European Respiratory Journal | 2019
Increased activity of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 in non-severe asthma
Abstract
Given increased risk of cardiovascular events in asthma we hypothesized that lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), an enzyme involved in atherosclerosis, is increased in asthma. In 164 adult asthmatics (63 with severe asthma) and 72 well-matched controls we measured plasma Lp-PLA2 activity using the PLAC test. We determined its relations to inflammation and prothrombotic blood alterations. Asthma and control groups did not differ regarding Lp-PLA2 activity. Interestingly, Lp-PLA2 correlated negatively with asthma severity score (β=-0.15 [-0.23 to -0.07]), being 10.3% higher in non-severe (mild or moderate) as compared to severe asthma (224 [191-261] vs. 203 [181-229], p=0.006 after adjustment) [Fig.1]. Women had lower Lp-PLA2 in asthma and in controls (p=0.001 and p Conclusions: Elevated Lp-PLA2 activity in non-severe asthma suggests increased atherosclerotic risk in this group. Lower Lp-PLA2 activity accompanied by inverse relationship with inflammatory or prothrombotic blood biomarkers in severe asthma might be related to the pathogenesis of more severe asthma phenotype. Funding: National Science Centre, No DEC-2013/09/B/NZ5/00758