Pulmonary & Respiratory Medicine

Systemic Inflammatory Markers in Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Marina Bahl*, Júlia Salvan da Rosa, Tânia Silvia Fröde, and Rosemeri Maurici

Introduction: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a heterogeneous lung disease featured by persistent respiratory symptoms, as well as by significantly increased inflammatory response capable of causing progressive and persistent obstruction of the airways. Investigating the incidence of systemic inflammatory mediators in stable COPD patients and their association with smoking habit, comorbidities, BMI, spirometry classification, as well as with COPD symptoms and risk of exacerbations and/or COPD-associated hospitalizations. Methods: Cytokine levels were measured through flow cytometry, whereas the levels of enzymes, such as myeloperoxidase and adenosine deaminase, as well as of nitric oxide metabolites, were measured through colorimetric methods applied to patients’ peripheral blood serum. Patients were mostly men, smokers, with comorbidities and presented mean age of 65.8 years. Significant association of IL-17A, TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL4 levels with active smokers was observed, as well as significantly increased IL-10 levels in former smokers. TNF-α levels have shown significant association with BMI, with higher IL-2 levels in obese patients than in overweight patients, as well as with higher IL-17A levels in obese patients than in those with normal BMI. The group of patients without comorbidities recorded significant increase in IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, TNF-α and IFN-γ - with emphasis on IL-2 and IL-4 - in comparison to the group with comorbidities. However, no association among inflammatory markers, lung function, COPD symptoms and risk of exacerbations/COPD-associated hospitalizations was observed. Conclusion: The current study has evidenced incidence of systemic inflammation in patients with stable COPD and its association with smoking habit, comorbidities and high BMI.