Identification of thyroxine-binding globulin as a candidate plasma marker of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Biomarkers for the management of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are limited. The aim of this study was to explore new plasma biomarkers in patients with COPD. Thyroxine-binding globulin (THBG) was initially identified by proteomics in a discovery panel and subsequently verified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in another verification panel with a 1-year follow-up. THBG levels were elevated in patients with COPD (9.2±2.3 μg/mL) compared to those of the controls (6.6±2.0 μg/mL). Receiver operating characteristic curves suggested that THBG was able to slightly differentiate between patients with COPD and controls (area under the curve [AUC]: 0.814) and performed better if combined with fibrinogen (AUC: 0.858). THBG was more capable of distinguishing Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease stages I–III and IV (AUC: 0.851) compared with fibrinogen (AUC 0.582). THBG levels were negatively associated with predicted percentage forced expiratory volume in 1 s and positively related to predicted percentage residual volume, RV/percentage total lung capacity, and percentage low-attenuation area. COPD patients with higher baseline THBG levels had a greater risk of acute exacerbation (AE) than those with lower THBG levels (P=0.014, by Kaplan–Meier curve; hazard ratio: 4.229, by Cox proportional hazards model). In summary, THBG is a potential plasma biomarker of COPD and can assist in the management of stable stage and AEs in COPD patients.

Symptom-related sputum microbiota in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…Outpatients with COPD (n=40) were enrolled in the clinic of Peking University Third Hospital. The inclusion criteria have been previously depicted, 23 , 24 and the brief description was shown as follows: 1) males 40–80 years of age; 2) a smoking history of >10 pack-years; 3) diagnosis of COPD according to the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD); 1 , 25 4) lack of exacerbation events or use of systemic antibiotics within the past 3 months; and 5) lack of severe organ dysfunction or active disease. The control group (n=19) consisted of male smokers without COPD.…”

The Serpin Superfamily and Their Role in the Regulation and Dysfunction of Serine Protease Activity in COPD and Other Chronic Lung Diseases

“…To date, limited work has been carried out on the role of TBG in the lung environment; increased TBG levels have been associated with the severity of computed tomographyassessed emphysema [97]. Furthermore, TBG was identified as a novel plasma marker of COPD using isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) proteomics [98]. Elevated plasma TBG levels were detected in patients with COPD compared to control subjects and correlated with reduced lung function and acute exacerbations [98].…”

“…Furthermore, TBG was identified as a novel plasma marker of COPD using isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) proteomics [98]. Elevated plasma TBG levels were detected in patients with COPD compared to control subjects and correlated with reduced lung function and acute exacerbations [98]. 4.1.5.…”

Multi-omics study on biomarker and pathway discovery of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…Diao et al found that COPD patients with higher baseline THBG levels had a greater risk of acute exacerbations (AEs) than those with lower THBG levels. These results indicated that THBG could assist in the management of stable stages and AEs in COPD patients [32]. And fetuin-B could identify more severe grades of lung function in COPD patients and predict the occurrence of AEs or frequent AEs, which could be a complement to other markers for the diagnosis of COPD [33].…”