title: Serum angiopoietin-2 levels are elevated during acute exacerbations of COPD.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recently, angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) was identified as a ligand of the endothelial receptor tyrosine kinase, Tie-2. Ang-2 is an angiopoietin-1 antagonist that plays a role in vascular destabilization and remodelling, which may increase in some diseases. However, serum Ang-2 levels have not been evaluated in patients with COPD. In this study, we examined serum Ang-2 concentrations in patients experiencing COPD exacerbations and in patients with stable COPD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were obtained from 49 patients experiencing COPD exacerbations, 22 patients with stable COPD and 18 healthy control subjects. Serum Ang-2 concentrations were measured by ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum Ang-2 concentrations were significantly higher in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD than in those with stable COPD or control subjects, and were significantly positively correlated with serum CRP levels but inversely correlated with PaO(2) in patients with exacerbations. In addition, Ang-2 levels decreased significantly after clinical recovery from the acute exacerbation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum Ang-2 levels are significantly elevated during acute exacerbations of COPD, as compared with stable COPD.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine, Jinju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu Ji
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Jeong Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Yu Eun
authors.initials: YE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Ho Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong Deog
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Young Sil
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Yi Yeong
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Jeong
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000097:blood*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D042702:Angiopoietin-2; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D010100:Oxygen