Cohort Sibling Study of Asthma in El Paso

In order to better elucidate the relationship between genetic factors and environmental influence in the development of asthma, the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center and the University of El Paso conducted a collaborative study aiming to investigate the effects of air and soil quality on the development of asthma in El Paso children. Along with soil and air samples, during this cohort study serum samples were also collected from the sibling participants and analyzed using a series of immunological assays. Compared to their nonasthmatic siblings, asthmatic children demonstrated higher IgE levels and proinflammatory cytokines, revealing a need to further investigate the immune component in asthma development.

Using serum samples previously collected from cohort participants, this project will further investigate cytokine activity of the sibling participants. A magnetic bead assay (Magpix technology) will measure serum levels of five human Th17 analytes, including IL-7, IL-9, IL-17A, IL-21, IL-23. Results aim to shed light on immune responses in both asthmatic and nonasthmatic children, and may have implications regarding therapeutic and treatment methods, as well as policy development surrounding environmental pollutants and asthma health.