Dysregulated serum levels of human tissue kallikreins, hK7 and hK10, as potential biomarkers of asthma

Asthma is a highly prevalent inflammatory disease worldwide with limited diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. This study was conducted to explore the possible role of hK7 and hK10 in asthma progression and evaluate them as potential biomarkers of asthma. In total, 74 patients with asthma and 99 normal controls participated in the study. Time-resolved immunofluorometric (TRIF) indirect back-titration (bt) ELISA was employed to measure the expression of hK7 and hK10 in both groups. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS. Results indicated hK7 upregulation and hK10 downregulation in patients with asthma as compared to normal controls. Further non-significant association of hK7 and hK10 expression with patients'age was noted. This study documents the true or impartial behavior of hK7 and hK10 being evaluated as biomarkers of asthma. The aberrant expression of these hKs can help to design diagnostic and therapeutic measures to control asthma. The associated factors need to be considered as they affect the expression of both KLK proteins. Further work is needed for the exploration and utilization of KLK proteins as drug targets fortherapy. First, a Time-resolved immunofluorometric indirect back titration (TRIF-bt) ELISA was developed. The method of TRIF-bt ELISA development has been described in a previously published article [19]. In the second phase, sera were separated from blood samples, and the sera of patients with asthma and normal healthy controls were analyzed for the expression analysis of two kallikrein proteins, i.e., hK7 and hK10. The TRIF-bt ELISA was performed for the estimation of hK7 and hK10 serum levels. In the fourth phase, data analysis was done, which validated the hypothesis, i.e., significant upregulation of hK7 and downregulation of hK10 in patients with asthma as compared to normal controls. (*) Here represents statistical significance of results (p-value <0.05). • First study to report hK7 and hK10 expression in patients with asthma. • A high level of hK7 and a low level of hK10 were observed in patients with asthma. • The expression of hK7 and hK10 can serve as a diagnostic biomarker.