Effect of passive smoking on NOX2-induced oxidative stress and arterial dysfunction in children with persistent allergic rhinitis.
Allergic rhinitis (AR) is the most common ailment caused by allergies in children and is associated with high cardiovascular risk. Passive smoke can exacerbate the clinical course of AR and atherosclerosis. Yet, the mechanisms accounting for AR-driven vascular dysfunction and for the worsening effect imparted by passive smoke (PS) on patients with AR remains partially understood. Nor is it known if passive smoking-induced oxidative stress is involved in arterial dysfunction in children with persistent AR. One-hundred and thirty children, including 65 children with persistent AR and 65 healthy controls (HC), will be recruited in this project. Aim of this research project will be to compare endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), oxidative stress assessed by blood levels of isoprostanes, serum activity of soluble NOX2-dp (sNOX2-dp) and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in these two groups of children. Serum cotinine levels will also be assessed to measure exposition to passive smoking and a subgroup analysis will be performed in the two groups to evaluate sNOX2-dp levels, serum isoprostanes, NO and FMD in children exposed to passive smoking compared to children not exposed.