Author(s): IMAI, T., Institution: AICHI INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 691

INTRODUCTION:
Athletes are known to have a higher prevalence of exercise-induced asthma (EIA) than general population; therefore, regular monitoring of respiratory conditions is important in athletes. Two biomarkers of type 2 airway inflammation are fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) and periostin. Measurement of FeNO is simple, rapid, and noninvasive. However, FeNO is considered an acute marker because it is influenced by several factors. In contrast, periostin is recognized as a stable biomarker, as it is not associated with sex or the affected by acute exercise. Athletes perform high-intensity and high-volume training on a daily basis; therefore, the stability of periostin may make it suitable for routine medical screening of respiratory conditions in athletes. In addition, EIA is associated with higher periostin levels than asthma, suggesting that periostin may serve as a biomarker for EIA. However, periostin is influenced by body characteristics. Body mass index (BMI) and overweight status show a negative correlation with periostin levels. It remains unclear whether the same trend is observed in individuals with a BMI < 25.Objective: To clarify the association between serum periostin levels and BMI in runners with a BMI < 25
METHODS:
A total of 34 collegiate runner athletes (runners) participated in this study (age 18.8 ± 0.9). Three participants had a history of asthma. Participants’ body weights were measured using a digital scale (UC411PBT-C, A&D, Japan). Pulmonary function, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume 1 (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were assessed using a spirometer (HI-801 Chest, Japan). Fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) was measured using NObreath (Bedfont Scientific Ltd., UK). Serum periostin (Shino-test, Tokyo, Japan) and IL33 (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Australia) concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits according to the manufacturers’ instructions. All data were expressed as mean ± SD. Correlations were analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient.
RESULTS:
Runners’ body characteristics were as follows: height 170.8±5.2cm, BMI 19.1±1.2 . The mean serum periostin level among all runners was 77.2±22.9 ng/mL. Serum periostin level was not correlated with BMI (r = 0.19). FeNO was positive correlated with serum IgE (r = 0.43, CI 0.10 to 0.68). Serum IL-33 was detected in 23 of the 34 runners. Among runners with detectable IL-33, serum periostin level was positively correlated with BMI and eosinophil count (r = 0.49 CI 0.09 to 0.76, and r = 0.43 CI 0.0032 to 0.72, respectively).in addition, FeNO was positively correlated with predicted%PEF and FEV1/FVC (r = -0.63 CI -0.83 to -0.28, and r = -0.48 CI -0.75 to -0.07, respectively).
CONCLUSION:
In the presence of IL-33, body mass index showed a positive association with serum periostin, indicating an enhanced relationship with indices of type 2 inflammation.