D1.121 - Association of Serum Club Cell Secretory Protein 16 (CC16) with House Dust Mite Sensitization in Children with Asthma

Club cell secretory protein 16 (CC16) reflects the integrity of the respiratory epithelium; however, its relationship with molecular sensitization in children with bronchial asthma remains unclear

The aim of this study was to assess serum CC16 levels in children with bronchial asthma and their association with sensitization to house dust mite (HDM), particularly to protease-active components.Serum CC16 was measured by ELISA in 98 children aged 6–17 years with mild (n=34), moderate (n=30), and severe (n=34) asthma, and in a control group of healthy children (n=20). Allergen-specific IgE was determined using the ALEX multiplex assay.

In children sensitized to HDM (n=50), CC16 levels were lower than in non-sensitized children (1.87±0.17 vs 2.42±0.35 ng/mL; p=0.16) and were significantly lower compared with controls (p=0.007).High sensitization to the HDM protease-active component Der f 1 (>5 kUA/L) was associated with lower CC16 levels compared with low sensitization (<1 kUA/L) (1.50±0.26 vs 2.22±0.22 ng/mL; p=0.04).Among children with low sIgE levels to Der p 1 (<1 kUA/L), CC16 was higher in mild than in severe asthma (2.81±0.52 vs 1.66±0.20 ng/mL; p<0.05).The frequency of HDM sensitization did not differ across asthma severity groups.

The lowest CC16 levels were observed in children with high sIgE levels to protease-active HDM components (Der p 1/Der f 1), which may reflect more pronounced epithelial barrier impairment in HDM-sensitized pediatric asthma.