MALT1 in asthma children: A potential biomarker for monitoring exacerbation risk and Th1/Th2 imbalance-mediated inflammation.

BACKGROUND: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 (MALT1) participates in the immune-related allergic response and inflammation flare, while its clinical role in asthma children is still unknown. Herein, this study aimed to investigate MALT1 expression, and its correlation with exacerbation risk, T helper (Th)1, Th2 cells (and their secreted cytokines), as well as inflammatory cytokines in asthma children. METHODS: Sixty children with asthma exacerbation and 60 children with remission asthma were enrolled in this study; then their blood MALT1, Th1, Th2 cells, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and interleukin-4 (IL-4) were detected. Besides, blood MALT1 in another 20 health controls was also determined. RESULTS: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 was highest in children with asthma exacerbation, followed by children with remission asthma, and lowest in health controls (p < 0.001). MALT1 could distinguish children with asthma exacerbation from children with remission asthma (area under the curve (AUC): 0.757, 95% CI: 0.670-0.843). In children with asthma exacerbation, MALT1 was negatively linked with IFN-γ (p = 0.002) and Th1 cells (p = 0.050), but positively related to Th2 cells (p = 0.027) and exhibited a positive correlation trend (without statistical significance) with IL-4 (p = 0.066); meanwhile, MALT1 was positively correlated with exacerbation severity (p = 0.010) and TNF-α (p = 0.003), but not linked with IL-6 (p = 0.096). In children with remission asthma, MALT1 only was negatively associated with Th1 cells (p = 0.023), but positively linked with TNF-α (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma translocation protein 1 serves as a potential biomarker for monitoring exacerbation risk and Th1/Th2 imbalance-mediated inflammation of asthma children.