@article {WangP602, author = {Chun-Hua Wang and Tzu-Ting Huang and Han-Pin Kuo}, title = {Increased circulating fibrocytes and their capacity of proliferation and differentiation in clinically unstable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease}, volume = {42}, number = {Suppl 57}, elocation-id = {P602}, year = {2013}, publisher = {European Respiratory Society}, abstract = {Background: Airway inflammation occurs around small airways in COPD, contributing to irreversible airflow obstruction. Circulating fibrocytes have home to the airways in response to local inflammation and able to be transformed into myofibrobalsts for airway remodeling.Objectives: To compare the proportion, proliferation, and differentiation of circulating fibrocytes between clinically unstable and stable COPD patients.Methods: 60 ml peripheral blood were collected from 10 COPD patients with at least 2 episodes of hospitalization (Unstable COPD) and 9 COPD without any episode of hospitalization (Stable COPD) over previous one year, then separating as non-adherent non-T cells (NANT). NANT cells were cultured for 14 days and variable treatment. The fibrocyte markers CD34, CD45RO, collagen I and EGFR were identified by flowcytometry. Serum level of IL-8 was measured.Results: A higher percentage of circulating fibrocytes (12.3{\textpm}2.4\%, n=10) in NANT cells was found in Unstable COPD when compared with Stable COPD (2.9{\textpm}0.7\%, n=9, p\<0.001). A higher proportion of fibrocyte expressed EGFR (15.1{\textpm}2.5\%, p\<0.01) in Unstable COPD compared to Stable COPD (2.0{\textpm}0.6\%). The proliferation and transformation into myofibroblasts of fibrocytes were significantly increased in Unstable COPD. Serum level of IL-8 was higher in Unstable COPD. IL-8 increased the EGFR expression, the proliferative and differentiative capacity of fibrocytes from Stable COPD.Conclusions: Circulating fibrocytes are increased and associated with higher proliferative capacity in clinically unstable COPD patients. Fibrocytes may contribute to airway obstruction in COPD.}, issn = {0903-1936}, URL = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P602}, eprint = {https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P602.full.pdf}, journal = {European Respiratory Journal} }