CXCL10, CXCL11 and CCL18 predict asthma and sensitisation
As some of the chemokines indeed associated with the development of asthma and sensitisation later in childhood, we tested the ability of the chemokine levels to predict asthma (Figure 4A) and sensitisation (Figure 4B) later in childhood and adolescence using binomial logistic regression models.
Asthma: Having higher CXCL11 levels at birth constituted lower odds of being asthmatic at age 16 (OR=0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8, p=0.012). Furthermore, higher CCL18 levels at 8 years of age markedly increased the odds of being asthmatic at ages 8 (OR=3.8, 95% CI 1.5-9.8, p=0.006) and 16 years (OR=5.3, 95% CI 1.7-16.1, p=0.003).
Sensitisation: Presenting with elevated CCL18 levels at age 8, posed a three times or higher odds ratio for developing sensitisation at ages 8 (OR=3.3, 95% CI 1.5-7.1, p=0.002), 11 (OR=3.0, 95% CI 1.3-6.7, p=0.008) and 16 years of age, (OR=4.2, 95% CI 1.7-10.5, p=0.002). In contrast, having high levels of CXCL10 at age 8 seemed protective against becoming sensitised at age 11 (OR=0.4, 95% CI 0.2-0.8, p=0.012).