Levels changes of blood leukocytes and intracellular signalling pathways in COPD patients with respect to smoking attitude.
OBJECTIVE
To examine whether the proportions of blood leukocyte subsets are altered in COPD, and to assess the disturbances in signalling pathways in the leukocytes of COPD patients, with respect to smoking history.


METHODS
The study was performed at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry and University Hospital for Lung Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia. Leukocyte counts were determined in 28 COPD male patients (11 smokers, 9 ex-smokers, 8 non-smokers) and 42 healthy male subjects (15 smokers, 13 ex-smokers, 14 non-smokers). We assessed activation of MAPKs (ERK, JNK, p38), and expression of Bcl-2 and Bax in the leukocytes by western blotting.


RESULTS
Neutrophil and monocyte percentages were significantly increased, and lymphocyte percentage significantly decreased in COPD patients compared with healthy subjects (p<0.05). However, no significant smoking effect regarding leukocyte subsets was observed when compared current or former smokers with non-smokers of each studied group. ERK was activated in non-smokers only, especially in healthy ones. In contrast, strong induction of JNK and p38 phosphorylation, decreased Bcl-2 levels and increased Bax levels were detected in COPD smokers and COPD ex-smokers, but also in healthy individuals who smoke compared with healthy non-smokers (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
These results show that COPD and smoking affect intracellular signalling pathways. Understanding of the basic cellular and molecular mechanisms in COPD is essential for identification of molecules that may serve as targets for diagnosis and therapeutic interventions.
Rumora
Lada
L
Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Haematology, Domagojeva 2, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia. lrumora@pharma.hr
Milevoj
Lara
L
Popović-Grle
Sanja
S
Barisić
Karmela
K
Cepelak
Ivana
I
Grubisić
Tihana Zanić
TZ
D000368:Aged; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D012907:Smoking
D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases