title: Expression of adhesion molecules and G proteins in circulating neutrophils in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: We investigated the expression of adhesion molecules in circulating neutrophils (lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 [LFA-1], Mac-1, and L-selectin) and endothelial cells (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1[sICAM-1]) in 23 patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), 18 subjects with exacerbated COPD, and 23 healthy volunteers. Also, in these circulating neutrophils, we assessed the expression of two G protein subunits (Galphas and Galphai1/2). Compared with control subjects, patients with stable COPD showed increased expression of Mac-1 (p < 0.001) and lower levels of sICAM-1 (p = 0.002); LFA-1 and L-selectin expression was similar in patients and control subjects. During exacerbations, compared with stable patients, the expression of Mac-1 and LFA-1 was reduced (p < 0.001). Finally, the expression of Galphas (but not Galphai1/2) was also reduced (p < 0.001) in circulating neutrophils of patients with COPD, irrespective of the clinical condition of the patient. These results indicate that in patients with COPD: (1) the expression of some neutrophil adhesion molecules (Mac-1) is abnormal, and that this pattern changes during exacerbations; (2) there may be a form of endothelial dysfunction, as suggested by the low sICAM-1 levels; (3) the expression of G protein subunit (Galphas) in circulating neutrophils is downregulated, irrespective of their clinical conditions. Overall, these results indicate the presence of significant systemic abnormalities in COPD.
authors.affiliation: Servei de Pneumologia, Servei de Analisis Cliniques, and Unitat d'Investigació (REUNI), Hospital Universitari Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noguera
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Busquets
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sauleda
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Villaverde
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: MacNee
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Agustí
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002469:Cell Separation; D015536:Down-Regulation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism*; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1; D019041:L-Selectin; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D016650:Fluorescein-5-isothiocyanate