HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (12) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Gosker, H.R. Articles by Schols, A.M.W.J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Gosker, H.R. Articles by Schols, A.M.W.J.

Uncoupling protein-3 content is decreased in peripheral skeletal muscle of patients with COPD

Depts of ¹ Pulmonology, ² Human Biology, and ³ Movement Sciences, Nutrition Toxicology and Environment Research Institute Maastricht, and ⁴ Dept of Physiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands

CORRESPONDENCE: H.R. Gosker, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht, the Netherlands. Fax: 31 433875051. E-mail: H. Gosker@pul.unimaas.nl

Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, energy metabolism, muscle fibre types, peripheral skeletal muscle, uncoupling protein-3

Received: October 1, 2002
Accepted February 24, 2003

This study was supported by a grant from the Netherlands Asthma Foundation (project number 96.16). P. Schrauwen was supported by a grant from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO).

Mechanical efficiency is reduced in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Furthermore, altered fibre-type distribution and metabolic profile has been observed in peripheral skeletal muscle of COPD patients. Since skeletal muscular uncoupling protein-3 (UCP3) has been implicated in the regulation of energy metabolism, the aim of this study was to assess UCP3 in peripheral skeletal muscle of COPD patients and healthy controls.

A total of 16 COPD patients and 11 healthy age-matched control subjects were studied. Mechanical efficiency was measured by means of cycle ergometry. Biopsies were taken from the vastus lateralis, and UCP3 and cytochrome c (as a marker for mitochondrial content) levels were assessed by Western blotting. Muscle fibre types and metabolic profile were examined histochemically. UCP3 levels were markedly decreased in COPD compared to controls. In COPD patients, there was a positive correlation between UCP3 content and the forced expiratory volume in one second. UCP3 content was not related to mechanical efficiency, or other muscular data such as fibre types, markers of oxidative/glycolytic energy metabolism or cytochrome c.

The authors of this study conclude that uncoupling protein-3 content is decreased in peripheral skeletal muscle of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and is related to disease severity, but not to mechanical efficiency. The low uncoupling protein-3 content is independent of the loss of oxidative capacity observed in these patients.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. R Gosker, M. P Zeegers, E. F M Wouters, and A. M W J Schols Muscle fibre type shifting in the vastus lateralis of patients with COPD is associated with disease severity: a systematic review and meta-analysis Thorax, November 1, 2007; 62(11): 944 - 949. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. H. Remels, P. Schrauwen, R. Broekhuizen, J. Willems, S. Kersten, H. R. Gosker, and A. M. Schols Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor expression is reduced in skeletal muscle in COPD Eur. Respir. J., August 1, 2007; 30(2): 245 - 252. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. A. Rabinovich, R. Bastos, E. Ardite, L. Llinas, M. Orozco-Levi, J. Gea, J. Vilaro, J. A. Barbera, R. Rodriguez-Roisin, J. C. Fernandez-Checa, et al. Mitochondrial dysfunction in COPD patients with low body mass index Eur. Respir. J., April 1, 2007; 29(4): 643 - 650. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. E Bolton, R. Broekhuizen, A. A Ionescu, L. S Nixon, E. F M Wouters, D. J Shale, and A. M W J Schols Cellular protein breakdown and systemic inflammation are unaffected by pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD Thorax, February 1, 2007; 62(2): 109 - 114. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Nici, C. Donner, E. Wouters, R. Zuwallack, N. Ambrosino, J. Bourbeau, M. Carone, B. Celli, M. Engelen, B. Fahy, et al. American thoracic society/european respiratory society statement on pulmonary rehabilitation. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., June 15, 2006; 173(12): 1390 - 1413. [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. R. Gosker, P. Schrauwen, R. Broekhuizen, M. K. C. Hesselink, E. Moonen-Kornips, K. A. Ward, F. M. E. Franssen, E. F. M. Wouters, and A. M. W. J. Schols Exercise training restores uncoupling protein-3 content in limb muscles of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, May 1, 2006; 290(5): E976 - E981. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Couillard and C. Prefaut From muscle disuse to myopathy in COPD: potential contribution of oxidative stress Eur. Respir. J., October 1, 2005; 26(4): 703 - 719. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Troosters, R. Casaburi, R. Gosselink, and M. Decramer Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med., July 1, 2005; 172(1): 19 - 38. [Full Text] [PDF]