Inflammatory markers in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients with different α1 antitrypsin genotypes
Danielius Serapinas1, Brigita Sitkauskiene, Raimundas Sakalauskas
1Department of Pulmonology and Immunology, Medical Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Kaunas, Lithuania ; Mykolas Romeris University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
Introduction:
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been recently defined as a systemic pulmonary inflammatory disease, and congenital α1 antitrypsin deficiency is one of the well-established genetic risk factors for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The aim of our study was to evaluate the possible associations of α1 antitrypsin with inflammatory markers - CRP, sCD14, TNF-α, sTNFR-1, and sTNFR-2 - in patients with COPD with different α1 antitrypsin genotypes.
Material And Methods:
Serum biomarkers from patients (n = 355) with COPD, defined according to the GOLD criteria, were analyzed using commercial ELISA kits; α1 antitrypsin concentrations were determined by nephelometry, and α1 antitrypsin phenotyping was carried out by means of isoelectric focusing.
Results:
No significant differences in CRP, TNF-α, sTNFR-1, sTNFR-2, and sCD14 levels were found comparing COPD patients with different genotypes. In patients without α1 antitrypsin deficiency (PI*MM), a significant negative correlation between lung function (FEV(1)) and serum α1 antitrypsin (r = -0.522, p = 0.03) and CRP concentration (r = -0.590, p = 0.011) was detected. The level of α1 antitrypsin positively correlated with: a) CRP concentration (r = 0.671, p = 0.005), b) sCD14 (r = 0.510, p = 0.008) and c) sTNFR-1 (r = 0.567, p = 0.007).
Conclusions:
In patients without α1 antitrypsin deficiency, the positive association of α1 antitrypsin concentration with CRP, sCD14, and sTNFR-1 and the negative association with FEV(1) show the importance of α1 antitrypsin as a marker of systemic inflammation.
Related Concept Videos
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease II: Emphysema
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease III: Chronic Bronchitis Features
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease I: Introduction
COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Targets: β₂-Adrenergic Receptors, Apo E, Thymidylate Synthase

