An interleukin (IL)-6 high phenotype in children with asthma is associated with obesity and neutrophilia
- 1Department of Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- 2Pritzker School of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
- 3Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Abstract
Background:: Interleukin (IL)-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine that has been shown to mediate inflammation in several chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. It has emerged in the past decade as a potential biomarker for asthma in adults, but an IL-6-high phenotype in children has yet to be defined.
Objective:: To determine whether an IL-6 high phenotype could be identified in children with asthma and its relation to other clinical and biologic characteristics previously identified as significant in individuals with asthma.
Methods:: We conducted a single-center, prospective, observational study to quantify plasma IL-6 levels in children aged 6 to 17 years from an urban outpatient clinic. Both children with asthma and controls without asthma were recruited. Blood samples, lung function testing, and questionnaires were collected at a single study visit.
Results:: An IL-6-high phenotype was identified in this diverse pediatric population that was not seen in healthy controls. High plasma IL-6 levels were associated with obesity, high C-reactive protein, and neutrophilia but not with age, asthma severity, plasma IL-6 receptor levels, or plasma fatty acid levels. High IL-6 levels were not distinct from type 2-associated inflammation; rather, the 2 revealed significant overlap.
Conclusion:: In our single-center study, an IL-6-high phenotype was identified in children with asthma that was associated with obesity and neutrophilia but was not independent of atopic disease. Further work is needed to determine whether IL-6 modulation can impact asthma morbidity in children.
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BibTeX
@article{kim2026interleukin,
title = {{An interleukin (IL)-6 high phenotype in children with asthma is associated with obesity and neutrophilia}},
author = {So Lim Kim and Jamel I. Mansur and Elizabeth Carr and Nydia Kung and Matthew Moy and Ruchi Singla and Steve W. Handoyo and Valerie G. Press and Sharmilee M. Nyenhuis and Bharathi Laxman and Steven White and Christina E. Ciaccio},
journal = {Annals of allergy, asthma \& immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, \& Immunology},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1016/j.anai.2026.09.729},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2026.09.729},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - An interleukin (IL)-6 high phenotype in children with asthma is associated with obesity and neutrophilia
AU - So Lim Kim
AU - Jamel I. Mansur
AU - Elizabeth Carr
AU - Nydia Kung
AU - Matthew Moy
AU - Ruchi Singla
AU - Steve W. Handoyo
AU - Valerie G. Press
AU - Sharmilee M. Nyenhuis
AU - Bharathi Laxman
AU - Steven White
AU - Christina E. Ciaccio
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/14
JO - Annals of allergy, asthma & immunology : official publication of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology
DO - 10.1016/j.anai.2026.09.729
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anai.2026.09.729
AB - Background:: Interleukin (IL)-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine that has been shown to mediate inflammation in several chronic diseases, including diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease. It has emerged in the past decade as a potential biomarker for asthma in adults, but an IL-6-high phenotype in children has yet to be defined. Objective:: To determine whether an IL-6 high phenotype could be identified in children with asthma and its relation to other clinical and biologic characteristics previously identified as significant in individuals with asthma. Methods:: We conducted a single-center, prospective, observational study to quantify plasma IL-6 levels in children aged 6 to 17 years from an urban outpatient clinic. Both children with asthma and controls without asthma were recruited. Blood samples, lung function testing, and questionnaires were collected at a single study visit. Results:: An IL-6-high phenotype was identified in this diverse pediatric population that was not seen in healthy controls. High plasma IL-6 levels were associated with obesity, high C-reactive protein, and neutrophilia but not with age, asthma severity, plasma IL-6 receptor levels, or plasma fatty acid levels. High IL-6 levels were not distinct from type 2-associated inflammation; rather, the 2 revealed significant overlap. Conclusion:: In our single-center study, an IL-6-high phenotype was identified in children with asthma that was associated with obesity and neutrophilia but was not independent of atopic disease. Further work is needed to determine whether IL-6 modulation can impact asthma morbidity in children.
SN - 1081-1206
SN - 1534-4436
ER -