Abstract
Rationale: Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are are thought to play an important role in repair process of the endothelium in COPD patients. Platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) is expressed at high levels on early and mature endothelial cells, and is also known as a marker of EPC.
Objective: we measured expression of PECANM-1 in blood samples from smokers to clarify the PECAM-1 can be used as a biomarker to detect COPD phenotypes.
Methods: 323 patients who have a smoking history (more than 10 pack years) were included in this study. 91 blood samples were from patients with normal lung function, the remainder of the samples were from patients with mild (n=67; GOLD I), moderate (n=103; GOLD II) and severe COPD (n=62; GOLD III and IV). The RNA from blood samples were extracted using PAX gene blood RNA kit and PECAM-1 mRNA expression were measured by real-time RT-PCR using LightCycler system. Analysis of chest HRCT images for emphysematous changes (%LAA) was performed using computer software (LungVison ver 2.1, Cybernet Systems CO. LTD.).
Results: PECAM-1 expressions from blood samples were significantly decreased in the moderate COPD patients compared with the age matched smoking control patients. However, there were no significant differences in the PECAM expression between severe COPD and smoking control patients.
Conclusion: the PECAM-1 expression from blood cells may be a biomarker of COPD in stable moderate COPD patients. The regain of PECAM expression in severe COPD could be explained by consequence of systemic inflammation, hypoxemia and frequency of complications such as cardiac vascular diseases.
- © 2014 ERS
