Abstract
In this pilot study, we examined associations between local interleukin (IL)-26, disease severity and biomarkers of Th2-mediated inflammation in a well-defined cohort of pediatric patients (14 years median age, 41 % females) with controlled (n = 28) or uncontrolled (n = 48) asthma. Sputum IL-26 protein concentrations (ELISA) reflected disease control in patients without local (low exhaled nitric oxide) or systemic (low blood eosinophils) signs of eosinophilic inflammation. Moreover, sputum-IL-26 concentrations correlated with those of blood neutrophils. Our study indicates that IL-26 is a potential biomarker of disease severity in pediatric asthma without signs of Th2-mediated inflammation.