Evaluation of vascular endothelial growth factor-A and Endostatin levels in induced sputum and relationship to bronchial hyperreactivity in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis monosensitized to house dust

Background: Studies about the pathogenesis of bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR) in patients with persistent allergic rhinitis (PAR) and its relationship with lower airway remodeling are extremely limited. Objective: This study evaluated bronchial vascular remodeling via the measurement of angiogenic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), and anti-angiogenic factor, Endostatin, and evaluated their relationship with BHR in patients with PAR. Methods: The study group consisted of 30 patients with PAR monosensitized to house dust mites and 14 non-allergic healthy controls. All subjects underwent induced sputum and methacholine (M) bronchial provocation tests. VEGF-A and Endostatin levels were measured by ELISA in induced sputum supernatants. Results: The percentages of eosinophils in induced sputum were significantly increased in patients with PAR compared with healthy controls. There were no significant differences between patients with PAR and healthy controls in terms of levels of VEGF (37.9 pg/ml, min-max: 5-373 pg/ml vs. 24.9, min-max: 8-67 pg/ml, p = 0.8 respectively), Endostatin (532.5 pg/ml, min-max: 150-2125 pg/ml vs. 644, min-max: 223-1123 pg/ml, p = 0.2 respectively) and VEGF/Endostatin ratio (0.057 vs. 0.045, p = 0.8 respectively). In addition, there were no significant differences between patients who are BHR positive (n = 8), or negative to M (n = 22) in terms of levels of VEGF, Endostatin and VEGF/Endostatin ratio and no correlations among value of PD20 to M and levels of VEGF, Endostatin and VEGF/Endostatin ratio. Conclusion: We conclude that VEGF-A and Endostatin did not differ between patients with PAR and healthy controls regardless of BHR to M. (C) 2014 Sociedade Portuguesa de Pneumologia. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved