title: Levels of angiopoietins 1 and 2 in induced sputum supernatant in patients with COPD.
abstract: Pathological features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) include lung vascular remodeling and angiogenesis. Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1), is an essential mediator of angiogenesis by establishing vascular integrity, whereas angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) acts as its natural inhibitor. We determined the levels of angiopoietins in sputum supernatants of patients with COPD and investigated their possible association with mediators and cells involved in the inflammatory and remodeling process. Fifty-nine patients with COPD, 25 healthy smokers and 20 healthy non-smokers were studied. All subjects underwent lung function tests, sputum induction for cell count identification and Ang-1, Ang-2, VEGF, TGF-β1, MMP-2, LTB4, IL-8, albumin measurement in sputum supernatants. Airway vascular permeability (AVP) index was also assessed. Ang-2 levels were significantly higher in patients with COPD compared to healthy smokers and healthy non-smokers [median, interquartile ranges pg/ml, 267 (147-367) vs. 112 (67-171) and 98 (95-107), respectively; p<0.001]. Regression analysis showed a significant association between Ang-2 levels and AVP index, VEGF, IL-8 and MMP-2 levels in COPD, the strongest being with VEGF. Our results indicate that induced sputum Ang-2 levels are higher in COPD compared to healthy smokers and healthy non-smokers. Moreover, Ang-2 is associated with AVP, IL-8, MMP-2, and VEGF, indicating a possible role for Ang-2 in the pathogenesis of the disease.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Respiratory Medicine Department, University of Athens Medical School, Attikon Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bessa
authors.forename: Stelios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Loukides
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hillas
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delimpoura
authors.forename: Davina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Simoes
authors.forename: Konstantina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kontogianni
authors.forename: Spyros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papiris
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kostikas
authors.forename: Manos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alchanatis
authors.forename: Petros
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bakakos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D042683:Angiopoietin-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D042702:Angiopoietin-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000378:metabolism*; D013183:Sputum / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C467630:ANGPT1 protein, human; D042683:Angiopoietin-1; D042702:Angiopoietin-2