PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - C.A. Lindberg AU - G. Engström AU - M. Gerhardsson de Verdier AU - U. Nihlén AU - M. Anderson AU - K. Forsman-Semb AU - M. Svartengren TI - Total desmosines in plasma and urine correlate with lung function AID - 10.1183/09031936.00064611 DP - 2011 Jan 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - erj00646-2011 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/10/13/09031936.00064611.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/early/2011/10/13/09031936.00064611.full AB - To evaluate the relationship between the matrix degradation biomarkers, desmosine and isodesmosine (desmosines), and lung function.Plasma and creatinine-corrected urinary total desmosines (P- and U-desmosines), lung function and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DL,CO) were measured in a cohort of subjects from the Swedish Twin Registry.Concentrations of U- and P-desmosines were measured in 349 and 318 subjects, respectively; approximately one-third of subjects had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Age, female gender, body mass index (BMI) and smoking were significantly associated with U-desmosines in a multiple linear regression analysis. In the overall population, after adjustments for age, gender, height, BMI and smoking, concentrations of U-desmosines were significantly correlated with all lung function measures, and P-desmosines with forced expiratory volume in 1 s and DL,CO (P<0.05). With the exception of residual volume versus P-desmosines, relationships between concentrations of desmosines and lung function measures were markedly stronger in subjects with COPD compared with those without COPD.These cross-sectional data showing associations between desmosines and several lung function variables suggest that desmosines, particularly U-desmosines, could be a useful biomarker of COPD status.