR:

Interquartile range

MEF 50:

Maximal instantaneous forced expiratory flow where 50 % of the FVC remains to be expired

MEF 75:

Maximal instantaneous forced expiratory flow where 75 % of the FVC remains to be expired

PEF:

Peak expiratory flow

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (OTKA K68808, K81941) and NKTH (National Research and Technology) TECH_08-A1/2-2008-0120. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest. English was proof read by the translation services company Z&Z Orient Ltd.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pulmonology, Semmelweis University, Dios arok 1/C, 1125, Budapest, Hungary

    Zsóka Weiszhár, András Bikov, Gabriella Gálffy, Lilla Tamási, György Losonczy & Ildikó Horváth

  2. Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

    Ildikó Ungvári

  3. Heim, Pal Children Hospital, Budapest, Hungary

    Csaba Szalai

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  1. Zsóka Weiszhár
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Correspondence to Ildikó Horváth.

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Weiszhár, Z., Bikov, A., Gálffy, G. et al. Elevated Complement Factor H Levels in Asthmatic Sputa. J Clin Immunol 33, 496–505 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-012-9807-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10875-012-9807-8

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