Plasma markers of endothelial dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
We studied some endothelial cell activity plasma markers, nitric oxide (NO), thrombomodulin (TM), selectins (sP-, sE-, sL-selectin: platelet-P, endothelium-E, leukocyte-L), and tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) in 14 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), matched with 20 normal controls, to evaluate their endothelial cell dysfunction. Both NO (patients: 23.42 +/- 1.67 microg/mL: controls: 40.0 +/- 3.38 microg/mL) and TM levels (patients: 5.46 +/- 1.32 ng/mL; controls: 12.9 +/- 0.51 ng/mL) were significantly decreased in COPD (p < 0.001). sP-selectin levels (patients: 79.42 +/- 18.20 ng/mL, controls: 37.5 +/- 2.84 mg/mL) were significantly higher (p < 0.02), whereas sL-selectin levels (patients: 584.9 +/- 78.98 ng/mL, controls: 1,054.02 +/- 61.28 ng/mL) were significantly decreased in patients with COPD (p < 0.001). In contrast, no differences were seen in sE-selectin. Patients with COPD showed a significantly higher (p < 0.001) TFPI antigen plasma level (mean 112.28 +/- 6 .45 ng/mL; controls 77.68 +/- 0.28 ng/mL) than controls. Our data support the concept of some form of endothelial cell dysfunction, and coagulation abnormalities are present in patients with COPD. However, because the endothelium seems to produce a defense mechanism, the potential usefulness of an antithrombotic therapy in these patients needs further investigation.
Cella
G
G
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Medical School, Italy. giuseppe.cella@unipd.it
Sbarai
A
A
Mazzaro
G
G
Vanzo
B
B
Romano
S
S
Hoppensteadt
T
T
Fareed
J
J
D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D015539:Platelet Activation; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D019087:Selectins / Q000097:blood*; D018180:Thrombomodulin / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D008074:Lipoproteins; D019087:Selectins; D018180:Thrombomodulin; C051928:lipoprotein-associated coagulation inhibitor; D009569:Nitric Oxide