Allergic rhinitis phenotypes with distinct transcriptome profiles in children: A birth cohort

Abstract

Background: Allergic rhinitis (AR) phenotypes in childhood are unclear. Objectives: This study sought to determine AR phenotypes and investigate their natural course and clinical and transcriptomic characteristics. Methods: Latent class trajectory analysis was used for phenotyping AR in 1050 children from birth through 12 years using a birth cohort study. Blood transcriptome analyses were performed to define the underlying mechanisms of each phenotype. Results: Five AR phenotypes were identified: early onset (n = 88, 8.4%), intermediate transient (n = 110, 10.5%), late onset (n = 209, 19.9%), very late onset (n = 187, 17.8%), and never/ infrequent (n = 456, 43.4%). Children with early -onset AR were associated with higher AR severity and sensitizations to foods at age 1 year and inhalants at age 3 years and asthma symptoms, but not with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Children with late -onset AR phenotype associated with sensitizations to various foods at age 1 year but not from age 3 years, and to inhalants from age 7 years and with asthma with BHR. Children with very late-onset AR phenotype associated with sensitizations to foods throughout preschool age and to inhalants at ages 7 and 9 years and with asthma with BHR. Transcriptome analysis showed that early -onset AR was associated with viral/bacterial infection-related defense response, whereas late -onset AR was associated with T cell-related immune response. Conclusions: Early -onset AR phenotype was associated with sensitization to foods and inhalants at an early age and asthma symptoms, but not with BHR, whereas very late- and late -onset AR phenotypes were positively associated with sensitization to inhalants and asthma with BHR. Transcriptomic analyses indicated that early- and late -onset AR phenotypes had distinct underlying mechanisms related to AR as well.