# Childhood Asthma in Urban Settings Leadership Center Administrative Supplement for URECA Yr4

> **NIH NIH UM1** · UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON · 2024 · $656,603

## Abstract

Project Summary
Proteomics analysis of URECA nasal secretions.
Rationale. The URECA 14-17 year time point includes collection of nasal secretions by nasosorption to
complement information that will be gained by analyzing nasal cell RNA and DNA. Analysis of nasal specimens
collected at 11 year of age indicates that children with allergic asthma or chronic rhinitis have distinct
differences in nasal epithelial cell gene expression that include increased expression of T2 genes and reduced
expression of an array of other immune response genes. For example, children with a history of chronic rhinitis
beginning in early life have downregulation of a network of genes including canonical antiviral genes (STAT1,
IRF1) but also genes involved in other innate immune responses (e.g., GSMA, CCL5) and adaptive immune
responses (HLA-DRA, CD4, CD19). Notably, there is a strong negative correlation between the upregulated T2
cluster and the downregulation of other immune response genes. These findings suggest that T2 inflammation
can suppress a variety of mucosal immune responses, including antiviral, antibacterial, and innate and
adaptive responses.
Preliminary data. To further explore the hypothesis that airway
mucosal immunity is depressed in children with allergic rhinitis, we
have analyzed nasal secretions from children enrolled in the
Childhood Origins of Asthma (COAST study). Nasal secretions were
obtained by “nasal blow” from 9 y/o children who were sensitized to
aeroallergens and reported at least moderate nasal symptoms, and
an equal number of children with neither symptoms nor sensitization
(10 per group). The nasal samples were tested for immunoglobulin
content by multiplex ELISA (Milliplex, Millipore). IgE values were low
at the threshold of detection for this assay (40% undetectable), and
not significantly different between the groups (geomean 6 vs. 3
ng/mL, allergic vs. nonallergic respectively, ns). However, children with
allergic rhinitis had generally lower immunoglobulin levels than the
normal controls (Figure). However, there were significant differences
Figure _. Immunoglobulin levels in nasal
secretions from allergic and nonallergic
children. Geometric means +/- SD.
(p<0.05) in other immunoglobulins in nasal secretions including IgM (48 vs. 11 pg/mL), IgG2 (1365 vs. 196
pg/mL) and IgA (124 vs. 23 ng/mL). These findings suggest that allergic rhinitis is associated with reduced
immunoglobulins in nasal secretions, and that this could be related to greater susceptibility to both viral and
bacterial infections.
Experimental design. We proposal to conduct a pilot study with 12 samples of nasal secretions (nasosorption)
from URECA children with allergic rhinitis (aeroallergen sensitization and nasal symptoms) and 12 samples
from children with neither allergy nor allergic sensitization. We will use mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS, UW
A.I.C. Mass Spectrometry Facility) to identify proteins in the secretions. Samples of nasal secretions are stored
in PBS...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11087383
- **Project number:** 3UM1AI160040-04S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
- **Principal Investigator:** James E. Gern
- **Activity code:** UM1 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $656,603
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2021-04-12 → 2028-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11087383

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11087383, Childhood Asthma in Urban Settings Leadership Center Administrative Supplement for URECA Yr4 (3UM1AI160040-04S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11087383. Licensed CC0.

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