Epithelial dysregulation in obese severe asthmatics with gastro-oesophageal reflux

Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) and obesity are associated with frequent exacerbations and poor quality of life in asthmatics. Multiple mechanisms have been proposed for the effect of obesity, including modification of inflammation affecting epithelial cell proliferation and wound repair, while the role of GORD is poorly understood and proton pump inhibitor (PPI) are of variable efficacy. GORD might exert a deleterious effect by inducing vagal reflex, neuroinflammation and directly ( via microaspiration) triggering airway inflammation. Studies of reflux in animal models and human bronchial epithelial cell culture show varying impact on inflammation and airway remodelling. Footnotes This manuscript has recently been accepted for publication in the European Respiratory Journal . It is published here in its accepted form prior to copyediting and typesetting by our production team. After these production processes are complete and the authors have approved the resulting proofs, the article will move to the latest issue of the ERJ online. Please open or download the PDF to view this article. Conflict of interest: Dr PEROTIN has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Schofield has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Wilson has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Ward has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Brandsma has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Strazzeri has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Bansal has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Yang has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Rowe reports and a full time employee and shareholder of Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson and Johnson. Conflict of interest: Miss Corfield has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Lutter has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Prof. Shaw reports personal fees and non-financial support from AstraZeneca, personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, personal fees from Novartis, personal fees from Teva, personal fees from Circassia, and a grant from GSK, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: Dr Bakke reports personal fees from GSK, AZ, Novartis andTeva, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: MC have no conflict of interest to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Dahlen has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Fowler reports personal fees and non-financial support from AstraZeneca, grants and personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, personal fees from Novartis, personal fees from Teva, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: Dr Horvath reports personal fees from Astra Zeneca, Boehringer Ingelheim, Novartis, CSL, Chiesi, Roche, GSK, Berlin-Chemie and Sandoz, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: Dr Howarth reports personal fees from GSK, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: Dr Krug has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Montuschi has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Sanak has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Sandstrom reports other monetary support from Boehringer Ingelheim, outside the submitted work. Conflict of interest: Dr Sun has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Pandis has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Auffray reports grants from Innovative Medicine Initiative, during the conduct of the study. Conflict of interest: Dr De Meulder reports grants from Innovative Medicine Initiative, during the conduct of the study. Conflict of interest: Ms. Lefaudeux reports grants from Innovative Medicine Initiative, grants from Innovative Medicine Initiative, during the conduct of the study. Conflict of interest: Dr Riley reports and I have shares in and I am employed by GSK. Conflict of interest: Dr Sousa has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Dahlen has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Adcock reports grants from EU-IMI, during the conduct of the study. Conflict of interest: KFC has received honoraria for participating in Advisory Board meetings of GSK, AZ, BI, Teva, Novartis and Merck regarding treatments for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and has also been renumerated for speaking engagements. Conflict of interest: Dr Sterk reports grants from Innovative Medicines Initiative, during the conduct of the study. Conflict of interest: Dr Skipp has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Collins reports a patent application for use of a genetically modified Drosophila line carrying one or more mammalian genes associated with a chronic respiratory disease and uses to screen the impact of such genes. Conflict of interest: Dr Davies has nothing to disclose. Conflict of interest: Dr Djukanovic reports receiving fees for lectures at symposia organised by Novartis, AstraZeneca and TEVA, consultation for TEVA and Novartis as member of advisory boards, and participation in a scientific discussion about asthma organised by GlaxoSmithKline. He is a co-founder and current consultant, and has shares in Synairgen, a University of Southampton spin out company.