The role of periostin, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), nesfatin-1, and NUCB2 in asthma and obesity

• Published in: The Journal of asthma Vol. 62; no. 5; p. 787
• Main Authors: Sarioglu, Nurhan, Solmaz Avcikurt, Ayla, Hismiogullari, Adnan Adil, Erel, Fuat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 04.05.2025
• Subjects: Adult; Asthma - blood; Asthma - complications; Asthma - genetics; Calcium-Binding Proteins - blood; Calcium-Binding Proteins - genetics; Case-Control Studies; Cell Adhesion Molecules - blood; Cell Adhesion Molecules - genetics; DNA-Binding Proteins - blood; DNA-Binding Proteins - genetics; Eosinophil Cationic Protein - blood; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nerve Tissue Proteins - blood; Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics; Neurocalcin - blood; Neurocalcin - genetics; Nucleobindins; Obesity - blood; Obesity - complications; Obesity - genetics; Periostin; periostin; eosinophil cationic protein (ECP); nesfatin-1; obesity; Asthma
• ISSN: 1532-4303
• DOI: 10.1080/02770903.2024.2441885

Obesity has a significant impact on asthma incidence and control. Nesfatin-1, encoded by the nucleobindin-2 (NUCB2) gene, regulates energy balance. This study aimed to evaluate NUCB2 gene polymorphism (rs757081 C > G) and its association with serum levels of nesfatin-1 and inflammatory cytokines in obese and non-obese patients with asthma. Obese (  = 43) and non-obese (  = 44) patients diagnosed with asthma and 45 control subjects were included. Nesfatin-1, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), and periostin were studied in serum samples using the ELISA method. NUCB2 polymorphism was studied by PCR method. No difference was found between groups regarding NUCB2 polymorphism (CC, CG, GG) (  = 0.497). Nesfatin-1 levels were higher in the obese asthmatics than in the control (median 1.69 ng/ml vs 1.36 ng/ml,  = 0.004). ECP levels were higher in the obese asthmatics (median 7.67 ng/ml) compared to non-obese asthmatic (median 1.98 ng/ml) and control (median 1.45 ng/ml) (  < 0.001,  < 0.001 respectively). Periostin was found to be lower in both obese (median 0.34 ng/ml) and non-obese asthmatics (median 0.35 ng/ml) compared to control (median 1.2 ng/ml) (  = 0.001,  < 0.001, respectively). There was a positive correlation between BMI and nesfatin-1 (  = 0.33,  < 0.001) and ECP (  = 0.58,  < 0.001). In regression analysis, ECP (95% CI: 0.19 to 0.75,  = 0.005) and periostin (95% CI: 4.5 to 375.1,  = 0.003) were independent predictors for asthma. Nesfatin-1 and ECP have been shown to be increased in obese asthmatics. ECP and periostin have been identified as a predictor of asthma independent of obesity.