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

Background Allergic rhinitis (AR) phenotypes in childhood are unclear. Objective 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 and inhalants at age 3 and asthma symptoms, but not with bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR). Children with late-onset AR phenotype associated with sensitizations to various foods at age 1, but not from age 3, and to inhalants from age 7 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 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.