title: The possible role of hematopoietic cell kinase in the pathophysiology of COPD.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hematopoietic cell kinase (Hck) is a myeloid cell-specific tyrosine kinase, which is known to induce neutrophil infiltration to the lungs. Although the overexpression of Hck causes emphysema-like histologic changes in mice, its expression and activity in patients with COPD are unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  The aim of this study was to clarify the expression and activity of Hck in neutrophils from COPD patients, and to investigate the association between the degree of Hck expression and the lung function parameters in COPD patients. Peripheral blood neutrophils were isolated from 22 patients with COPD and 9 healthy subjects (HSs). The protein levels of Hck and phosphorylated Hck were assessed, and the correlation with various background characteristics was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The Hck protein level was significantly higher in neutrophils from COPD patients compared with HSs (COPD patients, 1.094; HSs, 0.801; p < 0.05). A significant positive correlation was observed between the protein level of Hck and the surface expression of the integrin molecule CD-11b (r = 0.540; p < 0.01) or CXC chemokine receptor-1 (r = 0.432; p < 0.05). In contrast, there was no difference in the phosphorylation of the Hck protein between COPD patients and HSs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Hck protein level in peripheral blood neutrophils was increased in COPD patients, suggesting that Hck might have an important role in the neutrophil function and play a key role in the pathophysiology of COPD.
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors: Satoru
authors: S
authors: Yanagisawa
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors: Hisatoshi
authors: H
authors: Sugiura
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors: Tomonori
authors: T
authors: Yokoyama
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors: Toshiyuki
authors: T
authors: Yamagata
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors: Tomohiro
authors: T
authors: Ichikawa
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors: Keiichirou
authors: K
authors: Akamatsu
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Koarai
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors: Tsunahiko
authors: T
authors: Hirano
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors: Masanori
authors: M
authors: Nakanishi
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors: Kazuto
authors: K
authors: Matsunaga
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan.
authors: Yoshiaki
authors: Y
authors: Minakata
authors: Third Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan. Electronic address: masakazu@wakayama-med.ac.jp.
authors: Masakazu
authors: M
authors: Ichinose
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D051572:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-hck / Q000097:blood*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D054387:Receptors, CXCR / Q000097:blood; D013147:Spirometry; D014797:Vital Capacity
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D054387:Receptors, CXCR; D051572:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-hck