Serum apelin-12 level is elevated in schoolchildren with atopic asthma

SummaryBackgroundThere are limited data on the role of adipokines in atopic asthma.AimTo determine serum level of apelin-12 (APE-12) in asthmatic children in relation to BMI and gender.MethodsSerum APE-12 levels were measured using ELISA in 89 asthmatic children (61 boys and 28 girls, aged 7.0–17.0 years) and in 33 healthy children. Among examined asthmatics 59 (19 girls and 40 boys) had normal weight and 30 (9 girls and 21 boys) were obese.ResultsThe mean serum levels of APE-12 were significantly (p < 0.001) higher both in obese (174.1 ± 5.9 pg/mL) and non-obese asthmatic children (171.0 ± 4.0 pg/mL) than in healthy children (130.6 ± 2.1 pg/mL), regardless of gender. No relationships between examined the adipokine level and asthma severity, spirometric parameters, degree of allergic sensitization, BMI, BMI-SDS were observed.ConclusionIncreased serum level of APE-12 suggests that this adipokine may be implicated in the pathogenesis of childhood atopic asthma.