Eosinophilic biomarkers for detection of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with or without pulmonary embolism

Abstract

Abstract. Eosinophilia has been implicated in the pathophysiology of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). However, the role of eosinophil activation in the development of AECOPD remains unclear. In the present study, the reliability of plasma levels of eosinophil activation markers, including eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), major basic protein (MBP), eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) and eosinophil peroxidase (EPX), were measured and used as diagnostic biomarkers of AECOPD with or without pulmonary embolism (PE). A total of 47 patients with AECOPD, 30 patients with AECOPD/PE and 35 healthy adults were enrolled in the present study. Plasma levels of ECP, EDN, EPX and MBP were measured using commercial ELISA kits. The mean concentrations of plasma ECP, EDN, EPX and MBP in the patients with AECOPD was significantly 2.87-, 3.06-, 1.60-and 1.92-fold higher, respectively, compared with the control group (P<0.05). Similar results were obtained in patients with AECOPD/PE, for whom plasma levels of ECP, EDN, EPX and MBP were significantly 2.06-, 2.21-, 1.42-and 2.42-fold higher, respectively, compared with the controls (P<0.05). No significant differences were observed in the levels of these proteins between patients with AECOPD or AECOPD/PE. Among the four potential markers, ECP was determined to be the optimal marker for distinguishing patients with AECOPD or AECOPD/PE from the controls. No significant correlation was observed between marker concentrations and gender, age or disease severity. The results of the present study may have clinical applications in the diagnosis of AECOPD using these novel biomarkers.

The prevalence and clinical features of pulmonary embolism in patients with AE-COPD: A meta-analysis and systematic review

“…Yang et al . [ 59 ] suggested that the activation of eosinophils increases the likelihood of thrombosis. However, it is unclear whether eosinophil activation markers can predict PE in patients with exacerbation of COPD.…”

Role of Atypical Chemokines and Chemokine Receptors Pathways in the Pathogenesis of COPD

“…RNase3 mRNA expression is also enhanced in induced sputum cells of stable COPD patients (n=12, mean age 70 years) compared to asthma patients (n=13, mean age 53 years) and non-smoker subjects (n=13, mean age 42 years), and there is a negative correlation between RNase3 mRNA expression and macrophages counts [370]. Furthermore, serum RNase3 levels are increased in COPD patients during exacerbation irrespective of the presence (n=30, mean age 72 years) or absence (n=47, mean age 74 years) of pulmonary embolism compared to healthy controls (n=35, mean age 71 years, not reported if smokers with normal lung function) [358].…”

“…There are very few data in the literature on the role of Rnase2 in COPD. One study shows increased serum EDN levels in COPD patients during exacerbation irrespective of the presence (n=30, mean age 72 years) or absence (n=47, mean age 74 years] of pulmonary embolism when compared to healthy subjects (n=35, mean age 71 years, not reported if smokers with normal lung function) suggesting that recruitment and eosinophilic degranulation may have a key role in the pathogenesis of COPD exacerbations [358].…”

Effects of cannabis oil extract on immune response gene expression in human small airway epithelial cells (HSAEpC): implications for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

“…Interestingly, PPAR-gamma, which was up-regulated by cannabis oil extract, can also counteract inflammation mediated by leukotriene B4 in COPD (Yin et al 2014 ). While eosinophil peroxidase does not appear to have been investigated as target for the treatment of COPD, it has been identified as a biomarker of the disease (Nair et al 2013 ; Yang et al 2017 ).…”