Effect of TGFß1 and TIMP2 on disease activity in asthma and COPD

The process of bronchial tissue repair/remodeling depends on balance between production and degradation achieves the regulation of extracellular matrix turnover. We designed this study to evaluate relation between Transforming Growth Factor Beta1 (TGFß1) and Tissue Inhibitory of Metaloproteinase 2 (TIMP2) as two main tissue mediators on activity and reversibility of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In a cross sectional study we evaluated TIMP2 and TGFß1 expression in two groups of 29 asthmatic (14 males and 15 females) and 13 male COPD patients using semi-quantitative PCR on induced sputum samples. The relation between TIMP2 and TGFß1 and PFT indices and disease free period were assessed. The COPD patients with raised expression of both TGFß1 and TIMP2 had better pulmonary function test (PFT) indices and also longer disease free period. In contrast patients with chronic asthma could remain in well pulmonary function status with raised TIMP2 and decreased TGFß1 expression. We supposed that underlying inflammatory process is the main reason for the different effect of cytokines in asthma and COPD. It raises concern about critical role of corticosteroids consumption on various cytokines expression. Furthermore TGFBeta1 may be served as a biomarker in sputum for assessing disease activity and evidence based prescribing corticosteroids in patients with COPD and asthma.